Hi Heremeneut7, I presented evidence from well respected translations, not one, but more than 15 different versions each differing from of one or more of the ESV's mistranslations. So why not address all the scholarship I provided? Why question where I got the idea, when I presented the versions that agree with my view?
1) Why compare me with KJVO folks?
2) Why not recognize more than 14 different versions from the 14th century to the present agree with me on some points.
3) Why forget I mentioned Dr. Wallace on more than one occasion?
4) I showed how the NWT scholars assumed an ellipsis and inserted "a" to reverse the meaning of John 1:1. ending up with the translation indicating Jesus was not God. And I showed how the ESV scholars assumed an ellipsis and inserted "to be" to reverse the meaning of James 2:5, ending with a translation meaning God did not choose folks rich in faith.
5) Rather than saying it seems to me that you [Van] are biased, why not address all the translations that agree with me, the vast majority when all three verses are totaled.
6) Where did I get the idea that from does not mean before? Or the idea that rich in faith does not mean to be rich in faith, or a noun translated into a noun is more accurate? Give me a break. This is not rocket science.
Bottom line, the ESV has been demonstrated to mistranslate three verses in order to mesh with the preconceived notions of the translators.
This behavior mirrors the mistaken translation methodology used in the NWT.
Van, cherry picking versions, and then reading into the English not only what is not stated, but is flat contradicted by the grammar is NOT "evidence" or scholarship. I will cover the 3 verses you give for my last time because this may be my last day on here.
“Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?” (Jas 2:5 ASV)
I earlier quoted from an Arminian Methodist scholar as well as the Baptist John Gill, who agreed the words "to be" need to be inserted to read properly in English to avoid an absurdity. I listed a long list of accepted and standard English translations that include the words "to be". Now for an explanation from a Greek scholar:
From a 19th C Lutheran Greek scholar: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer
"πλουσίους ἐν πίστει] is not in apposition with τοὺς πτωχοὺς (Luther, Baumgarten, Semler, Hottinger, Gebser, Bouman, Lange, and others), but the completion of ἐξελέξατο, stating to what God has chosen the poor (Beza, Wolf, Morus, Knapp, Storr, Schneckenburger, Kern, Theile, de Wette, Wiesinger, and others); see 2 Corinthians 3:6."
Meyer is pointing out that "rich in faith" is not in apposition with "the poor", but is the completion of "chosen", "to what God has chosen".
Van, will you please stop reading your theology into cherry picked versions that are so far in the minority on James 2:5, or give us some grammatical reasoning from the English or Greek scholars on it.
"and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed." (Rev 13:8, NET)
Van, you have to read into the preposition "since"(
apo) something that is totally contradicted by the grammar of "had not been written", the associated words in the context. For the Greek preposition
apo to mean what you wish to twist it to make it mean, the associated words must show that, such as:
"And beginning at(
apo) Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27, KJV)
"Then beginning with(
apo) Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures. (Luke 24:27, NET)
You must have such associated words for the grammar in Rev. 13:8 to support the idea that the preposition
apo means a series of writings of names has been added "since" the foundation of the world until now. I repeat, the grammar in the Greek, according to Thayer, as well as the English grammar forbids such an idea.
Now to the 3rd passage:
"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you
from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:" (2Thess 2:13, ASV)
"We are always bound to thank God for you, my friends beloved by the Lord.
From the beginning of time God chose you to find salvation in the Spirit who consecrates you and in the truth you believe." (2Thess 2:13, REB)
Starting at Gen. 1:1, "In the beginning God created..." and as you trace the words "in the beginning", in reference to God's action, and without modifying words to show otherwise, it means at the creation, or as the REB stated above, "From the beginning of time"! Just as in John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word"... The Word as we know existed "BEFORE" time or the foundations of the world.
Van, you present no rational evidence at all to support your 'off the wall' ideas on these verses!