The Kingdom Bible

 

World English Bible (Old Testament) King James Clarified (New Testament)

 

Both are in the Public Domain. Bible quotations in commentaries are taken from several sources including: The King James Version, The New King James Version, The New International Version, Young’s Literal Translation, The New American Standard Bible.

 

 The text of these aforementioned Bibles may be quoted or reprinted without prior written

permission with the following qualifications: Up to and including 1,000 verses may be quoted

in printed form as long as the verses quoted amount to less than 50% of a complete book of the Bible,

and make up less than 50% of the total work in which they were quoted.

All Bible (KJV NKJV NIV NAS) quotations must conform accurately to the Bible (KJV NKJV NIV NAS YLT)  text.  Formatting and  additional  editing with  a more literal rendering of certain passages of Holy Scripture by Terry Kashian: Co-Editor

 

The Fulfilled Covenant Bible Copyright 2012 (1st edition) Copyright 2013 (2nd & 3rd edition)

by Michael Day

 

Bible Text translated from the original languages and compared to numerous bible versions and translations for The Kingdom Bible.

Translation by Terry Kashian

 

© Copyright 2016 – The Kingdom Bible (1st Edition) ISBN: 978-1-68419-197-0

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Translating “The Kingdom Bible”

This translation is a combination of translation and version. What is meant by this is that a translation is commonly put together by an individual and a version is put together by a committee or collegiate of individuals. The Kingdom Bible is a translation that has had submitted with accountability to others in their critique of many parts of this translation. The translation was built on the previous version called, “The Fulfilled Covenant Bible” which Michael Day and others worked night and day to produce. The reader will find that there are numerous places where the word for word application of translating is applied and at other times there will be some liberty to paraphrase certain passages without violating the context of the ‘Canon’ of Scripture’. The translator understands that there is no perfect translation in the English language, but with all the helps and tools that are available in the Greek and Hebrew they are quite adequate and significant to ascertain a healthy presentation of God’s Word.

 

The important thing to understand about language is there are dead languages and living languages today. What is meant by this term is that, a dead language is static, for instance, the language of Latin. It was spoken for centuries and not by everyone, but around 600 AD to 750 AD it was not practiced except by a few spheres of people groups. It became the language of the sciences and because it was morphed into other languages like French, Italian, and other romantic languages, Latin was left behind.

 

Koine Greek is also a static language in which the original Scriptures of the New Testament were written. The Old Testament was also written in Greek after 70 men translated the Hebrew Scriptures during 300-200 BC. This version is called the Septuagint. The problem with any static language is understanding the cultural idioms of the time when that language was freely spoken and used.

 

The matter of archeology has contributed immensely to giving us a peek into the history of Koine Greek and Latin when it was used. The discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls in which we have not even penetrated all the riches in these documents and findings. Since we in America speak an altered version of English, which should be determined as American, rather than U.K. English from which it came. This point is being made for the purpose of bringing light on the need for developing English or American versions of the Bible going into the future, without compromising the kernel of truth that is sacred.

 

My intention in bringing this translation is to trigger new thoughts on old passages and with the help of our Lord, bring clarity to obscure passages in our bible today. I am just building on the works of the past 500 years of English translations and versions with the reverence and humility that is needed when coming to God’s holy word. I admit this translation is far from perfected. There is a deep confidence in me that, “The Kingdom Bible” will contribute to generations and with the hope that others will build on it, to make it even more accurate. Those who have a heart to search and seek out those distinctions in this translation will benefit and will receive greater elucidation to our cause in bringing a rich and a precise translation of the original languages to those who are lovers of truth. In this translation I sought to incorporate more of a sense of the tenses throughout the New Testament, realizing that in the near future I will be researching more diligently to add tenses and moods to the Hebrew Scriptures also.

 

Some examples of the choice words that you will notice in this translation is the word ‘truth’. I have chosen to use consistently the word ‘reality’ in its place and also the word ‘true’ as ‘real’. Recognizing the way in which God used the Old Testament as a tutor or schoolmaster for His people with types and shadows. It became obvious to me that all the things in the Law were a shadow of what the Lord was going to bring into the New Covenant Age. It is not that those things in the Old Testament were not real, but that it is clear those things were pointing to what is real. Concluding from this, that there is a reality that God wants us to embrace and not the shadows or types. Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:46, “however the spiritual is not first, but the natural then the spiritual”. This principle is a major influence in this translation.

 

I also have taken the word for women and wives and have brought some specific distinction and definition to some hard to understand verses. Now here is where I have to tread very carefully, I also have reconsidered some words that are sometimes translated as singular when they are plural and vice versa. Take the word age (aion), here is a word that is very blurry when translating, whether we should use a singular or plural. This word is a singular noun, but there are a few times in the New Testament when it is translated in a plural with no apparent reason or rhyme. The funny thing is, it is random when choosing a plural. It is like the word sheep or fish. Sometimes we use those nouns as a singular and sometimes as a plural. It is correct both ways.

