THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 17 October 2012

Hi all,

As an ordinary Christian believer the words “textual criticism” appear to have almost no validity to the way life is lived. A brief excursion into the topic has convinced me that it’s a good subject to avoid. Sadly, it is not something we can all avoid indefinitely. The mere mention of men like Erasmus, Luther, Tyndale, Burgeon, Westcott and Hort is sufficient to arouse some scholars to the point of decidedly unchristian behaviour. Today’s meditation looks at the doxology in Matt 6:13 and describes one of the differences in translation that I would prefer to avoid. In this instance it’s not possible. So I submit today’s contribution to you for your consideration!

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 17 October 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY
I’ve mentioned before that I attended Marist Brothers College in Walmer, Port Elizabeth in the 1950’s. It was run by the Marist Brothers, a Roman Catholic Order that focused primarily on the education of boys. The fact that I was a protestant attending a Roman Catholic school didn’t seem to be terribly important. Since the head boy in my year was Jewish, it’s reasonable to conclude that teaching was more important than proselytising. Of course, the Roman Catholic influence was very strong. The hourly prayer times included the “Hail Mary” and the Roman Catholic version of the Lord’s (model) Prayer. If you say that you didn’t know there was a special Roman Catholic version, I must hasten to add that the words were identical to the protestant version. With one exception. The doxology was not included. Theirs ended with the words, “deliver us from evil”. For several years this puzzled me. When I opened my KJV Bible and looked at Matthew 6:9-13, I read the prayer with the doxology. As a schoolboy I wasn’t terribly bothered about the difference. It seemed somewhat trivial and I had no idea how “controversial” these words were. As a child, who cares about such trifles anyway? After I committed my life to Jesus Christ, I was aware of the difference but it was nothing to get aroused about. My days of Scriptural “tub-thumping” had not arrived. So I accepted it as one of the “quirks” of Catholicism. Back in the early 1960’s, the only Bible generally available in the UK was the KJV – the “Authorised version” to be pedantic. I did get hold of a JB Philips translation, but it was more of a paraphrase, so any textual variations didn’t matter. The next version I had available was the New English Bible. When I looked at Matt 6:13, the doxology was not included. There was however a marginal note quoting the doxology. My next version was the NIV affectionately called the “Nearly Infallible Version”. The doxology and marginal reference were not there! Since then I’ve learned a little bit about the origin of the various versions. Not enough to really understand the subject. Just enough to keep my nose out of textual criticism and sufficient to realise that the Roman Catholic version and all the English translations since ±1940 appear to come from a common root. I’m sure Roman Catholics would probably object to this comment. The other pre 1940 English translations come from a different root known as the “Received Text”. The principal difference between them seems to be the centrality and deity of Jesus Christ. So which do we use? I love the NIV for clarity and understanding the English. But when I want to know the truth of the Scripture I turn to the KJV. To me it’s still the best! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:13 NLT 1 The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 2 Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. Psalms 93:1-2 ESV 3 The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:3 TNIV 31 What can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 GW 17 We might be thrown into the blazing furnace. But the God we serve is able to bring us out of it alive. He will save us from your powerful hand. Daniel 3:17 NIrV 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. John 10:29 TNIV 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 ESV 1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Psalms 115:1 ESV 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is Yours, O LORD, and this is Your kingdom. We adore You as the One who is over all things. 13 "O our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name! 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to You? Everything we have is from You, and we give You only what You first gave us! 1 Chronicles 29:11, 13-14 NLT	This beautiful doxology is not in many texts. The reason why this is the case, makes many scholars vexed. Some think these words were added, by a very ancient scribe, Who thought that these concluding words all people should imbibe. I’ve known them since my boyhood; and for me to exclude, These words from Jesus’ model prayer, would be unjustly rude. They focus on the Father and magnify the King. They speak of God’s ability, to do most anything, They amplify His glory, which will not ever end. So I express approval of what the Scribe has penned! If Jesus didn’t say them, they were surely in His heart. A tribute to our Holy God, Who has no end or start. It is the Father’s Kingdom, where Jesus reigns as King. An everlasting sovereignty, that He will surely bring, To pass upon this planet, the moment He returns. A prospect so exciting, my heart inside me burns. A place where Satan’s presence is banished, so that he, Can’t deceive the members of all humanity. A time of glorious power, with Jesus on His throne, Ruling all the nations, just by His word alone! An everlasting Kingdom, of righteousness and peace. Where death has been excluded and love will never cease. The little word “forever” is appropriately apt. And where the King’s authority, by no man can be capped. The Father will be with us in this recreated realm, With Jesus and His followers securely at the helm. There’ll be no need for sunshine or moon to light the day. For He Himself will be our light, in each and every way. But what is most important, is Jesus will be there. The saints from all the ages will see their answered prayer! We will recognise Him and fall down at His feet; Lost in rapturous, wonder and savouring as sweet, The knowledge that it’s over. The crown of life is won. And we will spend eternity with Jesus Christ, God’s Son. What could be more important? What more could we desire? Father, Son and Spirit to set our hearts on fire. Eternity to worship, to glorify and praise The Faithful God Whom we can love, through endless, ageless days. Jim Strickland – Written 17th October 2012