Beware of false prophets

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets who come to you in the name of the King James Bible, bearing new revelations never before seen or heard. One such “revelator” is Gary Rovarino. He is one of the founders of the King James Bible Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, which idea may initially put him in a position of general respect among defenders of the King James Bible. He advertises himself as “knowing and elaborating of the hidden-inner most workings of the revelations of God in the King James Bible.” Such hubris should be warning enough, though perhaps it is not for some weak believers struggling to support their continued use of the King James Bible. A “prophet” who can reveal “Never Before Seen REVELATION of John 3:16” is not a Bible prophet. Gary Rovarino is a “false friend” of the King James Bible. Beware. (Additionally, be aware that Gary Rovarino is also known as G. John Rov. He writes under that pen name.)

The biblical faith is a grounded and settled faith, truth established on a rock, openly taught and passed down from generation to generation. It does not require a false foundation from mysterious math that can only be rendered visible by a secret scholar seeking sickly sheep. Be a Berean!

Jude exhorts us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (verse 3). Note that the biblical faith is a “once delivered” faith. “Never before seen” revelations of John 3:16 – or any other text – should be an immediate wake-up call for the Bible believer. Certainly, there are new things you and I will learn from the Bible, but that is not because they were never before seen or heard until some modern-day false prophet came along. It is things that we just have not noticed before but that have been there all along – in the open, and believed by others before us! 

The biblical faith is a passed-down faith. The apostles taught all things that Jesus commanded them (Matthew 28:19), and these truths have been taught in and by churches of the Lord Jesus Christ from that time to this day. A new thing not known before now is a false thing not taught to the apostles by Jesus and not passed down from the apostles through the churches. What Paul received, he also delivered (1 Corinthians 11:23; 15:1). The teachings were committed to faithful men who passed them on (2 Timothy 2). John declared what he had seen and heard (1 John 1:3, 5). Peter taught what he received, and put his hearers in remembrance of it (2 Peter 1:15-16). This nature of truth is consistently established in the New Testament, that the disciples passed on the faith once delivered to the saints. A deliverer of new things we should not bear with (2 Corinthians 11:4).

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Acts 20:20-31

Family singing

“Why should we be ashamed to let our neighbors know that we owned and praised God in our families as well as our churches? … The occasion of the Jailor’s conversion, was by the singing of Paul and Silas; and we know not how many persons may be converted by our practising this duty; and this I may say, that it is a very ready way to discountenance profane songs, and to promote religion. O that it could be said of us, as it was of the primitive christians, who, instead of singing profane songs, used nothing but spiritual and divine hymns; so that, (as St. Jerom relates of the place where he lived), you could not go into the field, but you might hear the ploughman at his hallelujahs, the mower at his hymns, and the vine-dresser singing David’s Psalms.” 

Unknown writer, quoted by John Dobell in his “Preface” to A New Selection of Seven Hundred Evangelical Hymns for Private, Family, and Public Worship: (Many Original) from more than Two Hundred of the Best Authors in England, Scotland, Ireland, & America, Arranged in an alphabetical order; Intended as a Supplement to Dr. Watts’s Psalms and Hymns (Morris-Town: Peter A. Johnson, 1810, p. v).

Bless, O Lord, the congregation

1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1. May the Holy Ghost descending,
Crown this message with success;
We are on his power depending,
He, and he alone, can bless,
By revealing
Christ the Lord, our Righteousness.

2. We have listen’d to the preacher,
Truth by him has now been shown;
But we want a greater Teacher,
From the everlasting throne;
Application
Is the work of God alone.

3. Bless, O Lord, the congregation
Now assembled in this place;
Bless the tidings of salvation,
Bless us with thy heavenly grace
And in glory
May we all behold thy face.

This hymn was written by Joseph Irons, an English preacher, author, and hymn writer. He was born in 1785 in Ware. He was a good friend of John Newton. After the death of Newton, Irons joined the Non-comformists. He became pastor of the Grove Chapel, Camberwell, London in 1819 and held that position for 33 years. He died April 3, 1852.

I did not find this hymn in the hymnbook Zion’s Hymns, Composed by Joseph Irons, for the Use of Church and Congregation, Assembling in Grove Chapel, Camberwell. In his writings, Thomas Bradbury, who followed later as pastor of Grove Chapel, often mentioned these words as belonging to Joseph Irons.

According to John Julian, though Irons’s “hymns are powerful and at times poetical…because of their strong Calvinistic teaching have failed to become popular.” As a result, his hymns are “seldom found” in many hymnal collections. For that reason also, many of his hymns are not paired with tunes. The above hymn is meter 8.7.8.7.4.7. Such a meter is often paired with tunes that are 8s.7s. Doubled, by repeating the line of four to make it eight, and then repeating the last two lines again. I think Beach Spring would be a good tune for this hymn.

