2 Corinthians 1:12-14 "rejoicing" or "boast"?

[brandplucked]

2 Corinthians 1:12-14: "For our REJOICING is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in SIMPLICITY (haplotnti) and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our CONVERSATION in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward...(14) As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your REJOICING, even as ye also are ours in the day of THE Lord Jesus.?

There are several issues to be addressed in these two verses; some are translational and others are textual.

First of all, the word "simplicity" is found in the Majority of all texts, D, and Sinaiticus correction, as well as the Old Latin and the Syriac. It is the reading found in Wycliffe, Tyndale, Bishops's, Coverdale, the Geneva Bible, Darby, Young's, Douay, the Spanish Reina Valera, and the Complete Jewish Bible 1998.

It is also the reading of the newer Nestle-Aland Greek text and of the NKJV, NRSV, TNIV 2005, and the 2001 ESV. The ISV has tried to combine the earlier and the newer reading by saying "pure motives", but no Greek text actually says this.

The older Nestle-Aland Greek critical texts used to read ?that in HOLINESS? (hagiotnti) following Vaticanus and Alexandrinus, and so read the RV, ASV, NIV, NASB, and RSV. The Holman Christian Standard also continues to follow this older reading in spite of the fact that the newer Greek texts (UBS 4TH edition, and Nestle 27th) have gone back to the KJB reading. So, apparently once again the NASB, NIV and Holman are now out of date with ?the latest in scholarly findings? yada, yada, yada.

Notice that the new TNIV has rejected the previous NIV reading, and the ESV has rejected the previous RSV. Even Daniel Wallace's NET version has now adopted the reading found in the King James Bible, but his footnotes has one of the dumbest textual remarks I have ever seen. After arguing back and forth between these two different Greek words, he says: "This diversity of mss. provides excellent evidence for authenticity, but because of the internal evidence listed above, haplotnti (the KJB reading) is to be preferred, albeit only slightly." How in the world does diversity of manuscripts provide "excellent evidence for authenticity", and then one is to "prefer" one reading above another but "only slightly"? Is this the new double-minded, weak-kneed, milk-sop standard for the "authenticity" of the Bible?

As for the second textual difference, again we see the ever changing nature of the so called ?art and science of textual criticism? in action. The vast Majority of all texts as well as P46, A, C and D read ?THE Lord Jesus Christ?, whereas Sinaiticus and Vaticanus read ?OUR Lord Jesus Christ?.

The older Nestle-Aland critical texts confidently put the word OUR in their text, but then later on the newer ones have now placed the word ?our? in brackets.

The NASB and ESV read ?OUR Lord Jesus?, but the RSV, NRSV, NIV, TNIV and NKJV read ?THE Lord Jesus.? Daniel Wallace?s NET version also omits the word ?our? and has gone back to the former KJB reading of ?THE Lord Jesus?. He even notes: ?It is probably best to consider the shorter reading as authentic. NA27 places the pronoun in brackets, indicating doubt as to its authenticity.?

Actually, if a Christian blindly chooses to follow the ever changing modern critical text that is behind most versions such as the NASB, NIV, ESV, Holman and ISV versions, all they get is a text that is in constant flux and has HUNDREDS of words in BRACKETS indicating doubt as to its authenticity! This is the very nature of the beast and why more and more Christians no longer believe that any Bible in any language is the inspired and inerrant word of God.

For a more detailed study of the ridiculous folly called "the art and science of textual criticism" see the series beginning here: http://www.geocities.com/brandplucked/science.html

Are Pride and Boasting Christian Virtues?

One of the more serious and far reaching translational perversions found in most modern versions (NKJV, NIV, NASB, ESV, Holman) is to make Pride and Boasting into Christian virtues rather than the abomination that it really is.

2 Corinthians 1:12-14 - The King James Bible, as well as Tyndale 1525, Coverdale 1535, Bishops? Bible 1568, the Geneva Bible, 1599, Mace?s N.T. 1729, Wesley?s translation 1755, Webster?s 1833, Lamsa?s 1936 translation of the Syriac, the KJV 21st Century version 1994 and the Third Millenium Bible 1998 all read: ?For our REJOICING is this, the testimony of our conscience...we have had our conversation in the world...we are your REJOICING, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.?

(Side Note: A common complaint brought against the King James Bible by those who do not believe that ANY bible in any language is the complete and inerrant word of God is the use of this old word ?conversation?. Even they themselves know perfectly well that it means ?manner or life or pattern of living?, but they suggest we toss out the ?archaic? King James Bible and use some other ?new and improved? modern version, that not even they consider to be the inerrant word of God.

