Removing "Son of God" and "Father" from the Bible

The blogosphere has caught up with a long-running debate between missionaries and Bible translators over removing "Son of God" and "Father" from the Bible. As a missionary to Muslims, this issue hits very close to home for me. I have been researching and praying about this issue for months, and it is very possible that Muslims who I have been proclaiming the gospel to have received "Muslim Compliant" translations from others which remove or replace the terms "Son of God", "Father" and other familial language from the Bible in favor of less offensive terms such as "Beloved one", "companion" and "Guardian." Anyone with a sense of loyalty to the Bible is going to immediately feel outraged and sickened about these changes, but they come with a complex set of arguments that need to be weighed in order to respond fairly. I have spent months reading thousands of pages in order to weigh the arguments, and I absolutely feel that their reasoning, exegesis and theology is wrong and that removing "Son of God" from the Bible removes the doctrine of adoption and alters the word of God in a dishonest and destructive way; however, most will condemn the authors of these changes far too easily. The proponents of this approach have high motives, they want to reach Muslims with the gospel; however, they have poor theology and have been deceived by postmodern ideas.

Let me add as well that this is not the same debate as the use of Allah for God in the Bible. That issue has its own debate. Allah is the only word for God in the Arabic language and it predates Islam. While some Arab Christians have invented another word for God in their language, most Arab Christians use the term Allah. The Islamic Allah and the Christian God are vastly different in their character and nature, but I believe it is acceptable to use the word Allah in translations as long as it is used consistently to refer to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and not to the Father only as some Muslim Compliant translations choose.

The most published scholar behind the movement to remove "Father" and "Son of God" from the Bible is Rick Brown. I recommend reading his articles The "Son of God" and Explaing the Biblical Term 'Son(s) of God' in a Muslim Contexts (Part I and II) in order to understand the arguments put forth in favor of the removal of familial language. For an overview of the entire debate I would reccommend the Biblical Missiology website and their article debating Wycliffe and others, as well as Chrislam: How Western Missionaries are Promoting an Islamicized Gospel. Brown's arguments generally fall into three categories, though there is a broad range of argumentation:

1.) Linguistic: Brown argues that the arabic word for son: Ibn always refers to a biological son and infers a carnal act between God and Mary. A number of Arabic linguists debate this fact and Jesus is referred to as "son of Mary" (ibn of Mary) in the Qur'an in spite of the fact that the Qur'an reinforces the virgin birth and absolutely does not infer a carnal relationship between God and Mary.

2.) Exegetical: Brown argues that the term "Son of God" and "Christ or Messiah" are identical and interchangeable, therefore nothing is lost when "Son of God" is removed. I believe this is poor exegesis and completely ignores the most basic meaning of the term and the importance of our adoption.

3.) Cultural: Brown argues that Muslims have been taught repeatedly that Christians believe in a carnal relationship between God and Mary, therefore the term "Son of God" is anathema to them. He argues that our understanding of the term son of a b____ is so offensive we would never apply it to Jesus no matter how it was redefined. This is a convincing argument, but all the Muslims I've interacted with take your word for it when you explain that the term does not refer to that and move on to object to the deity of Christ, which is the real issue with the term.

Brown makes a number of other arguments in similar lines, but in another article he makes it clear that he believes the deity of Christ is not necessary for salvation, "These doctrines about the deity of Jesus and his substitutionary punishment are wonderful parts of the Good News, and it is worthwhile discussing them with seekers, as Paul demonstrated in Romans. But the overwhelming Biblical witness is that although these doctrines are important for the disciple to understand, an understanding of them is not required for salvation." (from What Must One Believe about Jesus to be Saved?) This belief has crafted an entire missiology. It is dead wrong and endorses cheap grace, false salvation and syncretism and immunizes people to the true gospel.

I will be posting more on this in the future, but please read the links and the following articles in order to inform yourself on the subject:

Sign the petition to keep "Son of God" and "Father" in the Bible:

sign the petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/lost-in-translation

Christianity Today: The Son and the Crescent

Critique of Christianity Today's Article Entitled: The Son and the Crescent by Jay Smith

January 2012 Giveaway Winner

The winner of this month's giveaway, a brand new edition of the Expositor's Bible Commentary Volume 7 Jeremiah - Ezekiel is: Marji. Marji please send your address to biblereadingproject@gmail.com, and I will ship the commentary out to you. If no one contacts me within five days I will pick another winner. 


Didn't win? Stick around for more giveaways.

