I was engaging in a discussion online regarding Christianity and the pathways to Deconstruction with some like-minded peers. The topic of the Epicurean Paradox came up and I linked an article to it via Wikipedia for ease of circulation & reference. A devout member chimed in, dismissing the entire premise by saying, “I don’t trust Wikipedia—anyone can edit it.” I shared that edits can make things tricky, much like King James did to the Bible in the 1600’s. They rebutted that he didn’t “edit it” he “translated” it.
I can understand how the Epicurean Paradox can be unsettling for those that do read it, especially if one is a present believer. But what stuck with me more was their inclination to dismiss Wikipedia which has a transparent history of their changes, and yet believe with their full chest that the Bible is a more trustworthy source. Factually, King James commissioned a new translation. It was driven by political and religious motivations. So, I figured I’d write on that topic at length.
The Comma Johanneum is:
1 John 5: 7-8
7: For there are three that testify.1 John 5: 7-8
7: For there are three that bear record in Heaven:the Father, The Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.For ease, the bolded section above is the Comma Johanneum.
The Comma Johanneum is included in some texts, and not others. It is the only verse in the Bible that in black & white speaks of the Trinity. It is my position that this was added to strengthen the validity of the Church’s goals. The need for this to be added shows the fragility of this doctrine’s scriptural basis.
Jerome was commissioned by Pope Damasus I (382) to revise the Vetus Latina Gospels used by the Roman Church. On his own, he extended the work to include most books of the bible. This became known as the Latin Vulgate, a 4th century Bible.
Jerome’s translation made no record of the Comma. Later scribes added the Comma into the Vulgate, falsely attributing it to Jerome’s authority.
Erasmus produced the Novum Instrumentum Omne, a set of bilingual Latin to Greek
New Testament. He left out the Comma Johanneum due to lack of any known manuscripts.
Under pressure from the Church eager to defend the Trinity, he was told to include it. He continued to press against
this as there was no known manuscript that supported this. Imagine his surprise when one suddenly appeared that supported the Comma, forcing Erasmus' hand.
Daniel 6 in the Geneva version is the story of Daniel in the lion's den. "For he [Daniel] disobeyed the king’s wicked commandment in order to obey God, and so he did no injury to the king who ought to command nothing by which God would be dishonored.”For reference, the King had stated nobody can pray to anyone but the king, and Daniel defied it.
This point alone is but one example of obeying God over Kings. If I put on my ‘Believer Hat’ and adopt a Christian Mindset, shouldn’t we all obey God over Kings? How many other times has the bible been edited to fit an agenda?
The word often translated as ‘virgin’ is ‘almah’, which means ‘young woman’ not necessarily a virgin. The word ‘serpent’ in Genesis is ‘nachash’, and is later interpreted as Satan.
Beyond King James’s version, all versions of the bible have been edited, and we have no idea how many times this has transpired.
In my heart of hearts, my belief remains firm. The Bible, like any other text passed through human hands is not immune to editing, and perversion. Scripture is based in as much piety as it is power. This article is not meant to destroy comfort, or inspire wrath, but to perhaps help the Seekers of truth in their quest for true freedom.