Joseph Irons’s son – William Josiah Irons – was also a minister and hymn writer.

Collected over the holidays

...and a couple of my own.

“I just realized how pharisaical I am about Pharisees.” -- Steve Brown

“Before you use God’s word as a sword, use it first as a mirror.” -- Unknown

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” -- W. T. Purkiser

“The Bible doesn’t work like Facebook, where your likes or opinions matter. God’s word is true regardless of whether you agree with it or not.” -- Unknown

“God is not who you think he is – he is who he says he is.” -- Tony Evans

“There will be one time when you attend church that will be your last time.” -- Mack Page

“The more one speaks, the more one misspeaks.” -- Unknown

“The bigger the belfry, the more room for the bats.” -- Peter Ruckman

“Use the Bible to help you live right, not to help you prove you’re right.” -- Unknown

“Indifferentism about doctrine makes no heroes of the faith.” -- J. Gresham Machen

“If you’re not hungry for Jesus, you’re probably too full of yourself.” -- Unknown

Your deceased Christian loved ones are not just part of your past, they are also part of your future.

When hungry people ask for bread,
But rather with a stone are fed;
’Tis like the sinner hopeless, dead,
 For gospel, given works instead. 

The posting of quotes by human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify if possible.)

Abusing the word of God

It was deceitfully challenged by that old serpent.

• Yea, hath God said… Genesis 3:1

It was violently broken by the angry servant Moses.

• ...Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. Exodus 32:19

It was ignorantly forgotten by the Jewish leaders.

• And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 2 Kings 22:8

It was unscrupulously marred by King Jehoiakim.

• And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Jeremiah 36:23

It was effectively sterilized by accumulated tradition.

• making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:13

It was foolishly mocked by Gentile philosophers.

• And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked... Acts 17:32

but the word of God is not bound. 2 Timothy 2:9

but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. 1 Peter 1:25

The Lord’s day and the Sabbath

Acts 20:7 assembling in Troas

Verse 7a: They met “upon the first day of the week.”[1] Many who observe the Seventh-Day Sabbath cite Canon 29 of the Council of Laodicea to support their claim that here occurred a post-apostolic change from Christians keeping the Sabbath (Saturday) to keeping the first day of the week (Sunday).[2] Canon 29 states: “Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ.” However, the first day of the week is historically shown to be time of gathering in early writings such as those ascribed to Barnabas, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus – all before the edict of Laodicea in the 4th century.[3] In New Testament times, Christians are already found meeting on the first day of the week, the day of the Lord’s resurrection (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19, 26; I Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10).[4] Christ our firstfruits rose on the first day of the week, the day of the feast of firstfruits, the first day after the Sabbath after Passover. See I Corinthians 15:20, 23 and Leviticus 23:9ff. Jesus Christ was sacrificed as the Passover lamb (I Corinthians 5:7), and was raised up as firstfruits to God.

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[1] “The Greek word μια for ‘first’ is a cardinal number and not an ordinal number indicating the saints met on day one of the week for worship.” Baptist New Testament Commentary, 2013, p. 356.
[2] The Council of Laodicea was composed of about thirty representatives from Asia Minor who convened circa AD 364 in Laodicea. This is the same Laodicea mentioned in the epistle to the Colossians and the book of Revelation.
[3] For example, Justin Martyr, who lived in the 100s AD, in his First Apology, Chapter 57 wrote, “And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things.” Ignatius of Antioch, circa AD 250, wrote of “no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death…” Epistle to the Magnesians, Chapter 9. See also Tertullian, An Answer to the Jews, Chapters 2-4.
[4] Though the first day of the week is not specifically mentioned, both Acts 21:4 and 28:14 emphasize tarrying with disciples in a certain place for seven days. The significant Day of Pentecost, or feast of weeks, also occurred on the first day of the week (Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:9-12; Acts 2:1).

The Babe of Bethlehem

Henry Beer wrote the following Christmas hymn. Beer was an elder of the Apostolic Christian Church, and according to the historian Perry A. Klopfenstein, “The Babe of Bethlehem” “is one of the most popular ‘Christmas carols’ in the Apostolic Christian Church.” Of the hymn Klopfenstein wrote, “As a florist, [Henry Beer] noted how worldly people put up nativity displays at Christmas. To them the displays apparently had little meaning, and there was no representation of the Cross of Christ. So he wrote a song about it.” (Marching to Zion: a History of the Apostolic Christian Church of America, 1847-1982, Fort Scott, KS: Sekan Printing Co., 1984, p. 475) “The Babe of Bethlehem” is No. 36 in Hymns of Faith, a Sunday School song book which Beer helped compile. The music is ascribed simply to “M. Y. R.”

