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I still struggle to understand the NT in the KJV

Guido

Active Member
I don't read the Bible as much as I should, but when I read the KJV, particularly the NT, I struggle to understand each sentence or passage as a single idea. I have enough difficulty understanding its phrasing in some cases. Beyond that, I struggle to hold the content of sentences and of whole passages in memory while reading the KJV.

Reading 1 Corinthians 1 in the CEV seemed to indicate that I was way off when interpreting the same chapter in the KJV.

Is it possible for me to improve my reading comprehension to understand the KJV? Even with modern translations I would probably still have difficulty because of the way passages seem to be related to each other.
 

Ascetic X

Well-Known Member
Try reading a study Bible that contains commentaries and notes. Your favorite Bible teacher may have one associated with him. There are many different study Bibles from which to choose. I like the NIV Study Bible and the Orthodox Study Bible.
 

JD731

Well-Known Member
!) Fellowship with other Christians who have no doubt about the veracity of the word of God (Iron sharpeneth Iron)
2) Pray to God for wisdom and light and receive it when he answers
3) Believe the words and allow the Bible to have context and believe it in the context it is given.
4) Do not add to or take away from the words of the Bible
5) Have enough wisdom to know that 4 different translations cannot possibly be the words of God but at best one word of God and 3 opinions of someone else.
6) Believe that God is a real person who is present with us and is smarter than any of us even though we can't see him
 

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I don't read the Bible as much as I should, but when I read the KJV, particularly the NT, I struggle to understand each sentence or passage as a single idea. I have enough difficulty understanding its phrasing in some cases. Beyond that, I struggle to hold the content of sentences and of whole passages in memory while reading the KJV.

Reading 1 Corinthians 1 in the CEV seemed to indicate that I was way off when interpreting the same chapter in the KJV.

Is it possible for me to improve my reading comprehension to understand the KJV? Even with modern translations I would probably still have difficulty because of the way passages seem to be related to each other.
Perhaps you should attend a bible study where others use the NLT or NIV? Working with others, you might grow in your understanding of God's word.
 

Scarlett O.

Moderator
Moderator
!) Fellowship with other Christians who have no doubt about the veracity of the word of God (Iron sharpeneth Iron)
2) Pray to God for wisdom and light and receive it when he answers
3) Believe the words and allow the Bible to have context and believe it in the context it is given.
4) Do not add to or take away from the words of the Bible
5) Have enough wisdom to know that 4 different translations cannot possibly be the words of God but at best one word of God and 3 opinions of someone else.
6) Believe that God is a real person who is present with us and is smarter than any of us even though we can't see him
YOUR opinion is that only the King James contains the best one word of God and that all others are opinions.

See the irony of what you say. The King James is a fine Bible. But that doesn't mean some other Bibles aren't fine also. And your opinion is making it that way.
 

Scarlett O.

Moderator
Moderator
I don't read the Bible as much as I should, but when I read the KJV, particularly the NT, I struggle to understand each sentence or passage as a single idea. I have enough difficulty understanding its phrasing in some cases. Beyond that, I struggle to hold the content of sentences and of whole passages in memory while reading the KJV.

Reading 1 Corinthians 1 in the CEV seemed to indicate that I was way off when interpreting the same chapter in the KJV.

Is it possible for me to improve my reading comprehension to understand the KJV? Even with modern translations I would probably still have difficulty because of the way passages seem to be related to each other.
Guido, I know that you have shared before about your illness. I won't mention what it is. Perhaps a parallel Bible is a good idea.

The ones with the NIV, ESV, King James, and NLT are good ones. And when you come across something you don't understand in any version, ask someone here or even better someone such as a pastor in real life.

God bless you in your endeavors to grasp the Bible.
 

JD731

Well-Known Member
YOUR opinion is that only the King James contains the best one word of God and that all others are opinions.

See the irony of what you say. The King James is a fine Bible. But that doesn't mean some other Bibles aren't fine also. And your opinion is making it that way.

