Bible Readers Network Uganda, an established group of bible readers that aim at encouraging Christians to read the bible together, share experiences and holding each other accountable has come out to condemn Pr Bugingo for burning KJV, Good News Bibles over claims that they wrongfully interpreted the word “Holy Spirit” for “Holy Ghost.”
The organisation has issued a statement in which they urge that Church leaders should take careful study of the Bible history if they will be able to fully comprehend and make useful biblical arguments.
Full statement
An unschooled and ignorant, but proud self acclaimed pastor in Kampala ordered and burnt King James Version (KJV) bibles over this Easter weekend at his church. The crime: these bibles bear the word “Holy Ghost”. The Nation is in shock! It’s at such times that my heart sinks for the ignorant followers who even don’t read their bibles but rely on listening to their pastors. An un-discipled christian is a dangerous one!
How did we get the Bible in the first place? Was this bible written in English? If not, what are the implications? It is pertinent for any one claiming authority on the Bible to actually take careful study of the Bible history if they will be able to fully comprehend and make useful biblical arguments.
The Bible was originally mainly written in Biblical Hebrew (also called classical Hebrew) with some portions in Biblical Aramaic. The very first translation of the Bible was into Greek – a common kind of Greek called “koine”. All together, there are said to be 40 main contributors to the content of the Bible, from diverse backgrounds, living in completely different times. Yet the Bible remains coherently coordinated which indeed makes this a divine book truest divinely inspired – one over which no man can claim full control.
With time, the Bible was translated into Latin and for some time it was prohibited to translate the Bible to English and it was indeed punishable by death (by burning). Several men paid for this english bible with their lives, among the last of them being Sir. William Tyndale. The Tyndale translation (1525) is said to have been the most through and upon which most of the King James Version was based. It’s for this reason that this KJV of 1611 bears an acknowledgement of Sir William Tyndale. Noteworthy, Tyndale was burnt at the orders of a Bishop, Cuthbert Tunstall, and a memorial stands today in Vilvoorde where Tyndale was executed. A number of colleges, schools, study centers and universities have also been named after Tyndale.
The KJV and the Evolution of Bible Translation
Soon after the execution of Tyndale, King James V put together a committee of scholars to put the Bible together and that’s why it’s called The Authorized King James Version, named in his honor for having finally made the English Bible legal. It’s also said that Tyndale indeed introduced a couple of words and phrases to the English language in an attempt to bring out the meanings from the original language. Some examples include Passover, brother’s keeper, let there be light, the salt of the earth, and many others.
However, discoveries of biblical manuscript has continued through the centuries and has been on of the major reasons to the improvement of existing versions of the Bible. The other reason has been the naturally changing simplicity of the English language itself from what it used to be then. That why the KJV of today is actually quite different from the original KJV, and also the very reason we have the New KJV. These reasons are usually elaborately explained by the authors.
Generally, the key early bibles and their publication times are as follows: the early copies were written between 425 AD and 350 AD leading to some versions before the vulgate is AD 400. The Wycliffe Bible came out in 1380, before Tyndale’s version in 1525. This was followed by various versions including the Coverdale Bible in 1535, Mathews Bible in 1537, Great Bible in 1539, Geneva Bible in 1560, the Bishops Bible in 1568, the Douai Bible in 1609 and finally the King James Version of 1611.
The KJV of 1611 was revised in 1881. The American Standard Version was published in 1901. Since then, we have had various versions including the Revised Standard Version in 1952, the Berkley Bible of 1959, Amplified Bible in 1965, the Jerusalem Bible in 1966, the New English Translation in 1970, New American Standard Bible in 1971, and Living Bible, Today’s English Version in 1976, the New International Version in 1978 and the New King James Version in 1982. The Revised English Bible came out in 1989 and the New Revised Standard Version in 1990. There have been more revisions that am also not mentioning here, since 1990.
The reason for these revisions have already been mentioned in this article. It would however require more detailed writing to explain the reasons for each. This explanation is already available for anyone who wants to read.
For a man therefore to speak of translations and especially to critique a language calls for an extra ordinary knowledge of both the language under criticism, the history of the Bible and critically the original languages of especially Hebrew and Greek. Being a bible teacher and a servant of God is not for the puffed up, larger than life; but for the humble. The God of the Bible needs no defence of man: for it’s decreed that not even a full-stop will be removed from the Bible. Uzziah was struck dead when he attempted to steady the Ark of the Covenant when King David first tried to move it to Jerusalem. As it turned out, Uzziah and David had attempted to take on a role that belonged to the Levites.
I have particular however decided to put some detail to the matter of the topic of controversy, to aid bible readers in understanding different bible versions and the origin of bible translations. It’s my hope that such understanding will shield the children of God from unnecessary confusion resulting from sticklers tendencies of some of the Bible readers and those whose focus in to simply criticize.
Let’s close with Paul’s Counsel in Ephesians 4:1-4,11-14 (NLT):
1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
*14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they _sound like the truth._*
I urge you brothers and sisters to read your bibles and not to be tossed by every wave of teaching and opinion. May the good Lord bless you and keep you. Please join our facebook group “Bible Readers Network Uganda”.
Robert B. Mutyaba
Bible Readers Network Uganda
