Head of the Born Again Faith in Uganda Apostle Dr. Joseph Serwadda has issued a statement in regard to bibles burnt by acclaimed Pastor Aloysius Bugingo of House of Prayer ministries located at Makerere Kikoni, Kawempe Division.
Pastor Bugingo on Easter Monday reportedly set ablaze hundreds of KJV, Holy Bibles collected from his congregation on Sunday. He claimed that these bibles were ‘wrongly’ translated hence misleading.
Following his argument, the Salt Radio and TV proprietor said worshipers of the devil who want people to worship “ghosts” changed the word “Holy Spirit” to “Holy Ghost”. He urged that words “Holy Spirit” and “Holy Ghost”do not mean the same thing.
“Always pay keen attention to Luke 4:1, which talks about Jesus being filled with the “Holy Spirit” that led him into the wilderness. That is one of the scriptures where the worshipers of the devil who want people to worship “Ghosts” change Holy Spirit to Holy Ghost.” He told the congregants on Sunday.
“Those who started counterfeit bibles, especially those that want to worship misleading spirits – the Nigerians, those in Ghana and UK – they distribute them freely in their churches. Even here in Uganda, they are very cheap. They used “Holy Ghost” with limited mention of the “Holy Spirit”, a word they will soon eliminate completely in the near future.” He added.
In a statement received by this website on Thursday, Pr Serwadda says that both “Holy Ghost” and “Holy Spirit” refer to the Third Person of the Trinity, coequal and con-substantial with the Father and the Son, quoting Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3,4; 28:25,26; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.
“I hear someone among Uganda’s unread pastors has ordered the burning of Bibles which have HOLY GHOST IN THEIR TEXT. The big irony is that he uses a tribal dialect Bible to minister. However, the Big question: “Is there difference between the Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost?” Apostle Dr Serwadda wondered.
“Of the modern English translations of the Bible, it is only the King James Version of the Bible which uses the term “Holy Ghost.” It occurs 90 times in the KJV. The term “Holy Spirit” occurs 7 times in the KJV. The exact same Greek and Hebrew words are translated “ghost” and “spirit” in the KJV in different occurrences of the words. By “ghost,” the KJV translators did not intend to communicate the idea of “the spirit of a deceased person.” In 1611, when the KJV was originally translated, the word “ghost” primarily referred to “an immaterial being.”” He noted.
Adding: “With recent Scripture translations, “Spirit” has replaced “Ghost” in most instances. Some of this came about because words don’t always hold their meanings. In the days of Shakespeare or King James, ghost meant the living essence of a person. Looking back, we see that “breath” or “soul” were often used as synonyms of “ghost.” During these times, spirit normally meant the essence of a departed person or a demonic or paranormal apparition. As language evolved, people started saying “ghost” when speaking of the vision of a dead person while “spirit” became the standard term for life or living essence, often also for “soul.” With slight exceptions, “ghost” and “spirit” changed places over some 300 years.”
Pr Serwadda says what seems to be the reason for the saga could be the many changes that have occurred in the English language.
“These changes come about in reference, meaning, inference or even intent. For one to drastically change this, their command of the English language is of the essence. What is left is to ask whoever has a differing opinion to put their academic and Bible Training credentials on the table. Short of this, you are dealing with and taking orders from a mad man.” He said.
cnakalungi@ugchristiannews.com