1. The blessed story of the Christ,
The babe of Bethlehem,
Is worthy of our song and praise,
And stirs the hearts of men.
The fullness of God’s love divine,
Surrounds the Christ so mild,
Alas! how many only know
The Saviour as a child.

2. Our saving hope is all in vain,
If here our love should cease,
For in the man of Galilee
We find the gift of peace.
’Tis not the babe, but Christ the man,
Who walked in Galilee:
’Tis not the manger, but the cross,
That sets the spirit free.

3. Be not content this babe to know,
Nor stay at Bethlehem,
But go with Christ to Calvary’s brow,
Beyond Jerusalem.
’Tis there men learn to know the Christ,
For there he bore man’s sin;
Then open wide the door of heart
And let the Saviour in. 

Henry Beer was born November 14, 1900 in Richland County, Ohio, the son of Simon Beer and Kathryn Meister. He married Alice Getz in 1924. Henry Beer died June 29, 1983, after over 50 years in ministry. Alice Beer died in 1985. She and Henry are buried at the Milford Cemetery in Milford, Kosciusko County, Indiana.

The Silver Lining, July 1983, Volume 33, No. 7, p. 1

The Birth and Early Days of Jesus

The Birth and Early Days of Jesus: a Chronological and Logical Harmonization of Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, John 1, and Galatians 4:4-5.

John 1:^{1-3, 14} The Word Made Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

Matthew 1:¹⁸ The Virgin Birth Summary

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Luke 1:^26-38 Annunciation (Angelic Birth Announcement to Mary)

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:^39-56 Mary Lodges with Elisabeth (2 songs and 3 months)

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Matthew 1:^19-25 Annunciation (Angelic Birth Announcement to Joseph)

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Luke 2:^1-7 The Nativity of Jesus

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:^8-20 Announcement (A Host of Angels and Shepherds Making Haste)

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2:^21-38 Circumcision and a Visit to the Temple (Simeon and Anna)

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Matthew 2:^1-12 The Visit of the Wise Men

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Matthew 2:^13-18 The Flight to Egypt and Bloodshed in Bethlehem

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Matthew 2:^19-23 Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Journey to Nazareth

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Luke 2:^39-40  The Growth of the Nazarene

And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Galatians 4:^4-5 Fulfillment and Redemption

but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,to redeem them that were under the law...

Songs of Degrees

 Song of degrees

“Song of Degrees” is the title or superscription of fifteen Psalms, 120 through 134. In English the titles are “A Song of degrees” (10), A Song of degrees of David” (4), and “A song of degrees for Solomon” (1). Each of these start with the following Hebrew superscriptions (transliterated): “Shir HaMa'aloth” (120, 123, 125-126, 128-130, 132, 134. Hebrew: שיר המעלות), “Shir LaMa'aloth” (121. Hebrew: שיר למעלות), “Shir HaMa'aloth Dovid” (122, 124, 131, 133. Hebrew: שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לְדָוִד), “Shir HaMa'aloth Shlomo” (127. Hebrew: שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לִשְׁלֹמֹה). 

The Song of degrees for Solomon stands in the middle of these 15 songs, with 7 songs before it and 7 songs after it. Lord (Jehovah) is found 3 times in the 127th Psalm, and 25 times in the 7 songs on each side of it.[i] Two “of David” come before the Song of degrees for Solomon, and two come after it.

 

Differences of opinion exist, but a main traditional speculation is that “It seems most probable they were designed for the use of the people when going up (cf. 1 Kings 12:27-28) to Jerusalem on the festival occasions (Deuteronomy 16:16), three times a year” (Jamieson-Faucett-Brown). John Gill mentions “...the common opinion of the Jews, and which is embraced by many Christians, and is mentioned by Jarchi, Saadiah Gaon, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, is, that these are the songs sung by the Levites, on the fifteen steps, by which they went up from the court of the women to the court of the Israelites, or came down them; and on each step sung one of these psalms.”

The use of Lord (Jehovah)

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[i] According to Palmer Robertson, there are 24 on each side (The Flow of the Psalms, O. Palmer Robertson, P&R Publishing, 2015, pp. 232–233).

God, at all times

At my lowest, God is my Hope.

At my darkest, God is my Light.

At my weakest, God is my Strength.

At my saddest, God is my Comforter.

Author Unknown. I would add that, in addition to the comfort we receive in this knowledge when we are at our lowest, darkest, weakest, and saddest – God is all these things at all times.

