By Apostle Edward Ssewanyana
It has come to my notice that a certain pastor in Kampala city went ahead to burn Bibles in the backyard of his church because they have the word “Holy Ghost” and lack certain verses.
I have come across some avid diehard followers of his who have also tried to convince me that “ghosts” cannot be holy. As an Apostle, it is my duty to lay down accurate doctrine and correct Pastors who may be going out of line.
First of all, the two major (literally) “burning” issues being addressed are paradoxical or totally opposed to each other. The Bible that contains the term “Holy Ghost” is the King James Version Bible that was translated from the original Greek Textus Receptus (TR) in 1611. The Bibles that have missing verses are the ones translated from the minority corrupted Greek text and these include every other version out there including NIV, Amplified, Good News Bible, New Jerusalem Bible (Roman Catholic), New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witness) etc. A true Bible scholar will recognize that if you encompass the TR and Minority text Bibles, there is no other English translation out there since these are the only source texts for all the New Testament translations out there.
Personally, I only trust Bibles derived from the original TR Greek Text from Antioch for a number of reasons. It is also surprising that a Pastor who preaches in a local dialect will go out of his way to rubbish and burn every English Bible available on the face of the earth. This is why I believe mentorship is important before any Pastor is released into ministry.
Understanding the “Holy Ghost”
Now we come to the issue of the “Holy Ghost”. In the King James Version (KJV) Bible which is the most accurate English Translation, the term “Holy Ghost” occurs 89 times and this is exclusively in the New Testament. The very first occurrence of this word is in Matthew 1:18
(18) 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 (hagios pneuma).
Our New Testament was originally written in Greek and the words translated as “Holy Ghost” are “hagios pneuma”. The Greek word “pneuma” is also translated in the KJV as spirit, wind and life. I am well aware that the contention is not about the Greek word “pneuma” but about its English translation as “ghost”. In Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary of American English, the meaning of the word ghost is: “Spirit; the soul of man” and goes ahead to add that “The Holy Ghost, is the third person in the adorable Trinity.” Thus according to the dictionary there is no difference between Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit. The word Ghost is derived from an archaic Old English word “gast” and is akin to the German word “geist” which means spirit. The word Ghost has been in use in the English language from before the 12th Century. This is a word that has been in use for over 800 years and someone who has not even done a master’s degree in the etymology of the English language boldly rises up to claim that the only meaning of the word “Ghost” is a demon or evil spirit. Have you studied all the uses of the word throughout its 800 years of existence before jumping to conclusions? That is why I believe that ignorance is dangerous. The Bible even goes ahead to warn that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
The English language has undergone transmutation from its peak in the 1600s. The language has not improved but has instead deteriorated. Many words from other languages have been incorporated into it over time. The godly team of Bible Translators commissioned by King James VI of England undertook their translation task under God’s guidance in 1611 at the peak of the power of the English language. That is why books by authors like Shakespeare who wrote in the same time period are used by English language students at all levels up to Doctorate. I have always loved archaic English because it possesses a rhythm and style that is hard to match with our modern English. Examples of words that have changed meaning in the past 400 years are “bowels” that meant heart in archaic English but now means intestines.
The Bible itself tells us what to do when we come across a word that has become archaic in modern usage and has changed meaning over time.
1 Samuel 9:9
(9) (Before time in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: FOR HE THAT IS NOW CALLED A PROPHET WAS BEFORE TIME CALLED A SEER.)
This scripture tells us that the modern word is Prophet and the archaic word is Seer. However, instead of eliminating the word “seer” and replacing it with a word that is more modern, both words are mentioned and an explanation is given that there has been a change of vocabulary. Likewise when you come across a word that you consider to be archaic as you read the trusted King James Bible, simply refer to a dictionary, a King James Concordance or to the margin of your study Bible to see the modern meaning of the word and then proceed instead of trying to alter or burn the archaic words.
The Corrupted Versions
When we come to the issue of the corrupted versions that are translated from the Alexandrian and Vatican minority texts, I am fully in agreement with the Bible burning City Pastor. When you take a look at the diluted (dynamically translated) versions such as the New International Version, Revised Version, New American Standard Bible, Good News etc, you will discover that whole verses have been plucked out. These missing verses include Matthew 17:21, Matthew 18:11, Matthew 23:14, Mark 9:44, Mark 11:26, Luke 17:36, John 5:4 & Acts 8:37. The reason why this occurs is because the minority Greek manuscripts from which these modern New Age versions are translated were corrupted over the centuries by heretics like Origen (Egypt), Westcott (England) & Hort (England). In another publication of mine titled “Exposing The Satanic Bible Versions” I go ahead to elaborate the reason why satan led these heretics to tamper with these scriptures and the foundational Bible truths attacked by their subtraction. I believe that if I am to have and use any Bible it should be the original and complete Word of God and not a counterfeit.
That is why ever since I got this knowledge about Bible translations I have stuck squarely to the KJV only. I would likewise encourage every believer who is interested in spiritual growth to stick to the KJV with all its “thees”, “thous” and “Holy Ghost” instead of falling for a diluted counterfeit. I would not condemn anyone for burning a Good News or NIV Bible. I have a vision of restructuring all the Bible translation committees worldwide including those in local dialects like Luganda etc by having them use the original Greek TR text instead of the demonically corrupted Minority Text. I will also set up a fund that will replace every New Age version in the hands of God’s children with a KJV Bible. However if you really insist that KJV is not your pick then I would advise you to only stick to its derivatives like the Modern King James Bible, KJV 2000, King James 21st Century Version or King James Bible Clarified NT (KJC). Other than that you will be in the league of those who aid and abet the corruption of God’s word.
Revelation 22:18-19
(18) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall ADD unto these things, God shall ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES that are written in this book:
(19) And if any man shall TAKE AWAY from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
In conclusion, while the Bible burning Pastor may have a point concerning the occultic New World Order influenced versions like NIV, Good News and others, he is way off track and into heresy in regards to the Holy Ghost and the authentic King James Version. Let’s learn to study so that we may not be ashamed by our ignorance. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.
By Apostle Edward Ssewanyana is the Founder and General Overseer of Worldwide Apostolic Church, Bugolobi and Chairman Edifire Ministries.
www.edifireministries.ml
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