Thoughts on the NLT

[37818]

I didn't say anything about KJVonlyism.

I did.

 

[RipponRedeaux]

Not what the word of God said in . . . . πρωτοτοκος πασης κτισεως . . . ." Which refers to incarnate Christ's bodily resurrection as part of His own creation. He being Creator, verses 16-17. Big difference in what verse 15 means.

I don't see what the issue is. Christ is supreme over all his creation. In the REB it says "his is the primacy over all creation. What specifically do you see as problematic in verses 16 and 17 (or even 18, for that matter) in the NLT?

 

[RipponRedeaux]

I did.

Well that's nice. No problem there.

 

[Van]

Colossians 1:15 (NLT)
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

Colossians 1:15 (NASB)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation:

Here the NLT interprets "firstborn" to mean existed before anything else. And so they add to the text a whole paraphrase of their definition of "firstborn." It is wrong on many levels...

In this usage "firstborn" refers to being foremost (highest in rank) among all creation. Certainly the man Jesus was not born before his mother.

But another interpretation may also be God's intended message, Jesus is the first to be born anew, thus the first born of all the "born anew" creation, for we are a new creation. That alternate view is possible using the NASB, but not the NLT.

 

[5 point Gillinist]

My thoughts on the version in response to the OP

John 3:16 (NLT)
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Many modern translation correct the interpretation that God was expressing the degree of love, rather than correctly as the method used to express that love.

2 Thessalonians 2:13
As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

Here we see two doctrine driven mistranslations.

First the NLT indicates we were chosen "to experience salvation" rather than for the purpose of salvation. Second the object of the verb chose is salvation rather than "through sanctification by the spirit and faith in the truth. These phrases actually indicate the means and basis of selection for salvation. Chosen by being set apart in Christ based on God crediting their faith as righteousness.

1 Corinthians 2:14
But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.

Here we see the interpretation that if you are not indwelt, you cannot understand any spiritual truths, such as God's divine attributes. However Romans 1:19-20 says lost people can understand some spiritual truths.

So while that NLT is easy to read and understand, the books have been cooked to hide the fallacies of Calvinism.

 

[RipponRedeaux]

John 3:16 (NLT)
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Many modern translation correct the interpretation that God was expressing the degree of love, rather than correctly as the method used to express that love.

You are in error Van. The NLT renders it as :
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

 

[rsr]

That is likely from the first edition of the NLT, which carried it over from The Living Bible, and not the current version.

 

[Van]

NLT from Bible Gateway.
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Footnotes

1. 3:16 Or For God loved the world so much that he gave.

 

[JesusFan]

Colossians 1:15 (NLT)
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

Colossians 1:15 (NASB)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation:

Here the NLT interprets "firstborn" to mean existed before anything else. And so they add to the text a whole paraphrase of their definition of "firstborn." It is wrong on many levels...

In this usage "firstborn" refers to being foremost (highest in rank) among all creation. Certainly the man Jesus was not born before his mother.

But another interpretation may also be God's intended message, Jesus is the first to be born anew, thus the first born of all the "born anew" creation, for we are a new creation. That alternate view is possible using the NASB, but not the NLT.

No, as that would be akin to the rank heresy of the WoF, who hold that Jesus was first to be born again , and that all of us once born again are just like Him!
Best way is to see this as referring to Jesus being the Creator and the Lord over all Creation!

 

[37818]

I don't see what the issue is. Christ is supreme over all his creation. In the REB it says "his is the primacy over all creation. What specifically do you see as problematic in verses 16 and 17 (or even 18, for that matter) in the NLT?

You are not understanding Colossians 1:15, ". . . the firstborn of all creation." The text says He is part of creation being the firstborn of it. That is a big deal. The Creator became part of His creation in His incarnation, John 1:14. And He being the sole cause of all things created, John 1:3, Colossians 1:16-17, Ephesians 3:9 KJV. The heresy being thinking Colossians 1:15 means He was the first thing God created. No. He is the Creator Colossians 1:16-17 and He became part of His own creation. And in His bodily resurrection became the beginning of the New Heaven and New Earth, Colossians 1:18, Revelation 1:5, Revelation 3:14.

 

[RipponRedeaux]

All of the following are from the NLT.

John 1:14
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

John 1:3
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

Colossians 1:16-18
for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see -- such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.

Ephesians 3:9
I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all kings of the world.

Revelation 3:14
Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen -- the faithful and true witness, the beginning* of God's new creation.

[*Footnote : Or the ruler, or the source.]

 

[RipponRedeaux]

The heresy being thinking Colossians 1:15 means He was the first thing God created.