 

My choice in making this a singular noun consistently throughout the New Testament is our Lord’s very words. Jesus spoke of this present age as the Old Covenant Age. He also spoke of the Age to come which is our New Covenant Age. I have taken the liberty to add Old Covenant or New Covenant where it is appropriate, but in italics, just as in other places throughout the translation so the careful reader may see that it is not in the original, but was added to bring clarity. I know some may accuse me of a bias interpretation, but this is a risk I am willing to take. Many times in the New Testament the word forever is made up of the Greek word aion, for age. The apostles when using this term forever understood that one age was passing and their known world was passing and the age about to come was approaching. Many of the Rabbical Jews only knew of two ages. Their present age and the age of the Messiah. The apostles and 1st century believers were tasting, i.e. experiencing the powers of the age that was coming. The New Covenant started in the transition period out of the Old into the New. Out of the natural into the spiritual.

 

Another significant change in this translation is in the word eternal. I use the word infinite when the Greek word aionios is used in connection with God Himself, His life, and His nature. Whenever the word eternal is used this word has a meaning of no beginning or no end. We can only attribute this to God and His life and nature. Everything in creation has a beginning, but not everything that is made has an end. For instance, angels have a beginning, but no end. I chose to use the word to describe ‘aionios’ when not related to the nature of God Himself as perpetual. Angels, the ultimate punishment, the New Covenant, and the earth are all with a beginning, but no end. Getting back to the word eternal, I chose precisely this word infinite. Eternal is a word that specifically conveys something linear with no end or a beginning. Linear conveys a straight line with no end. The word infinite encompasses that idea with a multidimensional aspect that is phenomenal. We have eternal life right now, but think of infinite life dwelling in us in the sense of unlimited, boundless, immeasurable, and it’s the ultimate in every direction, wisdom, power, love, grace, kindness, mercy, knowledge, and understanding. Well I think you’ve got the idea why I chose this term. Other changes in this translation will prompt you to look up those words in the original languages. If you do not have such tools, perhaps this will cause you to search out those who have those tools to engage in fellowship and learning.

 

I would like to entreat those who are diehard KJV users and feel that version of the Scriptures is the most accurate. I cut my teeth on the KJV and came to know the Lord using this masterpiece of God’s holy word. Through diligent study I have found that the culture of the 17th century influenced certain wording in this version and as I pointed out, English is a living language and is developing and changing from generation to generation. God’s word does not change, but the KJV was not written in the original Koine Greek and Hebrew, but in English. So as time has passed many words in the English language have changed in 400 and some years.

 

The King James Version even went through a few changes before the 1611 version. King James the 6th as he was known, was born in between the ‘Bishop’s Bible and the ‘Geneva Bible’. England wanted an English bible that everyone would use for the sake of uniformity. Not a bad thing, but again diversity and unity is the spice of life. Not contradictory! Prior to the KJV being published the Bishop’s Bible was chosen as the best choice. In 1604, 54 men were chosen to produce the KJV for the church and the king. In 1629 the 1611 version was revised and revised again in 1632 & 1638. Then again in 1657, but it was revised again before being printed. A major improvement came about in 1762 in Cambridge and in 1769 in Oxford, both in England. The reason I am mentioning these dates is because we can always get better at putting the best words to convey the Scriptures to His people and to the world. The uncial manuscripts that were used to do the translating from what was called the ‘Textus Receptus’ or Received Text. This information was taken from: A Brief History of English Bible Translations by Dr. Laurence M. Vance.

 

After the KJV was translated another set of manuscripts were discovered. In 1627 the Alexandrinus Manuscript was brought from Turkey to England, but was not used in the translating work of the KJV. This was a 5th century manuscript. Another manuscript dating back to the 4th century around 350 AD, called the Vaticanus was discovered in 1807, but was not used to compare the translations until the middle of the 19th century. Some experts say that this was one of the most treasured and important manuscripts found so far. Other manuscripts were discovered in 1834 and in 1844. The Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus from the 5th century and the Sinaiticus in Egypt dating way back to the 4th century. Also in the 20th century there were tremendous discoveries of fragments of papyri dating back to 225 AD, not forgetting the massive discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls and many caverns that have not yet been excavated. Literally thousands upon thousands of fragments of New Testament and Old Testament writings have been unearthed for the students of Scripture to peruse in the future as they are put on display and eventually converted to electronic form.

 

As a typical preacher who says in closing and then after closing starts to close again, I must confess my imperfection. But truly in closing, I emphatically admit that no matter how learned a person is in the languages, the translators must lean heavily upon the Holy Spirit to gain an insight into the context of each subject that is being considered in order to adopt the best wording which is closest to the original languages. This means much prayer and meditation must be accompanied in handling accurately God’s word. This is my quest in these days to produce a lucid and accurate presentation of God’s word with excellent readability to His people so He might be glorified in all we say and do.

 

-Terry Kashian

Hits: 63