I just have a different concept of God than you. I believe he is real and has an infinite mind. If God says the natural man cannot understand the things of God but he reveals his truths to the saved man, how does he keep one from understanding while teaching the other? They can have the same words to hear or read. Well, the words themselves must be the answer. What else could it be? Words are all we have. Jesus himself said this:

Jn 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth (makes alive); the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Both are in 1 Cor 2, the Spirit and life. It takes both. You think any words will do because these teachers know so much and are so wise. They know Greek and Hebrew and they can parse the verbs in both languages, yet the smartest ones on this web site don't even agree most times on anything, even how sinners are saved. The mysteries of the NT are hidden in words and the Spirit is the only person who can teach the saint of God how to process those words for enlightenment while making them foolishness to the worldly wise.

Try teaching these guys about the church being the bride of Christ and that Jesus will deliver her before he pours out his wrath on the ungodly. It is a mystery, Paul says. It must be revealed by the Spirit. You will get guffaws from the wise of this world. It is a mystery the Holy Spirit has not taught them. Most now have the new and improved Bibles and the world keeps getting darker with each new edition.
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
@ jd731 -- Just to confirm what Scarlett suggested - Are you a KJO?
If so, then why do you accept sprinkling as a substitute for immersion
 

Jerome

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
That's a lie, Salty. They didn't.
They used the English word baptism which had been the common English word for centuries meaning: a religious/ceremonial immersion in water.

When the KJB was being translated, the prescribed method of baptism in the Church of England was to immerse the child in water, not sprinkling as you falsely suggest. According to the Book of Common Prayer then in use, the priest was to "dippe it in the water".

It was decades later that the Reformed with their Westminster regime muddied things up, when they sanctioned only "pouring or sprinkling of the water on the face of the child" in their 1644 Directory of Public Worship.
 
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SovereignGrace

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
That's a lie, Salty. They didn't.
They used the English word baptism which had been the common English word for centuries meaning: a religious/ceremonial immersion in water.

When the KJB was being translated, the prescribed method of baptism in the Church of England was to immerse the child in water, not sprinkling as you falsely suggest. According to the Book of Common Prayer then in use, the priest was to "dippe it in the water".

It was decades later that the Reformed with their Westminster regime muddied things up, when they sanctioned only "pouring or sprinkling of the water on the face of the child" in their 1644 Directory of Public Worship.
It can also mean ceremonially washed as well. Unless they baptized dining couches per Mark 7:4.


 

JD731

Well-Known Member
I will not prove this now because of time constraints but immersion in two elements seems to be important to God and I believe he immerses all his creation in both. Those elements are water and fire. Each member of the Godhead baptized Israel in water and the last end of this people is going to be baptized in fire as silver is purified in fire. The Psalmist says there is water over God's physical universe and John says he will set the heavens and the earth on fire at the end of the millennium. Both fire and water are eternal and let me quote the last appeal of the scriptures.

Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

This eventuality awaits national Israel and by extension all nations in a segment of time.

Mt 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:
12 Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
@ JD731 if you want to continue your discussion please start a new thread,
as your discussion is getting off OP.
Thank you
 

Ascetic X

Well-Known Member
I don't read the Bible as much as I should, but when I read the KJV, particularly the NT, I struggle to understand each sentence or passage as a single idea. I have enough difficulty understanding its phrasing in some cases. Beyond that, I struggle to hold the content of sentences and of whole passages in memory while reading the KJV.

Reading 1 Corinthians 1 in the CEV seemed to indicate that I was way off when interpreting the same chapter in the KJV.

Is it possible for me to improve my reading comprehension to understand the KJV? Even with modern translations I would probably still have difficulty because of the way passages seem to be related to each other.
What do you mean by you struggle to “understand each sentence or passage as a single idea”?

I immediately think of verses like John 3:16, which contain a single idea about God’s love and salvation.

Can you give us some examples of sentences or passages that you cannot understand?

Why would “the way passages seem to be related to each other” be a hindrance to prevent you from understanding them? This relatedness of passages is how the Bible interprets itself.

I would like to help you, if I can, but I don’t know how at this point. :cool:
 
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