What are the standards for "The Bible Standard" magazine?
This image is from the March/April 2016 Bible standard magazine.
This looks like what happens when someone new in the Truth starts making artwork for a Bible magazine. Can you determine the problem? I think it depends on if you are in The Truth or not.
I don't know who's to blame for this, however any new person in the Truth could at a glance tell that there is something very wrong with this rendition of Hebrews 12:1.
You can see every rendition of this verse from page one of biblehub.com, below. That's all I care to list as you know how many Bibles there are in the world...
None of them, I repeat none of them offer this botched wording from the "Bible Standard" magazine:
"Let us, as God's present day saints, run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus..." Hebrews 12:1
THE LIST:
New International Version
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
New Living Translation
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
English Standard Version
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Berean Study Bible
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
Berean Literal Bible
Therefore we also, having such a great cloud of witnesses encompassing us, having laid aside every weight and the sin easily entangling, should run with endurance the race lying before us,
New American Standard Bible
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
King James Bible
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
International Standard Version
Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us,
NET Bible
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Therefore, we also, who have all of these witnesses who surround us like clouds, let us throw off from us all the weights of the sin which is always ready for us, and let us run with patience this race that is set for us.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since we are surrounded by so many examples [of faith], we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.
New American Standard 1977
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Jubilee Bible 2000
Therefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, leaving behind all the weight of the sin which surrounds us, let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
King James 2000 Bible
Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
American King James Version
Why seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
American Standard Version
Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us:
Darby Bible Translation
Let us also therefore, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight, and sin which so easily entangles us, run with endurance the race that lies before us,
English Revised Version
Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore, seeing we also are encompassed with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Weymouth New Testament
Therefore, surrounded as we are by such a vast cloud of witnesses, let us fling aside every encumbrance and the sin that so readily entangles our feet. And let us run with patient endurance the race that lies before us,
World English Bible
Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, we also having so great a cloud of witnesses set around us, every weight having put off, and the closely besetting sin, through endurance may we run the contest that is set before us,
I'm sure there are many more versions we could list. As you can see, they all agree on what the Apostle actually said: The "cloud of witnesses" is never rendered "present day saints". No, they all say the same thing.
Not to mention the omissions! We were taught by our Pastor that one of the Adversary's chief methods of lying is to either misquote or omit words in the misuse of Scripture. We are not authorized to change the Bible. This alteration also changes the meaning of the Bible.
Our dear Pastor Russell, "That Servant", wrote copiously about Hebrews 12:1.
You can see in the columns below on the right that never once does he refer to the cloud of witnesses as the "present day saints".
He consistently throughout his career explained to us that this verse refers explicitly and only to the Ancient Worthies. ...
| Scripture | Expanded Comments |
|---|---|
| 1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, | Wherefore – Therefore. R2035:4 Then you that discern the prize of your high calling. R3149:2 The Apostle exhorts to look backwards at the list of Ancient Worthies and to consider what they endured and how faithful and loyal to God they were. R5859:5 Directing our minds back to the preceding context. In view of the great things accomplished by these faithful characters of the past who manifested such faith and confidence in God. R5318:3 In forceful metaphor, pointing us back to the Ancient Worthies as a stimulus for faith and zeal.R2035:4 Seeing we also are – Also we being. R2035:4 Compassed about – Encompassed. R5318:3 Many surrounding you of those whose lives testified to the truth--martyrs who were cut off from home privileges and from life itself. R5318:3 Cloud – Crowd. R2035:4 Continually surrounds us. The experiences of the Ancient Worthies are our experiences. At every step of our journey we find encouragement, strength, from the contemplation of their course.R5319:1 Of witnesses – Greek, marturon, martyrs, who so nobly witnessed for God and righteousness.R2035:4, 5318:3, 4513:3, 4389:5 The Ancient Worthies. R5318:3, 4513:3, 2035:4 Consider them as watching us, to whom has been given the great blessing and privilege of becoming sons of God. R5859:5 These Ancient Worthies, through the achievements of their lives, are looking down on you. The fact that they were even then dead need not detract from the Apostle's figure of speech. R5318:6 As we look back to the faithful witnesses of the past, we find that they carried very few weights along with them. They cast them aside, and ran with patience the course before them. R5319:3 Not used in the sense of onlookers. R5318:3 Let us – The Church class, the Little Flock. R5859:5 Let the inspiration of their example spur us on to the greatest faithfulness in running our race.R5318:3 As we recall how faithfully they endured and achieved what was set before them, how careful we should be in running the race for glory, honor and immortality. R5318:6 Emulate them. R2035:4 Lay aside – Cast it aside. Q723:1; HG453:3 Seek daily to lay aside. HG371:3 "He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." (1 John 3:3) R3168:4 If any have not been zealously and voluntarily suffering with their Savior, they should appeal in prayer for help, and study afresh the precious promises. R4921:4 Otherwise he will be so handicapped that he will not run well. R5319:2 Not all weights and hindrances are to be cast aside. A man with a wife and children must not throw these aside. R5319:3 One who is unmarried should consider carefully how many children he should have on each shoulder, or