I believe that the King James Version was inspired by the Holy Spirit and that all modern translations should be avoided. Do you agree that the KJV is infallible?

     While we certainly do not oppose the use of the King James Version and believe that it’s a sound translation of Scripture, we do not believe that it’s the only inspired version of Scripture. It’s important to note that all English translations have errors and mistakes.

One mistake found in the KJV that has been corrected in nearly all other translations is the use of the word “Easter” in Acts 12:4. This word comes from the Greek pascha. Virtually all theologians and biblical scholars agree that pascha refers to the Passover. According to Strong’s, this word refers to “the Passover.” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon agrees, “the paschal sacrifice (which was accustomed to be offered for the people’s deliverance of old from Egypt).” Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary concurs, “…it should be, ‘after the Passover:’ that is, after the conclusion of the festival. (The word employed in our King James Version being an ecclesiastical term of later date, is improperly used here.).”

In addition to the above example, the fact that the KJV went through multiple revisions shows that there were mistakes in the original 1611 translation. For example: consider the below list of original and later corrected passages:

Psalms 69:32

And your heart shall live that seeke good. (1611)

And your heart shall live that seek God. (Corrected)

Ezekiel 24:7

…she set it vpon the toppe of a rocke, she powred it vpon the ground to couer it with dust: (1611)

…she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust; (corrected)

2 Timothy 4:13

The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou commest, bring with thee, but especially the parchments. (1611)

The cloke that I left as Troas with Carpus, when thou commest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. (corrected)

Mark 5:6

But when hee saw Iesus afarre off, he CAME and worshipped Him. (1611)

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he RAN and worshipped Him. (corrected)

In addition to the KJV, all English translations of the Bible contain mistakes, including those based on the Majority and Alexandrian text-types. For example, nearly all English versions of the New Testament contain the Trinitian formula of 1John 5:7, even though scholarship universally agrees that this passage is spurious. Consider the following:

“The text of this verse should read, Because there are three that bear record. The remainder of the verse is spurious. Not a single manuscript contains the trinitarian addition before the fourteenth century, and the verse is never quoted in the controversies over the Trinity in the first 450 years of the church era.,” The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, note on 1 John 5:7-8.

“But it is likely this verse is not genuine. It is wanting in every manuscript of this letter written before the invention of printing, one excepted, the Codex Montfortii, in Trinity College, Dublin: the others which omit this verse amount to one hundred and twelve.It is missing in both the Syriac, all the Arabic, Ethiopic, the Coptic, Sahidic, Armenian, Slavonian, etc., in a word, in all the ancient versions but the Vulgate; and even of this version many of the most ancient and correct MSS. have it not. It is wanting also in all the ancient Greek fathers; and in most even of the Latin,” Adam Clarke’s Commentary, note on 1 John 5:7.

Barnes Notes’ also notes, “…for it must be plain to anyone who examines the subject with an unbiassed mind, that the passages which are relied on to prove that it was quoted by Athanasius, Cyprian, Augustin, etc., (Wetstein, II., p. 725) are not taken from this place, and are not such as they would have made if they had been acquainted with this passage, and had designed to quote it. IV. The argument against the passage from the external proof is confirmed by internal evidence, which makes it morally certain that it cannot be genuine,” note in 1 John 5:7.

In addition to the above, there are numerous other examples of where the English translations of the Bible deviate from the Hebrew and Greek. In fact, there are differences between Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. Does this imply that we cannot trust English translations of the Bible? No, most English translations of the Bible are fairly reliable. Compared to other literary works from antiquity, the integrity of the Bible is quite amazing.

However, based on the fact that there are mistakes and spurious passages in all English translations of the Bible, it’s a good idea to compare trustworthy translations, such as the King James Version, American Standard Version, and Revised Standard Version. Even more importantly is to compare the English to the original language. For the Old Testament this would be Hebrew and for the New Testament this would be Greek (although, YRM believes there is creditable evidence to suggest an original Hebrew New Testament). Resources to accomplish this would include the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, and Thayer’s Greek Lexicon.

     What kind of tongue is referred to in 1 Corinthians 14:2-5? What does Paul mean when he refers to the unknown tongue and no man understanding it? Also, why does he state in verse four that an unknown tongue only edifies the person speaking in the unknown tongue? Lastly, why does he wish all men to speak in tongues, as seen in verse five?

     “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto Elohim: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the assembly. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the assembly may receive edifying,” 1Corinthians 14:2-5.

When trying to understand what Paul is conveying in the above passage, it’s important that we understand the Greek words for “tongues” and “prophesy.”

The phrase “unknown tongue” found in 1Corinthians 14:2 is from the Greek glossa. Strong’s defines glossa as, “…the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired).” Thayer’s states, “…a tongue; the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations.” From these sources, glossa clearly refers to a known language or dialect. This is critically important to understand. As seen in Acts 2, those gathered for Pentecost spoke and heard one another in their native language.

The word “prophesy” comes from the Greek propheteuo and means, “…to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office.” Along with foretelling the future, propheteuo also conveys the thought of simply teaching under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Based on the above definitions and the context of this passage, Paul is confirming that when someone speaks in an unknown tongue, i.e., language, that he only benefits himself. The reason for this is that his language is unknown to the audience.  However, when someone prophesies, i.e., speaks under the inspiration of the Spirit, they benefit all who hear the message.

Regarding your last question as to why Paul wishes all to speak in tongues, we believe the emphasis is not on the gift of tongues, but on the gift of prophecy. He says “…but rather that you prophesied.” From verse 22, Paul verifies that tongues was a sign to the unbeliever, while prophecy was a sign to the believer.

Regarding the “Pentecostal” interpretation of tongues, this is not scriptural and not supported here or elsewhere in the Bible.

    Is the earth a sphere or do we live on a flat earth? Also, are we living in a heliocentric model of the universe?

     The Bible describes the earth as circular in shape. Isaiah 40:22 states, “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.”

The word “circle” derives from the Hebrew chuwg. Strong’s defines this word as a “…from OT:2328; a circle.” The Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon provides a similar quote: “a circle, a circuit, a compass.” Some will agree that the earth is circular in shape, but is flat and not a three-dimensional sphere.

As seen above, BDB expands the definition of chuwg to include a “vault,” which is a three-dimensional shape. It’s also noteworthy that according to Modern Hebrew, chuwg includes the definition of a sphere.

Regarding the heliocentric model, i.e., planets revolve around the sun, the Bible does not have much to say about this. However, we find ample evidence in science for both the heliocentric model and the sphere of the earth.

As early as 500 BCE, Pythagoras of Samos, a well-known Greek mathematician, hypothesized that the sun was sphere-shaped and that the earth rotated around it. As a side note, Pythagorean theorem was named after Pythagoras. Plato (427-347 BCE) and Aristotle (384-322 BCE), along with nearly all Greek writers after the 5th century, alsobelieved in a spherical earth.

Aristotle based his belief on several natural phenomena. For example, he noticed stars that could be seen in Cyrus could not be seen in the northern region. He also observed that when traveling south, the southern constellations rose higher above the horizon. In addition, he noticed that during a lunar eclipse the shadow of the earth was circular.

This theory was gradually accepted through late antiquity and the Middle-Ages and would eventually replace the idea of a flat earth. Today, this has been further confirmed by modern science, including thousands of pictures from space verifying the earth is spherical in shape.

From our perspective, the thought of hundreds of thousands of world leaders, scientists, graphic artists, engineers, and staff of every space agency in the world, private and international, engaged in a worldwide conspiracy to deceive the masses is not reasonable. This belief has also caused unnecessary division within the body of Messiah.