john6809 wrote:Bibleprotector,
You said, "First, I don't believe that the KJB is the one true version of God's Word, I believe it is the best translation and completely accurate to what was originally inspired."
Then you said, "The KJB contains 100% God's words and message, and is 100% God's true Word."
I am not trying to trap you in your words - it is possible that I am misunderstanding you. Could you clarify this seeming discrepancy for me?
God's Word is true.
The KJB is a set of words (a version) and a translation of God's Word, which is true.
These are two different things. God's Word being true is a reality. The KJB being true is in regards to its textual choices and translation, which has only existed as an entity since 1611. The KJB represents God's Word, as in, it is called God's Word, but, God's Word has not been limited to the truthful form of the KJB.
Where other forms present the Word of God today, they are not exactly true in their textual choices, nor in their translation, but still God's Word in general might be there.
However, when the principle of corruption, or the principle of rejection of the KJB is a factor (i.e. modern versions) then that nature or state beings to outweigh its proximity to the Word of God, as might be measured by comparing it to the KJB. This means that the NKJV is in fact to be regarded as grossly corrupt, despite the fact that it is quite near or like the KJB.
One hates to say what one really thinks of the spiritual nature of such works, for the risk of offending delicate and unstrong Christian minds who may think to like the NKJV, NASV, NIV, ESV, etc.
john6809 wrote:From about the first page or two of this thread, I have had a sense that your theology is Anglocentric.
Not quite: but in examining divine providence, and observing the advance of the Gospel to this hour, it is clear that the work of God has been Anglo-favoured.
john6809 wrote:You see the great power and significance of the english speaking "empire" and the way that the english language has grown and you have come to think that God must have chosen us (english speaking Christians), in a manner similiar to the way He chose Israel in the OT.
Not quite: God's favour to using the children of Japheth is foretold in the time of Noah. Even today, it is obvious that the Gospel had a stronghold in the British Isles, and that the Jewish people have been most helped by the British Empire and the Americans. The spread of the English language is not only a result of right past choices, but a design for future world evangelisation. In Christ, one's natural heritage is of no factor. However, this is not to ignore the Great Commission which expressly speaks of converting nations, and implies that God would use nations for His purposes, i.e. the sheep nations.
john6809 wrote:And then, we go looking for evidence of it under every rock (or verse as the case may be). If your understanding of the meaning of the verses you use as proof are accurate, then I would ay you have a valid argument. Trouble is, no matter which version I read, I don't see those verses as saying what you think they do. If we are indeed approaching the latter days, then it seems likely that the english language would not become a dead language like Latin or Hebrew.
This is the providential argument: English is becoming global because it is God's will so that people who know the Gospel can preach it to the world.
john6809 wrote:However, if human history is to continue for centuries or millenia, it is entirely possible that english is not the "pure" language you think it is.
1. English not a pure language, the KJB's language is pure.
2. The reality that English is widely spoken allows access for the nations to the pure English language (i.e. read and hear the Bible).
3. To claim that the earth is to continue on is exactly the unbelief prophesied of in 2 Peter, which indicates an evolutionary, chaotic, haphazard and chance view of the world. Like, English is just changing by "natural forces", God is not in control, and the Church will probably be extinct soon.
john6809 wrote:You seem to see references in the bible as signifying that the KJV was destined by God to be the one translation that could unify believers around the world.
Yes, but there is more, there is a great latter days outpouring of the Spirit prophesied of. It is not merely having "the KJB" that is some major factor. Everyone could have that book downloaded or sitting on a shelf, but that is not in itself enough.
john6809 wrote:I see those scriptures differently than you, even when I read the KJV. The purpose of my questions was to establish whether you would reject the views of partial preterists who see one of your favourite passages (Zephaniah 3) as being secondarily fulfilled in the church age.
It is not partial preterism that is the issue here, but that there is a false idea that says that their interpretation is mutually exclusive. That is, there is a higher paradigm of interpretation than the narrow confines of partial preterism, and more particularly, above the hermeneutic method by which might limit the meaning and fulfilment of Scripture.
john6809 wrote:If Zephaniah is not prophecying about the "latter days" but rather, the current age of the church, then how could you be so certain that another culture and their language would not rise up and the english language fade away into obscurity?
The question does not make sense. Zephaniah is prophesying about the latter days. And the current age of the Church went from Preterist times to now to the future. We are in the latter days, but not yet seeing the final part of it.
As for being certain about why something else is not being raised up, it is evident on two grounds: Providence and that reality is not perennial. Providence is showing that we are living in the time of increase, where English is becoming global, therefore nothing can displace it. As for the future, you seem to have no framework for the general confines or mechanisations of time. We simply cannot have added on unforeseen events, when the Scripture indicates when and where things are to occur, which I might lay out briefly that the events concerning Syria, Egypt, Russia, the Jews and so on in this present time appear not long to fulfil, and that the period of the following latter day glory cannot be of too great length, lest we accomplish converting all nations before the return of Christ. While it is impossible to say when Christ will return, it is possible to be able to see the upcoming events and how much the world is moving toward them. Therefore, the fulfilment of Zephaniah is fairly imminent.
john6809 wrote:Empires and languages have indeed risen and fallen, according to the humility and faithfulness (or lack thereof) of their citizens. I would suggest that this could (and likely will) happen again if the western world does not change their ways. In the coming decades, we may find that the dominant economy on the planet is Chinese. I suspect that the language would follow likewise. What then? Is there anything in scripture that suggests that another perfect(er) translation will come about? Written in Chinese?
Your speculative view about the Chinese has little credence based on the Bible, except that I expect one day when the Jews are strong Christians, they will have good success with converting plenty of Chinese. I expect that the Gospel can already have a major impact in places like that in the near future, and I expect that Sth America, East Asia and so on are harvest fields.