So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, "Alas, master! for it was borrowed." And the man of God said, "Where fell it?" And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, "Take [it] up to thee." And he put out his hand, and took it ..." (II Kings 6:1-6 King James)
Because some say the King James version is too difficult to read, they've opted for rewritten versions (like the NIV) that the authors then copyright and make money on. Thus, for clarity, I looked at this same scripture from II Kings 6:1-6 in the New International version to see if it differed. Interestingly, less words but noticeable changes. From the NIV:
"The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”And he said, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied. And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it." (II Kings 6:1-6 NIV)
"The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”And he said, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied. And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it." (II Kings 6:1-6 NIV)
What do you see? What I find most interesting (and likely those who work in the construction sector would as well) is how the notable beam used for building a larger place for them to stay (a beam in the KJV) is reduced to a pole. But didn't the sons of the prophets (not "company of prophets" as the NIV states) begin cutting down wood/trees when they arrived in Jordan? Unless of course, the re-writers were thinking of a tent, wouldn't it be difficult to make a pole from a tree?
Moving forward, the other notable point between the translated and the revisionist version is that in the first. Elisha the prophet simply tells the servant to "take [the axe head that had fallen in the water] up to thee!" But in the NIV, the miracle of finding the axe head was attributed to Elisha -- for making the axe head float.
The question then -- who performed the miracle? Is it Elisha or the Lord God Almighty?
Most certainly, I know the answer to that question but I have to wonder why the authors of the NIV did not, particularly given the history between Elijah and Elisha (son of Shaphat) -- "when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee." And Elisha said, "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy s/Spirit be upon me." (II Kings 2:9)
Elisha wanted the same Spirit of the Lord God to be upon him too, but a double portion. Therefore, it would be safe to say that it was the double portion of the Spirit of the Lord God that lifted that axe head out of the water, and not Elisha. Further, the events that followed made it apparent.
"And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, "The s/Spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him." (II Kings 2:15)
What else should we know?
Well, in II Kings 2:22, the waters were healed according to Elisha's saying. This happened just after the waters parted so Elisha could cross. (II Kings 2:15) And some time later -- "Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, "Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou know that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen."
What does Elisha ask the woman? "What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house?" And she said, "Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil." And Elisha instructs the woman what to do with the oil -- to sell the oil and pay the debt, and live thou with thy children on what remains. (II Kings 4:1-2)
In fact, there are many more miraculous occurrences in Elisha's life. But the rationale for referring to II Kings 6:1-6 is two-fold: first, to focus on Elisha's faith, and second, to obtain clarity from the scriptures through a "translated" Bible -- wherein, each word is translated into the english language. But I digress somewhat.
Certainly, Elisha knew in whom he served. Elisha knew that when he stepped out by faith, that the Spirit of the Lord God was with him, and upon him, and would bring forward the necessary miracles.
Moving forward until today -- we who proclaim to believe in the risen Jesus by faith, and have been water baptized in His precious, holy name according to Acts 2:36-41 should have some idea of what that double portion of the Spirit of the Lord w/c/should look like manifesting in our own lives -- "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." (I Corinthians 2:4)
As we know, apostle Paul writes extensively on the gifts of the Holy Ghost -- the same Spirit of the Lord God that was in the old testament, still desiring to dwell within us, so He can comfort us, strengthen us, edify us, teach us, and guide our steps. His invitation asking us to "Come" extends to the last page of Revelation, indicating how very much the Lord God loved us -- to willingly become our Saviour.
As we grow in the faith, we begin to understand how much the Lord Jesus wants to flow through us -- giving to each and every one of us His gifts, the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Not just one but as the scriptures state --"severally as He will." (I Corinthians 12:11) How do we know? Apostle Paul would not have us ignorant concerning spiritual. Thus, Paul explains the diversities of gifts, operations, and the differences of operations, aides, that are gifted to us when we focus on the risen Jesus as both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
And this manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. Did you catch that? The same Spirit of the Lord God that Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion from -- is the One and Same Holy Ghost who wants to pour out His Spirit on you.
So, what are these gifts? From I Corinthians 12, these include:
The word of wisdom; the word of knowledge; faith; the gifts of healing; the working of miracles; prophecy; discerning of spirits; divers kinds of tongues (tongues of men and tongues of angels); the interpretation of tongues. These are in addition to aides, prophecy [preaching the good news gospel]; administrations, offerings, and operations. All these gifts are given by that one and selfsame Spirit.
And the same Spirit will ensure that within the body of Christ church, there will be apostles, and prophets, and teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are we all one and the same, like cardboard cutouts? Of course not. But we are made in His image and He knows what we need even before we ask. Nevertheless, an important component of receiving is that our hearts desire spiritual gifts.
Apostle Paul reaffirms that we who believe are to covet earnestly the best gifts, not forgetting charity -- where we flow through the love of the Lord Jesus to one another.
One final point, Paul writes, "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." (I Corinthians 12:3; John 13:13; I John 4:2-3)
That should provide some further study of the scriptures this day.
Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment