Calvin Synod Herald, 2011 (112. évfolyam, 3-12. szám)
2011-03-01 / 3-4. szám
10 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD well as intentional word changes were made by printers almost immediately, with changes in capitalization, punctuation and spelling. One misprint in 1631 resulted in the “Wicked Bible,” omitting “not” from the Commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Over many years, general changes in typesetting, grammar and word usage led to numerous subtle and substantive changes in later editions. Current Impact Many twentieth century translations carried on the effort to provide the Bible in the language of the people. Among the most notable in America were the Revised Standard Version, New International Version and New King James Version. Several conservative elements initially were so vehement in rejecting the RSV that they considered it an attack on the Bible itself, and there were occasions of book burnings. But tradition often has its way, and the KJV is so ingrained in America’s churches’ heritage that it continues in popular use in many areas. In most liturgies, its version of the Lord’s Prayer is still used in every worship setting. The Twenty-third Psalm finds similar favor, as also in the memorial cards issued at funeral homes. Wedding announcements and rites often use its language for the apostle Paul’s “love chapter” (I Cor. 13:1-13). Reflections of its language are found in overwhelming number in verses in church hymnals of all denominations, in books both religious and secular, and in popular music old and new. In writing the original edition’s second preface, The Translators to the Reader,” they noted that earlier editions were valued, and the current effort was to make “a good translation better.” They concluded, on the value of even the poorest translations, each of them “containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God.” “Beyond the sacred page, I seek Thee, Lord; My spirit pants for Thee, O living word. ” Rev. Albert W. Kovács O Lord, our heavenly Father, who has caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning; grant us Thy Holy Spirit to illumine and sanctify our hearts, that we may be both ready to learn and apt to teach the lessons of Thy saving grace, that by patience and comfort of Thy holy word we may embrace and ever holdfast the hope of everlasting life, which Thou hast given us in Jesus Christ our Savior, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Reprinted from the Bethlen Almanac At Easter At Easter, we do not come only to celebrate an ancient anniversary of an important event but rather to get a glimpse of the Living Lord. While the biblical story of the passion and resurrection of Christ stirs our hearts each year, it is really the present tense that captures our attention. It is not so much, “Was the Lord raised?” as it is, “Will He appear to me?” We all want to see for ourselves that the tomb is empty. We want to touch His wounds with Thomas and know for sure that He is alive. We all want there to be some difference in our lives because Christ has risen. The proof is all around us. The Resurrection is present today in the power that overcomes the pain and suffering of our world. It doesn’t take it all away, because the battle is still raging. Humankind still sins and rebels, and people still inflict hate and evil on others. The results of greed, prejudice, irresponsibility and uncontrolled ambition leave our world with a mess of problems. But at every level of human failure and suffering, the urgent message of the Resurrection - the possibility of hope, healing and love - are present. Notice how, in the Gospels, all of the first witnesses of the Resurrection run. Half of the references in the Bible to people running occur in the description of the Resurrection: the women run from the tomb, Peter and John run to the tomb, the disciples in Emmaus hurry back to Jerusalem. Where is that God-given energy in the church today? So take a moment to ask yourself: “Who do I know that would benefit from this wonderful Easter story?” Share the greatest gift of hope that we have been given with at least one other person. They will be blessed with the joy and hope of life beyond the grave because of our Lord’s Resurrection. Dr. Bela Daniel Bonis qT ~[n Mark Time to an Eternal Beat The calendar, a donor and a thief, gives a moment in Easter to cherish, then hurries on to some desultory destiny. So we savor this hopeful instant and make our lives an album worth retrospective. Yet unless it’s all couched in some time-plus-eternity scheme of things it’s just bunnies and colored eggs without meaning. Our reality then: mark time to an eternal beat. £003 Rev. David B. Bowman
