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
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 17 October 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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THE
KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY
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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
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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
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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
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