’Tis Jesus’ precious blood

1 Peter 1:18-19 forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot

1. What sacred fountain yonder springs
Up from the throne of God,
And all our cov’nant blessings brings?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

2. What mighty sum paid all my debt,
When I a bond-man stood,
And has my soul at freedom set?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

3. What stream is that which sweeps away
My sins, just like a flood,
Nor lets one guilty blemish stay?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

4. What voice is that which speaks for me
In heaven’s high court, for good,
And from the curse hath set me free?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

5. What theme, my soul, shall best employ
Thy harp before thy God,
And make all heaven to ring with joy?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

I have seen “What sacred fountain yonder springs” credited both to Joseph Irons and his son William Josiah Irons. William Gadsby credits it to the father “J. Irons,” titles it “Precious Blood,” and connects it to 1 Peter 1:19. This is the correct attribution. This hymn was written by Joseph Irons and published as No. 234 in his hymnbook Zion’s Hymns, Composed by Joseph Irons, for the Use of Church and Congregation, Assembling in Grove Chapel, Camberwell. He gave it the title, which Gadsby followed, “Precious Blood.” Since this hymn is common meter, there are many good tunes with which it may be sung. I suggest Ortonville, by Thomas Hastings. This would result in doubly emphasizing the line “’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.” Avon seems another good possibility.

Joseph Irons was an English preacher, author, and hymn writer. He was born in 1785 in Ware. He was a good friend of John Newton. After the death of Newton, Irons joined the Non-comformists. He became pastor of the Grove Chapel, Camberwell, London in 1819 and held that position for 33 years. He died April 3, 1852. His burial location is currently unknown to this author.

The Morning Chronicle, Wednesday, April 7, 1852, p. 8

The whole Bible, and other quotes

The posting of quotes by human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify if possible.)

“The whole Bible focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming. He is here. He is coming back again.” -- Unknown

“Christians, sometimes we act like we don’t know who we are, and sometimes act like we don’t know whose we are.” -- George O’Neal (Perhaps not an exact quote; I wrote it down after Brother O’Neal said it, as best I could remember)

“Not everything that is morally right in itself is wise or helpful in every situation.” -- Wayne Grudem

“Solomon said it is better to go to the house of mourning than the house of mirth but we have tried to turn the house of mourning into the house of mirth.” -- Mark Osgatharp

“If you are not spiritually fed, you will be emotionally led.” -- Unknown

“Faith is not saving faith if it does not direct toward the saving object, which is the Lord Jesus Christ.” -- Kent Brandenburg

“People with common sense, like you and I, know there is no life on other planets. If there were life on other planets, we’d have sent them some foreign aid by now.” -- James Gregory

“All the curses due to a sinner are borne by Jesus Christ if that sinner comes to repentance and faith.” -- Christopher Ash

“Faith in God includes faith in his timing.” -- Unknown

“Is there any habit, any practice, that you have got that defiles your soul? If Christ loves you, and you come and trust in him, you will make short work of it. Have done with it, and have done with it forever.” -- Charles Spurgeon

“Do not let sin against you produce sin in you.” -- Unknown

“Certainty…One thing that modern version and critical text supporters are certain about? You can’t be certain about the text of the New Testament. They’re certain of that.” -- Kent Brandenburg

“To admit that God knows all that shall come to pass is to admit that all shall come to pass exactly as God knows things.” -- James F. Poole

“My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior.” -- John Newton

“Indifferentism about doctrine makes no heroes of the faith.” -- J. Gresham Machen

Preservation of the Scriptures

In his lecture “How Has God Preserved His Word” at the TBS 2023 Trinity & Text Conference, Pastor Jeff Riddle of Christ Reformed Baptist Church made the following points that I want to repeat and accentuate here. In the modern era this classic biblical doctrine of preservation has been neglected, denied, and redefined.

Neglect. According to Brother Riddle, “Protestant pastors and theologians starting in the early 20th century largely stopped writing about the Divine preservation of scripture.” I think this is a valid observation, and that it was probably brought on by conservatives focusing on what they saw as an important strong point – inspiration – while avoiding focusing on a point of which they were becoming uncertain.

“What does it profit a man if he proves the Bible was originally inspired but he cannot point with certainty to the place where it has been preserved?”

Denial. Following in the path of neglect of the doctrine of preservation of scripture, “there’s been denial of this doctrine.” The denial is not a denial of normal preservation – that is, we have the manuscripts of scripture that in the course of natural means survived to the present. Daniel Wallace makes this historical argument, writing, “My own preference is to speak of God’s providential care of the text as can be seen throughout church history, without elevating such to the level of doctrine.” (“Inspiration, Preservation, and New Testament Textual Criticism”)

This denial is not a denial of the historical accident of preservation of written media, but a denial that the scriptures teach God’s determination to preserve them. Put another way, the absence of a doctrine of preservation is the absence of any promise from God to preserve his words written in scripture.