As you can plainly see, there is no such heresy in the NLT translation. How could there be since Christ is called "supreme over all creation." And with the passages I listed from the NLT you can see the orthodoxy of the translation. There is nothing in the pages of the NLT for heresy hunters.

 

[37818]

As you can plainly see, there is no such heresy in the NLT translation. How could there be since Christ is called "supreme over all creation." And with the passages I listed from the NLT you can see the orthodoxy of the translation. There is nothing in the pages of the NLT for heresy hunters.

The teaching of Colossians 1:15, ". . . firstborn of all creation . . . ." is not what the NLT renders it. And that phrase does not mean "over" anything. That idea "over" belongs to Colossians 1:18. It is Colossians 1:16-17 which refers to Him beipg the Creator, not verse 15. It, verse 15 refers to Him being part of His creation.

 

[RipponRedeaux]

The teaching of Colossians 1:15, ". . . firstborn of all creation . . . ." is not what the NLT renders it. And that phrase does not mean "over" anything. That idea "over" belongs to Colossians 1:18. It is Colossians 1:16-17 which refers to Him beipg the Creator, not verse 15. It, verse 15 refers to Him being part of His creation.

Contrary to your thoughts :

From NET Notes : "In Col. I:15 the emphasis is on the priority of Jesus' rank as over and above creation (cf. 1:16 and the 'for' clause referring to Jesus as Creator)."

John Murray in The Goal Of Sanctification states that "Firstborn' reflects on the priorit and supremacy of Christ."

John Daille (1594-1670) says in his commentary of Colossians :
"...the 'first-born' is meant the Owner, the Lord, and the Prince of every creature." (p.101)
"...Christ 'is the first-born of every creature,' that is, the master and Lord of them..." (p.102)

 

[37818]

Contrary to your thoughts :

From NET Notes : "In Col. I:15 the emphasis is on the priority of Jesus' rank as over and above creation (cf. 1:16 and the 'for' clause referring to Jesus as Creator)."

John Murray in The Goal Of Sanctification states that "Firstborn' reflects on the priorit and supremacy of Christ."

John Daille (1594-1670) says in his commentary of Colossians :
"...the 'first-born' is meant the Owner, the Lord, and the Prince of every creature." (p.101)
"...Christ 'is the first-born of every creature,' that is, the master and Lord of them..." (p.102)

I disagree.
Psalms 2:7
* Acts of the Apostles 13:33
Romans 8:29
Colossians 1:15
Colossians 1:18
Hebrews 1:5-6
Hebrews 5:5
Revelation 1:5
These passages are about the resurrected Christ.

 

[RipponRedeaux]

I disagree.

You can disagree all you want, but that still doesn't negate the meaning of 'the first-born' as applied to Christ.

 

[37818]

You can disagree all you want, but that still doesn't negate the meaning of 'the first-born' as applied to Christ.

Yeah, His bodily resurrection as prophecied, Acts of the Apostles 13:33, Romans 1:4. I gave you the list references of this use, Colossians 1:15, is per Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5. Romans 8:29.

 

[37818]

The plain fact is the translators of the NLT have a very lax view of the word of God. Most Bible interpreters do not properly believe the meaning of Colossians 1:15 where it literally translates ". . . firstborn of all creation." Which has historically lead to Arianism. The passage in fact refers to the Creator in Colossians 1:16-17 being resurrected as part of His creation. Which He became part of in His incarnation, John 1:14. Making Him the beginning of His new creation to come, Colossians 1:18, Revelation 3:14.

 

[RipponRedeaux]

Your view is repugnant.

 

[RipponRedeaux]

Contrary to your thoughts :

From NET Notes : "In Col. I:15 the emphasis is on the priority of Jesus' rank as over and above creation (cf. 1:16 and the 'for' clause referring to Jesus as Creator)."

John Murray in The Goal Of Sanctification states that "Firstborn' reflects on the priorit and supremacy of Christ."

John Daille (1594-1670) says in his commentary of Colossians :
"...the 'first-born' is meant the Owner, the Lord, and the Prince of every creature." (p.101)
"...Christ 'is the first-born of every creature,' that is, the master and Lord of them..." (p.102)

"Christ, in addition to being the image of God, is 'the firstborn of all creation.' The context makes it clear that this title is not given to Him as though He Himself were the first of all created beings; it is emphasized immediately that, far from being part of creation, He is the One by whom the whole creation came into being. What the title does mean is that Christ, existing as He did before all creation, exercises the privilege of primogeniture as Lord of all creation, the divinely appointed 'heir of all things' (Heb. 1:2). He was there when creation began, and it was for Him as well as through Him that the work was done." Taken from F.F. Bruce's The Epistles Of Paul To The Ephesians And To The Colossians -- page 194.