January 2012 Giveaway - Expositor's Bible Commentary - Jeremiah - Ezekiel

I've been fairly busy lately, and since I'm moving in the next week, I may continue to be busy. During the down time I would like offer another fantastic giveaway. This one is in support of Dr. Michael Brown's ministry. Dr. Brown is one of my favorite authors and I have been enjoying his commentary on Jeremiah greatly. This month's giveaway is a brand new edition of the Expositor's Bible Commentary Volume 7 Jeremiah - Ezekiel.

You can read my review here. I will say I regret my single critical comment on the text. After reading the majority of the commentary, I feel foolish that I nitpicked in such a way.

Enter by commenting on this post with your full name. If you post the giveaway on a blog, post a second comment with the link accompanied again with your full name for an extra entry. I will randomly select a winner on Monday January 30th and announce their name on the blog. If they do not contact me at biblereadingproject@gmail.com within 5 days I will post a second winner. Tell all your friends.

Why give away books? It helps spread the messages and works that the Lord has used to inspire me in life and ministry. It helps spread passion and zeal for the work.  Many of the books will be ones I've received for free or extra copies that I have on hand, or simply books that I feel are important enough that they need to be disseminated to the body of Christ at large. I hope this contest draws interest in Dr. Brown's work and ministry and grabs interest for the blog.

Review: ESV Ryrie Study Bible

The Ryrie Study Bible has been popular since its first publication in 1978 and has sold over 2.6 million copies. Moody Press has released the Ryrie Study Bible with the ESV text, a new layout, and in a new soft-touch faux leather binding. Among single author Study Bibles, Ryrie's stands out as the most popular and perhaps the most accessible. Though distinctly dispensational, it includes enough study materials and basic informational notes to remain relevant and useful to those who disagree with dispensational theology. The Ryrie Study Bible's strength is in its ability to make academic information concise and accessible to all.

BINDING


The Soft-Touch binding is smooth and attractive with a handsome design that looks modern but will be appealing to more than just youth or those with trendy taste. The back features an imprint of 2 Timothy 3:16, and I appreciate the lack of gold lettering or ostentatious design. The Soft-Touch material is firmer and less textured than than Crossway leathersoft but has a nicer, matte texture when compared to Hendrickson's flexisoft. It is not as flexible or as thick as either, but it doesn't seem to have as much of a rubbery element. It will be interesting to see how it wears.

At 6.94 x 9.5 the Bible is fairly large but not as thick or as heavy as many study Bibles. It seems that Moody has arranged the layout and materials of the Bible to facilitate a fairly thin spine, a compromise I usually don't favor, but when it comes to study Bibles this may be a deciding factor for some. The ESV study Bible is almost certainly too large for most people to use it as an everyday Bible, while this edition will be appealing to those who wish to carry a study Bible with them everywhere.

The Soft-Touch edition features an obviously glued binding (correction: CBD staff state that this is smyth-sewn as well as glued), which means it may begin to crack and release the maps at the end if put through rigorous use for more than a year or two.

I was impressed to see this edition perform yoga fairly well in spite of its more rigid binding; it took a little more coaxing to get it there, but it held the position well and returned to its original posture without folds or seams showing up.

LAYOUT

One of the reasons I was interested in looking at this edition was because I wanted to look at the ESV as rendered by a different publisher from Crossway and Cambridge. Moody Press hasn't done anything revolutionary with the layout, but they have provided a readable double column format, featuring a center column of references and humble note placement. The occasional graphic, map or chart interrupts the text but for the most part the notes are uninterrupting, staying fairly far down on the page in a readable but narrow sans serif font. The main text is very similar to a Crossway layout with a taller serif font at about an 8/9 pt size. The text is given headings that correspond to outlines given in the book introductions, which creates an extra tool for study, reference and is very helpful in tracking topics or finding certain passages or events in the narrative or argument of the text. 

Moody has changed their previous layout style, which included two columns of side column references. The center column reference bar creates a more unified, less cluttered look and makes the margins look wider, though in actuality the previous layout may have afforded more space for note taking.

My co-laborer Andrew's 1995 NASB Ryrie Study Bible.

NOTES

The Ryrie Study Bible features a holistic commentary on the text, providing a wealth of pratcical, factual information without being intrusive, and providing more in depth commentary on verses within a millennial dispensational perspective. This means there may be an unusual emphasis on the millennial kingdom and the specifics of how God worked in different ways at different times. The strength of the Ryrie notes is their ability to quickly and concisely convey basic information that helps understand biblical terms, history and language better.

Ryrie states his positions within the notes without listing other interpretive choices, which is not unusual for study Bibles edited or created by a single scholar. It should be kept in mind that the notes are from a single perspective.

