Edited-Not Translated

In previous posts, I dealt peripherally with attempts to modify the Bible from without via the selection of scripture. Today, I will deal with the attempt to edit Scripture itself. Appropriately, I have selceted Revelation 22:19 that deals with that topic. While this verse tells the consequences of the editing of Scripture, the intent is to show how it has been done, and not to sermonize about it.

At this juncture, I must state that I have been criticized for not delving into hermeneutics, with the parsing and interpretation of the Bible's language that it entails. To make such a criticism ignores the Reduction to an Absurdity Method of Mathematics which is the prevalent mode of analysis of this blog. The analysis used is prone to counterproductive Paradoxes induced by the Self-Referentiality that hermeneutics introduces. Nevertheless, when the findings do not include paradoxes, I will use hermeneutics, as I did here to Compare Scripture with Scripture. Additionally, hermeneutics uses Inductive Reasoning, whereas I have stated before that the methodology I generally use is Deductive Reasoning.

There is no proper way to quote Revelation 22:19 in the 1599 Geneva Study Bible, but I will display it:

What is important about this particular citation of scripture is that it isn't there. It has been replaced with a footnote that says that it has been combined with verse 18. Verse 20 is included to show that this verse, in fact, has been skipped.

Following John Calvin's precept that we should compare Scripture with Scripture, I have included other versions of the Bible for the very comparison that John Calvin reccommends:

New International Version

And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

Weymouth New Testament

and that if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take from him his share in the Tree of Life and in the holy city--the things described in this book.

The KJV Strong's Version

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The Darby Translation

And if any one take from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.

The New American Standard Bible

and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

These are all fine Protestant versions of the Bible that say the same thing. Lets see what the Roman Catholics have to say:

The New Jerusalem Bible

if anyone cuts anything out of the prophecies in this book, God will cut off his share of the tree of life and of the holy city, which are described in the book.

Praise the Lord! Even the Catholics agree! The Eastern Orthodox are in the process of publishing their own Eastern Orthodox Bible in English. Just for fun, let's look at what they say. It's still in manuscript form and will be published late in 2009, so if you turn to page 567 in the pdf, you find:



It looks like even the Orthodox agree with the rest of Christondom on this point.

Let us examine why someone would want to have this verse "de-emphasized" from the Scripture. It states that if someone, even one of the Elect should willfully remove this verse from scripture, then Predestination is no longer in effect because a Willful Act overrode it. Isn't that what happened here?

This debunks Predestination. To replace it, I concur with the Doctrine of Divine Grace which is best summarized in the Protestant Hymn: Whosover Will, May Come!