At this point, many modern deniers of the doctrine of preservation want to “have their cake and eat it, too” – that is, many will claim that the original words of scripture are found somewhere in “the entirety of the manuscript tradition.” At least to some of them, this means they think the right words exist “somewhere” in the extant manuscripts, if we can just find them. However, once God’s promise to preserve scripture is dismissed, so is any basis on which to believe that we must still have all the autographic words of scripture.

Redefinition. The neglect and denial of the doctrine of preservation leads to a redefinition of the meaning of “preservation.” This is inevitable because they still use the word “preservation.” Many who use the word “preservation” do not mean the historical doctrine of God’s providential preservation. Some may even continue to use the word “providential,” but without its traditional or expected meaning in reference to scripture. Jon Rehurek speaks of God’s providence with regard to the preservation of Scripture in a way that is no more special than the providence of preserving the works of Shakespeare or Plato (“Preservation of the Bible: Providential or Miraculous? The Biblical View”). Stripped down, the redefinition simply means that we have some manuscripts of scripture that still exist today. It is the manuscripts, the media, that have been preserved, and not necessarily the words. Therefore, we can have the extant preserved media, and not know that the original words are preserved. Again quoting Dan Wallace, “We do not have now—in our critical Greek texts or any translations—exactly what the authors of the New Testament wrote. Even if we did, we would not know it.” (“Foreword,” in Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism, Elijah Hixson, Peter J. Gurry, editors, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2019, p. xii).

In contrast to the problem of neglect, denial, and redefinition, Pastor Riddle explains that “the classic Protestant biblical doctrine of divine preservation of scripture should be retrieved, maintained, and defended.”

Retrieval. If you have abandoned the doctrine, you need to retrieve it. It is sound, biblical, and historical teaching – and as a committed Baptist, I add that it is sound, biblical, and historical Baptist teaching.

Maintenance. If you have retrieved the doctrine, now maintain it. If you have not abandoned it, continue to maintain, hold, and support this biblical doctrine.

Defense. The doctrine – as with any and all biblical doctrines – should be defended as the truth taught in and by the scriptures. (See “What does the Bible speak of itself” in A Fundamental Problem for Fundamentalism.) Jude, verse 3 ...it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Pastor Jeff Riddle exhorts that the retrieval of the older traditional bibliology “includes retrieval of the biblical doctrine of the divine preservation of scripture. We are not called upon to empirically reconstruct the text. We are called on to receive the text, as God’s people, which he has preserved.”

If we do not know what the Bible is, then we do not know what the Bible says. If we do not know what the Bible says, then we cannot speak with authority from it or about it.

God and the “Gentile Mission”

The term “Gentile mission” refers to the spreading of the message of the gospel by the early New Testament church to non-Jewish people (known as Gentiles). It is often used in commentaries, dissertations, lectures, but probably not nearly as much in sermons. The so-called “Gentile mission” was ordained of God, but early church Christians – who were Jews by nature and culture – struggled with this expansion to include a people held in low esteem and even disdain by Jews and their Jewish culture.

The book of Acts documents that expansion and its accompanying struggle, beginning with the foundation of the Lord sending out the church empowered unto the uttermost part of the earth (1:8) and empowering Peter (2:16ff.) to speak of the prophet Joel’s message that God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh, and that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The role of God in the Gentile mission is emphasized.

• Acts 10:45. God poured out his Spirit on the Gentiles.
• Acts 11:17. God gave the like gift to the Gentiles as to the Jews.
• Acts 11:18. God granted Gentiles repentance unto life.
• Acts 14:27. God opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
• Acts 15:7. God chose that the Gentiles should hear the gospel.
• Acts 15:14. God visited and took out a people for his name among the Gentiles.
• Acts 21:19. God wrought things among the Gentiles.
• Acts 28:28. God sent his salvation to the Gentiles.

God stamped his approval on the expansion of the Gentile mission through prophecy, visions, and spiritual guidance.

• Acts 9:10-16. A vision to Ananias confirms God had chosen a vessel to bear his name to the Gentiles.
• Acts 10:9ff. (11:5ff.). This vision shown to Peter reveals the Gentiles are not to be considered common or unclean.
• Acts 11:27ff. God sent prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch, as the church expands into Gentile territory, first among the Jews (v. 19) and then the Grecians (v. 20).
• Acts 13:2ff. The Holy Ghost reveals to the church at Antioch that he called Paul and Barnabas to a Gentile mission.
• Acts 16:9ff. This vision received by Paul introduces a call to the people of Macedonia.
• Acts 18:9ff. The vision given to Paull states that God is in the work among the Gentiles at Corinth.
• Acts 15:32ff. Judas and Silas, prophets sent by the Jerusalem church, confirm the word at Antioch.
• Acts 23:11ff. The Lord encourages Paul that he will bear witness in Rome.