whether he should have a wife on his shoulders. Some might be hindered with a wife.R5319:4 Every weight – Cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, pleasures. R5440:5 Hindrance and worldly ambition. R3857:3, 2702:6, 1790:5 Unnecessary worldly cares. R3149:3 Earthly aims and projects. HG453:3; NS617:2 Every hindrance, everything that would prevent our running grandly and successfully the race for the great prize which Jesus obtained. R5859:6 Differs in different persons--inherited titles, honor, position, wealth, talent along some line, love of the approval of men, etc. R5319:1,2 And the sin – One of the greatest hindrances to our running this race is inherited sin in our members. R5859:6 There may be one sin or weakness that would especially beset you--your special danger. Q723:1 Every besetment, everything precious to us of an earthly kind. R2702:6 Every besetting sin. NS371:5, 396:4, 404:6 Every besetment of the flesh. NS367:3 Encumbrance. R5423:5 If the sin be an inherited weakness, a part of one's very nature, he shall run in the race, not walk nor sit, but run, bending all his energy to win, straining every muscle, every power of his being.R5319:4 So easily beset us – Whichever weakness may be a special besetment. R4921:5 Close-girding sins--the sin which wraps itself closely around us. R5319:4; E139; Q723:1 Every weakness of the flesh, and every earthly ambition. F369 If we cannot rid ourselves entirely, we must put it off to such an extent that it will not interfere with our running. R5319:4 Run – Not like one who is merely beating the air, but like one who has a purpose in view. (1 Cor. 9:26) R3149:3 To the extent of our ability. NS355:6 By contrast with those who "sit" in the darkness. A25 That we may attain unto the mark of the prize. F729; R4911:4 The prize of the high calling is not for the easy-going Christian. R2123:1; SM106:1 Seek to win a right to the Kingdom, not to put on the dress of a racer merely, but to so run as to obtain the prize, which implies weariness, difficulties and obstacles to be encountered. R521:4 With patience – Greek, hupomone; cheerful endurance; constancy. R2791:1, 5651:4, 4911:4, 2792:2 Not only perseveringly. R5859:6 The race must be run with constancy if we would reach the "mark," that having done all, we may stand. R2792:2; F369 Patiently to the end. R5423:5 Trials, difficulties, rightly borne, are developing character. R5319:5 Whoever would obtain so great a prize will need patience, to be proven and tested in all points as respect loyalty and devotion to the heavenly Father, the truth, and the brethren. R5859:6 Endure the tests and enjoy the reconciliation with the Father now. NS367:3 The race – The higher, heavenly race. R2035:4 The uphill one, the difficult one. NS414:5 The narrow way. SM167:2 For the crown of life, for joint-heirship with our Lord, for a share with him in the great work of blessing all the families of the earth. SM93:2; R5423:4; NS338:6, 404:6 We are to consider ourselves as running a race. We are to view the affairs of the present life as from a race-course. R5319:1, 5859:5 The race is not imaginary, but real, that the Lord has arranged, and he has definitely stated the terms, the assistance to be expected, and the prize at the end of the course. R5319:4 Our success in which will be in proportion as we love not the world, lay aside besetting sins, assemble with God's children, and study the Scriptures. F729 That we might attain unto a glorious inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. NS89:3 This "high calling" to joint-heirship is a very special and limited call; it will soon end and it will never be repeated. R4979:1; OV84:1 As runners in the Grecian games would strip themselves of all that was not absolutely necessary, so the Christian should lay aside all possible weights and hindrances in his course. R5319:1 Not a race merely to the strong, and a victory to the swift. It is a race in which each one, according to the earnestness of his effort, will be rewarded. R5319:6 Set before us – In the Gospel. R5199:4, 4979:4, 4921:5, 4911:4, 3168:4, 2755:4, 2622:5, 1790:5;F369, F729; NS414:5 In the good tidings. NS371:5 Set before believers during this Gospel age. NS414:5 Remembering that he who is on our part, and who has engaged to help us and to carry us through every difficulty, is Jesus. R2892:4 |
Only a person new to Present Truth or unaware of the Truth could have concocted such a poor rendering of Hebrews 12:1, creating a totally non-existent wording of this verse.
THE REAL reason that such blatantly wicked changes in the Bible itself are required, is to support the false teachings regarding the non-existent class called "consecrated Epiphany campers".
BUT whatever the reason: There is no authorization, no Heavenly license granted any man on earth to alter the text of St. Paul!
Whoever did this is walking on thin ice, spiritually, I am here to warn you. To whom it may concern, I hope you get the message.
If anyone thinks that I can hand this magazine to my wife and children and say "Here! Provender from the Lord! Drink deeply from the font of Truth!" they are now aware:
No, I can't possibly endorse anyone reading this kind of material. It looks like the Mormon or Jehovah's Witnesses magazines which brazenly and wantonly present erroneous Bible views left and right, hither and thither and yon.
It would be a full-time job for someone who wanted to nitpick every single error and mistake found in the Bible Standard and Present Truth magazines today. But why examine all of the mistakes and errors dating all the way back to 1950? All one need do is start in 1950, when Bro. Johnson left the scene.
THAT'S where you will find the root cause of all the mistakes that are currently on display in the L.H.M.M.
That's what my report details, that "Pastor" Raymond G. Jolly did wantonly and brazenly do damage to Truth and injury to the works of the Epiphany Messenger. The record will show that he is guilty of gross spiritual errors in doctrine, as well as gross errors against the Lord's arrangements by way overstepping his bounds as the Executive Trustee, which was supposed to be purely a business office.
He went off the reservation of Present Truth as left us by bros. Russell and Johnson. His list of crimes include slander, plagerism, theft, murder (spiritually of other brethren, esp. re: the case of Bro. John J. Hoefle). After reading the report you will see a falsifier to match the great sifters of the Gospel age. I found him to be a mirror of J.F. Rutherford with parallel errors to match, turning the L.H.M.M. into another little Babylon.
This report is large and will be posted in parts. It is not posted to hurt anyone. I pray it will relieve some of the burdens among the divided brethren out there and give them strength to stand firm in the faith once delivered to the saints.
James 1:3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, 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.
Yours in Truth,
Bro. Regan C. Balman