Matthew 16:19
16:19 the keys. The authority to open the doors of Christendom was given to Peter, who used that authority for Jews on the Day of Pentecost and for Gentiles in the house of Gentiles in the house of Cornelius (Acts 10). shall be bound . . . shall be loosed. Heaven, not the apostles, initiates all binding and loosing, whereas the apostles announce these things. In John 20:22-23 sins are in view; here, things (i.e.,practices). An example of the apostles binding practices on people is found in Acts 15:20.

FEATURES

The additional study tools and features are one of the biggest draws to the Ryrie Study Bible. The inclusion of an expanded topical index, a comprehensive concordance, 16 full color maps, an 8 page historical timeline and Daily Bible Reading adds powerful and distinct study tools that make information quickly accessible. Detailed articles include a synopsis of Bible Doctrine, The Inspiration of the Bible, Understanding the Bible, How We Got Our Bible, The Meaning and Blessings of Salvation, Archaeology and the Bible and A Brief Survey of Church History.

It is easy to see why the Ryrie has been so popular for so long. It features a popular layout and relevant usable study tools, and the notes feature important information in a concise format. Those searching for a study Bible they can carry with good commentary from a dispensational perspective should look no farther.

Warring with Redemption (Newsletter)

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Rom 12:19. We live in a journey surrounded by God’s redemption and the Spirit’s revenge on the work of the enemy. Our walk through the valley of the shadow of death is brightened and redeemed by the truth that our Father is with us. Even as we struggle and suffer in this world inhabited by the enemy of our souls, Christ is made manifest again and again to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). We live in a war of redemption. We watch as the year of the Lord’s favor unfolds and we are placed within the work of the Spirit’s anointing to replace poverty with good news, broken-heartedness with healing, captivity with liberty, bondage with freedom, and mourning with comfort (Isaiah 61:1-2). This is the Lord’s warfare on the enemy’s attacks on our lives, to redeem every circumstance, every trial and every wound and to turn them into windows through which we view His grace and love.
The Lord teaches us to oppose the enemy with the fruits of righteousness and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Where there has been conflict and turmoil, our Father wages peace on our circumstances. Where we have been grieved, He comforts and consoles us. When we sit in the ashes of defeat, despair and remorse, He gives us beauty. He pours the oil of joy on those who mourn; He wraps us in the garment of praise and lifts us up out of our heaviness. He establishes us firm and strong so we won’t be tossed and bent by the storm. Where we have felt failure, hate and despondency, He covers us and fills us with His love. Where there has been fear and disquiet, He gives us the peace of Jesus. Where there is fatigue and frustration, He gives us patience. Where we have faced cruelty, He extends kindness. When we see only evil, He reveals His goodness. When we have been let down and betrayed, He is faithful. When we have been handled roughly, He restores us gently. When we feel like things are in chaos, He is in control. As we begin to see God working to redeem our lives, our character and our struggles, we take on His character and the fruit of the Spirit grows within us. In the ashes of what has been torn down, the Lord is planting His nature. What the devil has stolen is replaced above and beyond all that was lost. What the devil has killed has been given an undefeatable resurrection life and what the devil has destroyed is being built on a firmer foundation by the Holy Spirit. This is the Lord’s vengeance on the enemy’s attempts on our lives.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13). In the midst of trials and refining, our faith is tested and made precious in the sight of God. We are believers, and we believe in the power, deliverance and salvation available in Christ. Hope remains in us as we look to our glorious future and the promises we have been given, delighting in what our Father will do in the lives of His children. Love overpowers all. It binds us to Christ as we receive His life and His love and we give it back to Him in an unending, eternal love relationship that propels us deeper and deeper into His arms. These three abide; they remain; they stick. As we cling to them we cling to Christ and His sure and everlasting work within us. We watch Him work His redemption and healing through our circumstances, destroying the work of the enemy and bringing us home to Him. I look forward to 2012 with inexpressible hope in the powerful redemption of God in my character, in my circumstances, in my city and in the sinners who He is drawing into His kingdom. Isaiah 61:4 follows the proclamation of the Lord’s favor, the day of salvation and the advent of the gospel: “And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.” The Lord is performing a redemptive work within our city. The harvest is ready, may we labor faithfully in the new year.

View the whole January 2012 newsletter here.

View previous newsletters here.

Jots and Tittles January 2012

How to Study the Bible in a Nutshell

When the Literal Makes Sense Seek no Other Sense: Why This Principle isn't the Best Fit for Revelation

Craig Keener: It's Okay to Expect a Miracle

Trevin Wax: Why Studying the Bible Won't Change Your Life