Intro.
1. 1 Pet. 3:15 – We are to be ready to give answer for our hope. By refusing to do so we show a lack of faith in the Lord & His word.
2. Some questions we have received through Bible Answer website.
#1: I believe that divorce, without a scriptural reason (fornication), is a sin. What is your position?
1. Put away (“to dismiss from the house, to repudiate”) Matt. 19:3, 7-9.
2. Some conclude that putting away for a cause other than fornication is allowable as long as one does not remarry. But, Scripture does not support this conclusion.
A. Bible Teaches That Putting Away One’s Mate Without the Scriptural Cause of Fornication is Sin.
1. Because of the way God ordained marriage – Matt. 19:3-6a.
2. Because putting asunder what God joins together is a violation of the Lord's direct command – Matt. 19:6b (1 Cor. 7:10).
3. Because a promise is broken – Mal. 2:14. God is witness to marriage vows (Eccl. 5:5), & covenant breakers are worthy of death (Rom. 1:32).
4. Because God hates divorce - Mal. 2:14-16.
-One would be hard pressed to conclude (save for the except of Matt. 19:9) that what is treachery against one’s mate (14, 15) & what God hates (16) is nevertheless “good”!!
5. Because (without the cause of fornication) one lays a stumbling-block and bears responsibility for future sin – Matt. 5:31-32.
B. “But, What About Abusive & Dangerous Situations?”
1. Foregoing truth does not prevent a wife from protecting herself (and children) from a dangerous husband. That can be done without repudiating the marriage (putting away, divorce).
2. The Lord allows seeking safety thru legitimate channels.
3. Such sins of the husband are not given as scriptural cause for putting away.
4. Divorce is never “the only alternative” to marital problems. Seek protection without putting asunder what God has joined together.
C. Divorce is a Tragic Sin Against God, Spouse, Family – Heb. 13:4; Matt. 19:6.
#2: I am a Christian and am wondering about a particular version of the bible: the NIV. I have heard by many that its translation is inaccurate and should be shunned, yet have seen many preachers make us of it. I would like to know if this version is acceptable or is it mans idea of what God said, like so many versions out there. also, could I get a list of versions that DO adhere to the original texts?
A. The Original Text of the Bible Was Verbally Inspired by God – 2 Tim. 3:16.
1. Need a translation that attempts to be true to the meaning of the words when they were penned – 1 Cor. 2:13; 1 Cor. 14:37.
B. Translations are Not Inspired, but are the Works of Uninspired Men.
1. Thus, we should test their accuracy – 1 Ths. 5:21-22.
2. Every translation has its own set of strengths & weaknesses.
3. Good practice to study the Bible using several translations.
C. Problems with the New International Version (NIV).
1. Although quite readable, its deficiencies weigh against relying upon it as a primary source of divine truth.
2. Many of the NIV verses are perverted & mistranslated.
3. Some of the error in the NIV:
a. Original sin – Psa. 51:5: “Surely I have been a sinner from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (NIV). -cf. Ezek. 18:20
b. Sinful nature [“flesh” (sarx) is synonymous with “sinful nature”] – Rom. 8:3: “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by our sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering” (NIV), (Also: 8:4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13). -cf. Acts 17:28 - offspring of God; Jesus, 1 Tim. 2:5; Matt. 18:3; 19:14.
c. Interprets, not translates - 2 Ths. 3:6: “disorderly” [ataktos, “out of ranks (often so of soldiers)…deviating from the prescribed order or rule”]. “…keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us” (NIV). (also, 3:11).
a. Not argos (“idle” – Lazy, shunning labor, as in 1 Tim. 5:13)!
b. NIV interprets 2 Ths. 3:6, 11 (ataktos) as meaning “idle” when in fact the word means “out of ranks”!
c. Some brethren, using NIV, have concluded can only withdraw from the idle Christian!
4. Recommendation: Use a better, less biased translation than NIV!
Hos. 4:6 – Let us not be among those who are destroyed for lack of knowledge. But, with knowledge of God’s truth may we obey it in faith.