Dispensational salvation: IFB and false gospel

Because of a common interest in supporting and defending the King James Bible, we sometimes “rub shoulders” with some folks who hold some pretty tainted tenets. While we agree on the King James Bible being the word of God and its use for English-speaking people, we disagree on some other very important issues. Some are important enough to require ecclesiastical separation, while recognizing those persons are still teachers of the truth of the gospel. Some are so rank that they incite marking and naming the persons as teaching soteriological doctrine outside the purview of orthodoxy.[i]

I am an independent Baptist, in the sense that our church is unaffiliated with any Baptist association, convention, or fellowship. I am a fundamental Baptist, in the sense that I agree with the doctrines that have traditionally been identified as the fundamentals of the Christian faith. If called on to identify myself beyond just “Baptist,” I prefer to say “old-time” Baptist, which will usually elicit the response, “What do you mean by that?” I do not identify myself as an Independent Fundamental Baptist.[ii] There are good people and churches who use that terminology, but there is also a lot of doctrine of putrid smell housed under that roof.

One of these putrid precepts seems to be most commonly identified as “dispensational salvation.”[iii] This is a false gospel that denies that only one way of Jesus Christ, a lamb slain from the foundation of the world (John 14:6; Acts 4:12: 1 Timothy 2:5; Revelation 13:8). In this post I will not spend time trying to prove the orthodox position, but will operate from that presupposition. The purpose of this post is to warn King James Bible defenders of the error of “dispensational salvation” and to name and warn against some of the promoters of it. No doubt there are many more. Be warned. Be careful. Naming and marking will doubtless be offensive to some, perhaps many, but the Bible is clear. Perverting the gospel of Christ is a damnable issue.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9

IFB purveyors of false gospels.

Peter Ruckman.

Peter S. Ruckman seems the ringleader of the bunch. Others may have taught such before him, but likely most of the living Independent Fundamental Baptist promoters of multiple salvations across multiple dispensations generally accept Ruckman and his views. Here are a couple of excerpts of his claptrap. I do not think more is necessary. It is unlikely anyone will deny he taught such heresy; his followers gladly rejoice in lauding him and in purveying his views. Here are three examples of the teaching of Ruckman.

“Those silly asses actually teach that salvation is the same in the Church Age, the Tribulation, the Millennium, and the Old Testament. You never met a more gullible, blind, deceived bunch of Bible-rejecting apostates in your life.” (Bible Believers’ Bulletin, November 2001, p. 13)

“Whenever you hear any heretic say that ‘men are saved in the Old Testament by looking forward to the cross and after the New Testament by looking back at the cross,’ you are dealing either with a lazy preacher or a stupid preacher or a crooked, lying fool. (Bible Believers’ Bulletin, April 2004, p. 18)

“We have learned that before the law a man was saved by grace through faith, if his works showed he had faith. Under the Mosaic Law, a man was saved by grace through faith and works, if he was short on either item (faith or works) he could die in his sins and go to hell…Here, again, [i.e., during the Millennium] we will encounter salvation by Works, through Works, and ‘that of YOURSELVES’ for there is no ‘gift’ to it. (How to Teach Dispensational Truth, Pensacola: Bible Believers Press, 1996, pp. 60-61, 91)

I generally do not like to strike too harsh a tone on my blog, but dealing with the heretical views of Peter Ruckman requires it. “Answer a fool according to his folly…” (Proverbs 26:5). I must honestly say that I do not think Peter Ruckman was lazy or stupid – but I do think he was a crooked, lying fool, and worse – as well as a Bible-truth-rejecting apostate and a disqualified minister with two divorces and three marriages under his belt.

Other followers.

I initially thought to give sort of exhaustive quotations from those who hold this variant view. I decided that would become tedious and tiresome. Instead, I will give a few quotes and just identify others by linking to their writings. Be warned of these. This are not personal people problems, but biblical issues of a doctrinal nature.

Ken Blue.

“It will be obvious to the open mind and anointed eye that more than one gospel in found in Scripture. A right division of the Word of God is necessary in order to distinguish between these gospels and place them in their proper dispensations.” (Dispensational Salvation)

Robert Breaker.

“Are we going to follow Peter, or are we going to follow Paul. … We are supposed to follow Paul. … In Acts chapter 8, verse 36 [reads 36 and following] …Here we see a Gentile saved…He was saved by believing. So this Gentile was saved differently than these Jews back here in Acts chapter 2...

“You cannot say that people are saved the same in the Old Testament as the New Testament. It just does not work.” (Dispensational “Salvation”)

Gene Kim.

