INC ministers use different bible translations and versions to suit its doctrines?

Many INC critics say that the ministers choose and use different bible translations and versions to suit INC doctrines. For example, what was written in almost translation of bibles in Acts 20:28 is that "to feed the church of God" and to suit INC doctrine, ministers choose Lamsa translation to show that it is the "church of Christ" who purchased by Christ's blood.


But, IS THIS TRUE?

Here i what stated from the Pasugo:

Using only one Bible version in both written and oral discourse seems practical and expedient. This would not pose any problem if and when those who translated various languages are completely free of bias or theologically neutral. Unfortunately, they are not. And this has resulted not only in differences in shades of meaning in some portions of the verse, but also in differences in interpretation of the entire passage:

"All translations involves interpretation. Interpretation, of course, involves the influence of theology; and as all translation involves interpretation, so all translation involves theology. ......... Translators cannot avoid totally the necessity of making interpretive decisions, nor can they avoid completely the influence of personal views of truth on their work. Translation in not hermeneutically neutral and translators are not theologically neutral." (Accuracy of Translation, p.41)

For these reasons there are times when it is necessary to choose the version that is not only easier to comprehend, but most of all renders the precise meaning---thus, the need to use more than one version of the Bible.

How do we determine which particular version of the Bible to use? Apostle Paul taught the guiding principle when it comes to the teachings written in the Holy Scriptures:

"But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."

"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. 2:10,13

Spiritual truth must be compared with spiritual truths, and in doing so, there must be no contradiction. Hence, if a term or phrase in particular version contradicts the true doctrine, then there is an error in the translation. Therefore it behooves us to use a version that does not contradict the biblical truth.

However, an important thing must be understood when it come to comparing spiritual truths with spiritual truths. A preacher of the gospel must be sent or duly commissioned by God for him to receive the Holy Spirit and be able to correctly compare spiritual truths and spiritual things. Hence, not everyone can rightfully explain the contents of the Bible. Apostle Paul said,

"And how shall they preach unless they are sent? ..... Rom. 10:15

John the Baptist also taught the importance of being sent by God:

"The one whom God has sent speaks God's words, because God gives him the fullness of his Spirit." Jn. 3:34

God gave the knowledge of His words only to His messengers. They are the ones entrusted with the ministry and the message of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18-20), and thus they are the ones who can rightfully teach the contents of the Holy Scriptures. People should listen to their preaching to be able to know and understand the will of God expressed in His Holy book.

source: Pasugo issue June 2004 studyiglesianicristo.com

INC ministers do not intend to use different translations and versions of the bible to favor our side, but they choose intelligently. In the example ive given above, the INC use Lamsa translation because it doesnt contradict the rest of the Holy Scripture. Because how can God purchased the church by his blood where in the first place, God is invisible, a spirit, meaning no flesh and bones. We all know that it is Christ and not God who died in the cross for our sins:

"You know that in the past you were living in a worthless way, a way passed down from the people who lived before you. But you were saved from that useless life. You were bought, not with something that ruins like gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ, who was like a pure and perfect lamb." I peter 1:18-19


"and from Jesus Christ. Jesus is the faithful witness, the first among those raised from the dead. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is the One who loves us, who made us free from our sins with the blood of his death." Rev. 1:5

So, Lamsa Translation is accurate on Acts 20:28, but we are not relying ONLY to Lamsa translation and Moffat Translation in our doctrines, as other alleged, but we use different versions and translations for us to fully understand what the INC teaches.

Every bible translation and version differs a little bit in one another, others use modern terms for us to understand clearly, here is an example (see differences):

On Phillipians 2:6

who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God 21st century KJV

Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. CEV

He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Easy to read version

He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Good News translation

He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. The message

Christ himself was like God in everything. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit. New Century Version

Jesus has always been as God is. But He did not hold to His rights as God. New Life VErsion

See those differences? If the author of the bible is a devout Catholic or let us say, believe that Jesus is God, he will say "Jesus is God" or "Jesus was truly God" instead of saying "being in the form of God" or "who is like God".

"Jesus is god" to "Jesus is like God"/"Jesus being in the form of God" is different.

Why?

