| Corrupting Bible texts is not a new thing. This has | | | | would bring you closer to God or does it cause you |
| been going on from the very beginning of church | | | | to doubt your faith in God? See Matthew 22:37-40. |
| history. The Apostles were having problems with it in | | | | 7. Will it bring you into a loving relationship with God? |
| their days. You can see some of these addressed in | | | | 8. Can it be used as a perversion of the truth? |
| the New Testament. Some of these corrupted texts | | | | 9. Does it water down the gospel message found in |
| have made their way into our modern Bible versions. | | | | the Bible? There may be a note that says a passage |
| Many of our modern versions are using past | | | | does not belong or that it was not in the original text. |
| corrupted texts to "update" the texts. | | | | If you find this in reference to a text, you should |
| Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My | | | | question it very carefully. Most likely the text has |
| Word will not pass away." To this end, we still have | | | | been corrupted. |
| God's Word in its pure form. We have the Bible in its | | | | 10. Does it hinder the Christian's witness if followed |
| original Hebrew and Greek texts. We also have Bible | | | | wholeheartedly? |
| texts that have been changed from the original text | | | | 11. Does the original language agree with its |
| to say what people wanted it to say. | | | | contextual setting? Do not take the translator's word |
| Here are 12 tests you can use to see if a Bible text | | | | for it. This is a favorite tactic for people who corrupt |
| has been corrupted: | | | | the text. |
| 1. Does it pass the two or three witnesses principle? | | | | 12. When did it first appear in the manuscripts? Be |
| See 2 Corinthians 13:1. | | | | careful with this. There are many corrupt texts that |
| 2. When a New Testament text is a quote from the | | | | are passed off as the original. |
| Old Testament, does the New Testament one agree | | | | It is a serious business to tamper with the original |
| with the Old Testament reference? This is a good | | | | text of the Bible. To tamper with the original text is |
| check for the translation of the New Testament | | | | to make God say something He did not say. This is |
| text. | | | | called "handling the Word of God deceitfully." See |
| 3. Does the text agree with its context in its natural | | | | Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18, 19 for a |
| setting? It may appear as an afterthought or it may | | | | warning to those who mess with the Word of God. |
| appear not to have any relevance to its context. | | | | There is a world of difference between a translation |
| 4. Does it bring glory to God? See 1 Corinthians 10:31. | | | | and a paraphrase of the original text. A paraphrase |
| 5. Does the text agree with the general message of | | | | tells you what the person thought the original text |
| the Gospel of Jesus Christ or does it deny an | | | | was conveying to us. The translation is a word for |
| established article of faith? | | | | word exchange of the original. Literal translations are |
| 6. Does the text call you to faith and action that | | | | much more reliable than paraphrases. |