“Old Testament salvation is by faith and works. Christian salvation is by faith alone. Tribulation salvation is by faith and works. Millennium salvation is by works.” (Dispensational Salvation – God always gave salvation by faith alone … WRONG)

Andrew Sluder and Randy Keener.

“When we have people who fail to rightly divide the word of truth, they end up saying crazy things like ‘There is only one gospel that has ever been preached.’ Now folks, If you’ve seen my other videos, you’ve seen the fact that I believe that there are three Gospels laid out in the Scriptures.”

“We believe that a man today is saved by believing on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the payment for his sin – plus nothing, minus nothing. … We don’t even believe in repent of your sins … We do not believe that men were always saved by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In fact, in the Old Testament there was a mixture of works and faith involve … (3 Gospels, Dispensational Salvation & Hyper-Dispensationalism)

Cody Watters.

“There are also verses in Revelation that make it clear that the Tribulation Saint is saved by faith and works.” (Dispensational Salvations)

Cody Zorn.

“You know why people say that people can lose their salvation here (pointing to the church age on his white board)? Because there’s people that can lose their salvation here (pointing to the tribulation on his white board). And there’s people that can lose their salvation back there (pointing to the Old Testament period on his white board). But we’re living in the day and time (pointing to the church age) where we don’t … we can’t lose what we didn’t work for.” (Starts about 1:05:50 in End Time Explained, Part 1)

Others who appear to promote this viewpoint include: Gary N. Alford, Jerry L. Holcomb, Bandi Arjuna Kiran Kumar, Vince Larue, Donald Thomas, David E. Walker, and probably any close follower of Peter Ruckman. If I have misidentified anyone, I will be glad to correct it.

Deflection.

One interesting idea I ran across is the “defense” of “dispensational salvation” on the grounds that the view does not affect anyone in the present – since these folks are preaching salvation by grace through faith without works in the present. This occurs both within and without those who hold the view, and is a strange way to support something one believes to be a major doctrinal truth.

Randy Keener, who holds dispensational salvation, sort of flippantly suggests it is a meaningless difference in the present “unless you have a time machine.” At about 16:15 “It doesn’t affect your salvation, our salvation, or anybody else’s salvation – unless you have a time machine – so don’t worry about it.” (3 Gospels, Dispensational Salvation & Hyper-Dispensationalism)

James Melton, who does not seem to hold the view himself, seemed to be okay with it, on the grounds that these people are currently preaching the right way of salvation. Melton writes, “Those who teach what you might call dispensational salvation do not teach anything wrong with the salvation plan today. I don’t know of anybody that differs—any fundamental Bible-believing Baptists that disagree with me on how one is to be saved today… Why does it really matter to you and I today how somebody got saved over 2,000 years ago?” (Understanding Dispensational Salvation)

Well, if nothing else, it matters that we rightly divide the word of truth and hold fast the faithful word as we have been taught.[iv] Additionally, to suggest multiple plans of salvation, even promoting dispensational views that include salvation by works and falling from grace, gives cover to those who hold that today. As Cody Zorn said, “You know why people say that people can lose their salvation here (pointing to the church age on his white board)? Because there’s people that can lose their salvation here (pointing to the tribulation on his white board). And there’s people that can lose their salvation back there (pointing to the Old Testament period on his white board).” To be fair, he goes on to say that we are living in a time where one cannot lose his salvation. Nevertheless, he made a clear excuse for those who get confused on it.

One salvation, Jesus Christ.

It seems to me that some King James Defenders may be “closing ranks” and not calling out this serious soteriological error because many (most? all?) who hold this view also defend the King James Bible. However, we need to not only be correct in our bibliology, but also in our soteriology, our ecclesiology, and so on.

There are not multiple gospels. There is one everlasting gospel created in the mind and purpose of God. It has been progressively revealed under various terms that refer to that one gospel, but it is one! If salvation could be accomplished by works in any generation (or dispensation), there was no need for Christ to die for that generation.