We, humans are created "in the likeness" of God, or should i say "in the form of God" as what is stated:

"And that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." eph. 4:23-24

The verse above is also the answer about what was written in Genesis 1:26,

"Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image and likeness. And let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the tame animals, over all the earth, and over all the small crawling animals on the earth."

Again, we are made in God's likeness, it doesnt mean we are also GODS but we are created in righteousness and holiness. sadly, we failed God's standard as we all have SINNED:

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Rom. 3:23

While Christ, as we all know, THE ONLY HUMAN WHO DID NOT COMMIT SIN:

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

Meaning, it is only Christ who passed God's standard on creating humans, he did not commit sin so it is not wrong to say he is in the form of God, because he is holy and righteous.


Back to the topic...

These are the reasons why the INC do not use only one bible version/translation as nonmembers will accuse us having "favorite version" and so on. And if the INC use different bible versions, they will accuse us as to "favor our side". They are so confusing as they do the best they can just to malign and attack the INC.

Again, there is no "favorite bible" in the INC, ministers choose best version/translation for a particular verse not mainly because it will favor our side but because for us to understand the message clearly and so it should be that the chosen one will not contradict the rest of the scriptures.

INC members are prohibited to read the bible?

One of the accusations of non members to the INC is that INC members are forbidden to read the bible by ministers as it can be seen that they do not bring bibles on worship services.


IS THIS TRUE?

Well, we all know the answer.

NO. The members are not prohibited to read the bible, and for your information, it is the ministers who encourage us to read the bible especially to those who are examining the beliefs of the INC. BUT there is an exception, we are not prohibited to read the bible as long as we will not give our own interpretation to the verses of the bible.


As what written in Pasugo:

There is no such prohibition for members of the Church of Christ to read the Bible. Indeed, everyone must benefit from the enormous wisdom the Bible offers, and everyone must understand the "truth" or the words of God (Jn.17:17), especially in the matters concerning man's salvation.

And, we do not agree with the belief that the Bible is an "open book" or that it can be understood by simply reading it. To illustrate this point, let's turn to the Bible and examine the case of the Ethiopian Eunuch:

". . . . The Eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, 'Go over and walk along besides the carriage'. Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the book of Isaiah; so he asked, ' Do you understand what you are reading?' The man replied, 'How can I, when there is no one to instruct me?' And he begged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him." Acts 8:27-31

In the preceding biblical passages we see that the Eunuch was already reading the book of Isaiah. But, when asked if he understood what he was reading, his reply was, "How can I, when there's no one to instruct me?"

Therefore, no matter how educated we are, we need someone to instruct us. This is because the words of God written in the Bible have been hidden in mystery (Rom. 6:25). It is not the case that one who reads and studies the Bible will definitely come to the knowledge of the truth (II Tim. 3:7).

It really doesn't take a genius to read and understand the Bible. Rather, it takes a messenger of God to understand it and teach us. God's messengers understand the words of God written in the Bible because they have been entrusted with God's words (IICor. 5:18-19). No wonder the Eunuch by himself could not understand the Scriptures without the messenger explaining it to him. So, Philip taught him the words of God. In one of his epistles, Apostle Paul says:

"And how shall they preach unless they are sent?" Rom. 10:15

source: pasugo issue June 2003 studyiglesianicristo.com

How about during worship services, are you still encourage to bring a bible?

Straight from a pasugo issue:

"...During the Church worship services, INC do everything in a fitting and orderly way (I Cor. 14:40). One way is not having many members as teachers (Jas. 3:1). The bringing of bibles into worship services will just disrupt orderliness. The officiating minister reads appropriate passages and the rest of the congregation listen."

You can bring a pen and a paper so that you can write the verses cited by the ministers, and on your home you can find and read whatever verses you wrote on your paper.

As you observed on our worship services, the lessons taught are in a question and answer form, its like the lesson are delivered in a speech. Its not like protestant pastors and priests who will read a verse and tell his own interpretation about it, in that case, you can bring your bible because he will make an explanation first before he proceed to another topic, while in our worship services, they just read the question and answer form of lesson from the Church admin. so you wont be able to find the page of the chapter and verse immediately and you will not able to focus in the message the minister is saying...