Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation

Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed your overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood." - Acts 20:28 (Lamsa version)

There are those who criticize the Iglesia Ni Cristo for their use of the Lamsa version when quoting Acts 20:28. Critics say that the phrase "church of Christ" as written in the Lamsa version is incorrect and that the correct one is "church of God". Furthermore, they claim that there are no existing manuscripts that can be used to support the rendition "church of Christ" and that Lamsa is the only version which contains "church of Christ".

Other English Versions

These critics are misinformed because Lamsa is not the only version containing the phrase "church of Christ". Below are some other English versions containing similar renderings.

Etheridge Translation:
"Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to the whole flock over which the Spirit of Holiness hath constituted you the bishops; to pasture the church of the Meshiha [Christ] which he hath purchased with his blood."

Disciples New Testament:
"Therefore, take care of yourselves, and of all the congregation in which you have been appointed through the holy Spirit as bishops, to shepherd the church of Jesus Christ, that which he established by his blood."

Early Manuscripts

Regarding manuscripts supporting the rendering "church of Christ", there are in fact existing ones. The English translation of the verse in Syriac Manuscripts such as MS Syriac 4 (12th century), MS Syriac 325 (12th Century), MS Syriac 27 (16th century), and the Novum Testamentum Syriace (17th century) read "Church of Christ."

Ezra Abbot, a New Testament Textual Criticism scholar, listed some of the earlier manuscripts containing the reading "church of Christ".

Admittedly, there are more manuscripts supporting other variant readings and that those manuscripts are even written in Greek. However, no rule of reasoning compels us to conclude with certainty that one particular reading is correct based on its quantity alone. We must remember that the greek manuscripts we have are not the originals but are just copies which can also contain transcription errors.

Ancient Versions

Also, there are evidence that the Syriac texts we currently have, whether they are transcriptions or translations, are better than some Greek texts, so we should not in any way disregard the value of the Syriac texts. Syriac is an Aramaic dialect into which most of the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament were first translated. Consulting Syriac manuscripts can help settle controversies in the Greek manuscripts.

Aside from Syriac manuscripts, the phrase "Church of Christ" can also be found in Acts 20:28 in Peshitta Aramaic Text which when translated into English, reads: "Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to the whole flock over which the Spirit of Holiness hath constituted you the bishops; to pasture the church of Christ which he hath purchased with his blood." Peshitta Acts 20:28

Early "church fathers"

In addition to the ancient versions, we also have witnesses in the quotations of the early "church fathers". Among these are those of Athanasius, Theodoret, Pseudo-Athanasius, and Pseudo-Fulgentius.

Internal Evidence

Most importantly, we can turn to internal scripture evidence to see whether the rendition "church of Christ" is correct or not. Apostle Paul says, "These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (I Cor. 2:13, King James Version).

Spiritual things will not contradict with other spiritual things when they are compared with one another. In no way will they manifest disagreement, but only harmony and unity. They go together perfectly well-at all times. With this apostolic method of teaching, nothing is added to or taken away from the Word. Consequently, when one Bible verse seems to clash in meaning with another verse, the former or the latter is either mistranslated or misinterpreted.

Based on scriptural evidence, we can conclude that "church of Christ" is the more accurate rendition because the latter part of the verse states, "which he purchased with his own blood". The rendering "church of God" would mean that it is God who died and shed blood on the cross. This would contradict other bible verses that teach God is immortal (1 Timothy 1:17) and that God is a spirit (John 4:24), has no flesh and bones (Lk. 24:36-39), and therefore has no blood. It is the Lord Jesus Christ's blood, which washed the members of the Church of their sins (I Pt. 1:18-19; Rev. 1:5).

REFERENCES:

[1] The Authorship of the Fourth Gospel and other Critical Essays, Ezra Abbot

[2] Khabouris Codex

Source: Mister and Misis

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The word church as used in the bible refers to that entity that Christ built (Mt. 16:18). He called it “my church”. That church built by Christ had doctrines that distinguish it from those built by others which, because they were not built have no right to claim that they are of Christ. Such doctrines are written in the bible and the only church whose doctrines are identical with those written in the bible is that one built by Christ. Christ said he is the door and anyone who enters in shall be saved (Jn. 10:9). He also said that he is the door of the sheep (Jn. 10:7). Sheep means God’s people (Ps. 100:3) or the flock wjich is the Church of Christ (Acts 20:28, LAMSA).

Thus, if you are not in the flock or you do not belong to the church of Christ, you will not be saved. Lamsa’s version is accurate because the one who actually shed HIS BLOOD FOR THE CHURCH IS CHRIST. God, being a spirit (Jn. 4:24), has no flesh and bones (Lk. 24:36-39) and thus HAS NO BLOOD. The other bible versions is not accurate for God has no blood. The Bible list several names for the one church built by Christ. It is called “Church of God” (I thess. 2:14), “Church of the living God” (I tim. 3:15) and more. This Church of God is also of Christ because whatever is of God is also of Christ (Jn. 16:15;17:9-10).

It is called the Church of the Lord (Acts 20:28, American Standard Version) but the Lord referred to here is the one who shed his blood for the church and this is the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:36) who washed the members of the Church with his own blood (Rev. 1:5).

A jesuit scholar, Rev. Francis B. Cassilly, in his book Religion: Doctrine and practice, states that the Church built by Christ from the earliest times has been called after him, the Christian church or the church of Christ, the only true Church and the one which god orders all men to join. To refuse to join this true church is to disobeys God’s orders.