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 10:43

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Revelation 14:6-7

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John, verses 10-11

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Galatians 4:16

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[i] Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. It is biblical to “call names” when necessary. See “Is It Right: To Judge, To Expose Error, & To Call Names?” by E. L. Bynum.
[ii] In its natural and simple form, Christian fundamentalism emphasizes five fundamental points of faith (as clarified in the face of the rise of modernism and liberalism at the end of the 19th and beginning of 20th centuries): (1) the inspiration and inerrancy of the Scriptures; (2) the deity of Jesus Christ; (3) the virgin birth of Jesus Christ; (4) the substitutionary blood atonement of Christ for sins; and (5) the physical resurrection and bodily return to Christ. I hold these five fundamentals, but “Fundamentalist” is not my preferred self-descriptor. I am a Bible-believing Baptist. (Baptist born. Baptist bred. When I die, I’ll be Baptist dead.) Many modern Fundamentalists are befuddled by schismatic soteriology, adrift on the sea of bad ecclesiology, while filled with fussy fighting factions full of a bad spirit.
[iii] “Dispensational salvation” is a teaching that people at different times in history (dispensations) have been given different ways to be saved. For example, saying that under the Old Testament law dispensation people had to keep the law (good works) in order to be saved, but under the New Testament church dispensation people are saved by grace through faith (without good works).
[iv] This view of accommodation seems to be somewhat rooted in a largely “semi-pelagian” view of salvation that has become diffused among Baptists who hold a general atonement position. This view, in the minds of many (though they may not vocalize it) holds not that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, but the power unto salvation is in how well they present the gospel and harangue those to whom they present it.

Christian Standard Bible

There are so many English Bible translations, the weary Christian reader may well ask, “Why do we need another Bible translation?”[i]

Here is a bit of the history of the “why” of the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) and Christian Standard Bible (CSB) came into existence. The current CSB was a major revision, including a name change, of the 2009 edition of the HCSB. The CSB was copyrighted in 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers, a division of Lifeway.[ii] Its forerunners, the HCSB New Testament, was published in 1999 and the whole HCSB Bible in 2004. In August 2023 Christianity Today claimed that the CSB was the second best-selling English Bible translation.

The origin of the HCSB is found in a two-pronged history. One prong was the desire of Arthur Leonard Farstad to create an English Bible translation based on the Majority Text.[iii] The other prong was the desire of the Southern Baptist Convention to have copyright control of a Bible for use in their publications. These two met together in 1998.

Arthur Farstad had been the general editor of the New King James Version, published by Thomas Nelson. He had hoped to help create this as an English translation based on The Majority Text, a Greek text edited by Farstad and Zane Hodges.[iv] However, Thomas Nelson publishers did not want to proceed in that fashion with the NKJV. After this project was over, Farstad began an independent translation of the Majority Text.

Prior to the creation of the HCSB, the Southern Baptist Convention had an exclusive contract to use the New International Version (NIV) in their Sunday School curriculum and other educational literature. This was an expensive and restrictive agreement with the copyright holder of the NIV. As the time of the end of this contract neared, they began plans to create their own Bible version. The money previously going to others could stay in SBC coffers. The headache of dealing with copyright restrictions would be relieved. Additionally, there were also considerations and concerns about an upcoming revision of the NIV. With their entity holding the copyright, the SBC would not have to worry about Bible revisions made by another entity. Of particular concern was the issue of gender-neutral language.[v] The SBC tried to negotiate the purchase of the copyright of the New American Standard Bible and others, but these efforts failed. 

After this, either Farstad, knowing about the plans of the SBC, pitched his idea to them; or, the SBC, knowing of Farstad’s work, approached him to help them further their plans. Maybe some of both.[vi] It was a match made in ..... Nashville, probably.

It seems the initial plan of action was to follow Farstad’s desire to use the Majority Text as the basis for the New Testament translation.[vii] However, Arthur Farstad died at age 63 in September 1998 – five months after the initiation of the project. Holman brought in a new editor, and the translation’s basis was changed to the Nestle-Aland Critical Greek Text. Promotional material says that “a team of more than 100 top conservative scholars from 17 denominations” worked on this translation.

The promotion of the CSB Bible states a goal to create “optimal equivalence” in translation (accurate yet readable), and to stay up-to-date with advances in biblical research. When the history of the HCSB/CSB is told, it usually does not include these background details, especially the financial and theological considerations behind its rise. I thought the parts left out were worth telling.

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[i] Simply put, I would say we do not. Information for this article was gleaned in bits and pieces across the World Wide Web, with a good bit of debt to the review of the Holman Christian Standard Bible, by Michael Marlowe.
[ii] Lifeway is what used to be the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.
[iii] The Greek New Testament According to the Majority Text, edited by Zane C. Hodges and Arthur L. Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers 2nd edition, 1985).
[iv] The independent project of which Farstad was translator and general editor lives on in the New Testament, or at least the Gospel of John, translation called Logos 21. Some sources state that Logos 21 was the first English translation of the Greek Majority Text.
[v] Interestingly, however, the CSB update of the HCSB itself moved in the direction of gender-neutral language.
[vi] I could not get a clear sense of which came first. In this article, Mark L. Strauss says that SBC representatives from Holman and Lifeway approached Farstad.
[vii] There are some unclear statements that suggest he had to agree with Holman to use the Critical Text. Mark L. Strauss says Farstad planned to use the Majority Text. He also says that Edwin Blum had been working with him on the indpendent project of translating the Majority Text into English