The Gideons Are Not King James Only -
Open Letter Submitted from a Reader about the Gideons: (Used by permission)
I have always felt that there was something just not right about the Gideons, but upon seeing their website (and having attended a meeting in the past), even more so.
Thanks to your insight about different Bible versions, I see now more clearly what Gideons is about. I had seen a presentation about the Gideons that mentioned a member who had been both a Gideon and a Mason.
In the small WV town where my wife's parents live, many who are in the Gideons are also in Masonry and/or Rotary, etc. I had attended one of the Gideon meetings with my father-in-law when we were visiting, and thought it was a little strange at the time.
My wife was talking to her mother a while back, and was told that she was doing a Gideon's International Bible Study Plan. (Her Father is in Gideons, and her mother is in the Gideons Women's Auxiliary.)
Her mother mentioned that she goes through the Bible every year, but uses a different version each year - to get a 'well rounded' view. She is following the Bible reading plan put out by the Gideons to read the Bible in a different version every year.
(I had always thought that the Gideons only placed the KJV, but apparently that isn't true.) I found this quote on the Gideons Website:
"We are often asked if the Gideons use a specific Gideon translation. The answer is No. While we do purchase and place Bibles and New Testaments with the Gideon logo on the front, we do not publish our own version. We only use translation versions that are recognized and accepted by the general Christian church here in North America.
The most common version we distribute in English is the New American Standard Bible (NASB), but in 2011 we began distributing the New Living Translation (NLT). We also distribute the King James Version (KJV) and The New King James Version (NKJV). Which version of the Bible should I read?"
As you can see in the charts below, there have been many translations (or versions) of the Bible over the years. Using the most trustworthy ancient manuscripts that have been preserved, modern scholars have translated God’s message to us from the original languages of Hebrew and Greek into the languages we speak today. Bookstores today stock a wide variety of Bibles ranging from the King James Version, to the New International Version, to The Message—a version that reads very much like a novel.
Which version of the Bible is the best version? It varies from person to person. It might depend on your education level, how often you read or your familiarity with the teachings of the Bible. An important difference between many of today’s Bibles is the choice between a literal, word-for-word translation, versus more of a thought-for-thought translation. Two very popular translations, the New International Version and the New Living Translation, are easy to read but are not as literal in their translation as versions like the New American Standard or the English Standard Version.
Each has its advantages, but the most important thing is that they are all God’s Word. Since every person is unique in what communicates best to them, we do not have one translation we recommend for you to buy. However, if you have never read the Bible before, you are likely to find the thought-for-thought translations best for beginning your journey. When you are more familiar with the Bible and want to dig deeper, you may want to pick up another translation to compare.
http://www.gideons.ca/AbouttheBible/AboutGideonsBibles.aspx
http://www.gideons.ca/AbouttheBible/Aguideforyourjourney.aspx
Pastor's Note: As you can clearly see, the Gideons do not hold to the same beliefs as true Bible-believing Christians that God's holy word, as expressed in the King James Bible, is infallible and unchangeable.
While I commend their efforts to get the Bible into the hands of many all over the world, it is sad to think that the Bible many are being given is not the true word of God.
Gods' word is pure, and does not exist in 'many different versions' nor does it 'vary from person to person' according to their interpretation.
Jesus is the Word made flesh, and He does not change 'over the years' -
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the Lord, I change not."
Psalm 12:6 "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."
(NEXT PAGE - Bible Overview)
Open Letter Submitted from a Reader about the Gideons: (Used by permission)
I have always felt that there was something just not right about the Gideons, but upon seeing their website (and having attended a meeting in the past), even more so.
Thanks to your insight about different Bible versions, I see now more clearly what Gideons is about. I had seen a presentation about the Gideons that mentioned a member who had been both a Gideon and a Mason.
In the small WV town where my wife's parents live, many who are in the Gideons are also in Masonry and/or Rotary, etc. I had attended one of the Gideon meetings with my father-in-law when we were visiting, and thought it was a little strange at the time.
My wife was talking to her mother a while back, and was told that she was doing a Gideon's International Bible Study Plan. (Her Father is in Gideons, and her mother is in the Gideons Women's Auxiliary.)
Her mother mentioned that she goes through the Bible every year, but uses a different version each year - to get a 'well rounded' view. She is following the Bible reading plan put out by the Gideons to read the Bible in a different version every year.
(I had always thought that the Gideons only placed the KJV, but apparently that isn't true.) I found this quote on the Gideons Website:
"We are often asked if the Gideons use a specific Gideon translation. The answer is No. While we do purchase and place Bibles and New Testaments with the Gideon logo on the front, we do not publish our own version. We only use translation versions that are recognized and accepted by the general Christian church here in North America.
The most common version we distribute in English is the New American Standard Bible (NASB), but in 2011 we began distributing the New Living Translation (NLT). We also distribute the King James Version (KJV) and The New King James Version (NKJV). Which version of the Bible should I read?"
As you can see in the charts below, there have been many translations (or versions) of the Bible over the years. Using the most trustworthy ancient manuscripts that have been preserved, modern scholars have translated God’s message to us from the original languages of Hebrew and Greek into the languages we speak today. Bookstores today stock a wide variety of Bibles ranging from the King James Version, to the New International Version, to The Message—a version that reads very much like a novel.
Which version of the Bible is the best version? It varies from person to person. It might depend on your education level, how often you read or your familiarity with the teachings of the Bible. An important difference between many of today’s Bibles is the choice between a literal, word-for-word translation, versus more of a thought-for-thought translation. Two very popular translations, the New International Version and the New Living Translation, are easy to read but are not as literal in their translation as versions like the New American Standard or the English Standard Version.
Each has its advantages, but the most important thing is that they are all God’s Word. Since every person is unique in what communicates best to them, we do not have one translation we recommend for you to buy. However, if you have never read the Bible before, you are likely to find the thought-for-thought translations best for beginning your journey. When you are more familiar with the Bible and want to dig deeper, you may want to pick up another translation to compare.
http://www.gideons.ca/AbouttheBible/AboutGideonsBibles.aspx
http://www.gideons.ca/AbouttheBible/Aguideforyourjourney.aspx
Pastor's Note: As you can clearly see, the Gideons do not hold to the same beliefs as true Bible-believing Christians that God's holy word, as expressed in the King James Bible, is infallible and unchangeable.
While I commend their efforts to get the Bible into the hands of many all over the world, it is sad to think that the Bible many are being given is not the true word of God.
Gods' word is pure, and does not exist in 'many different versions' nor does it 'vary from person to person' according to their interpretation.
Jesus is the Word made flesh, and He does not change 'over the years' -
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
Malachi 3:6 "For I am the Lord, I change not."
Psalm 12:6 "The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."
(NEXT PAGE - Bible Overview)