Not only does the Authorized King James Holy Bible use the word conversation in this way but so also do the following Bible versions: Wycliffe 1395, Tyndale 1525, Coverdale 1535, Bishop's Bible 1568, the Geneva Bible 1599, the Douay-Rheims Bible 1950, John Wesley's translation of the N.T. 1755, Darby's translation 1890, and Young's literal translation. Webster's 1833 translation also uses the word "conversation" in Philippians 3:20 as does the King James Bible and several others.)

For a further discussion on the use of the word ?conversation? and why it is not at all an error in the King James Bible, please see: http://www.geocities.com/brandplucked/convers.html

Rejoicing or Boast?

However when we begin to read the ?new and improved? modern versions we find a radical change in meaning - we go from ?rejoicing? in what God has done in our lives and the lives of others to ?reason to be proud? and ?boasting?.

NKJV - ?that WE ARE YOUR BOAST AS YOU ALSO ARE OURS, in the day of THE Lord Jesus. ?

NIV - ?YOU CAN BOAST OF US JUST AS WE WILL BOAST OF YOU in the day of THE Lord Jesus. ?

NASB - ?WE ARE YOUR REASON TO BE PROUD as you also are ours, in the day of OUR Lord Jesus.?

ESV - ?on the day of our Lord Jesus YOU WILL BOAST OF US AS WE WILL BOAST OF YOU.?

NO, emphatically No. Nobody will be ?boasting? or ?proud? in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. We will all be flat on our faces in the dust where we belong and ALL the glory and praise will be His and His alone. For a further discussion of this change from "rejoicing" to "boast" see: http://www.geocities.com/brandplucked/rej-prid.html

The choice is clear. You can either stick with the King James Bible, which has a few ?archaic? words that even its critics understand, and is The Bible God has used and honored above all others, and the only one seriously believed and defended as the true, complete and inerrant word of God, OR you can decide to go for the ever-changing, textually aberrant and doctrinally impure Bible of the Month Club versions that nobody believes are the inerrant and totally true words of God.

Will Kinney

[lettheredeemedsayso]

I believe that it would have to be "rejoicing" because in most cases in scripture the word "boast" or boasting is not encouraged. What do you think?

[brandplucked]

I believe that it would have to be "rejoicing" because in most cases in scripture the word "boast" or boasting is not encouraged. What do you think?

Hi let, your are correct. Greek and Hebrew words can often have very different or even opposite meanings depending on the context. The whole tenor of the true Bible (KJB) is that boasting or pride in oneself is a sin. Nobody will be patting others on the back and telling them how proud they are of what they have done in the Day of the Lord.

Philippians 2:16 KJB, Tyndale, Coverdale, Bishop's, Geneva, Young's, Webster's, KJV 21, NKJV, and theThird Millenium Bible : "that I may REJOICE in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."

NASB: "in the day of Christ I may have REASON TO GLORY because I did not run in vain"

NIV, Holman Standard: "in order that I MAY BOAST in the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing."

RSV, ESV "so that in the day of Christ I MAY BE PROUD that I did not run in vain."

On the day of Christ, when we finally see the full glory of God Almighty, we will not be standing around boasting of our accomplishments and patting one another on the back and telling them how proud we are of them. Nobody will be boasting or proud of his personal accomplishments in the day of the Lord Jesus. Instead we will all be flat on our faces worshipping the Lamb who alone is worthy to receive praise, honour and glory, and rejoicing in all that He has done in and through His vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory.

A common response when both angels and men come into immediate contact with the living God is to fall on their faces in worship before Him. ?And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, AND FELL BEFORE THE THRONE ON THEIR FACES, and worshipped God.? Revelation 7:11. See also Revelation 4:10; 5:8; 11:16 ?And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, FELL UPON THEIR FACES and worshipped God.?; 19:4, 10; Exodus 3:6; Exodus 34:8 Immediately after God revealed His glory and holy character unto Moses, we read: "And Moses made haste, and BOWED HIS HEAD TOWARD THE EARTH, and worshipped." Ezekiel 1:28 ?This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD, And when I saw it, I FELL UPON MY FACE, and I heard a voice of one that spake.?; Daniel 10:7-9; Isaiah 6:1-5; and Matthew 17:5-6 ?...behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, THEY FELL ON THEIR FACE, and were sore afraid.?

We will be rejoicing, but not "boasting".

The KJB is right, as always.

God bless,

Will K

[777]

Wow, I'm really only familiar with the KJV...I had no idea that "rejoice" = "boast" in other versions. The two words aren't even synonyms.

I believe that it would have to be "rejoicing" because in most cases in scripture the word "boast" or boasting is not encouraged. What do you think?

I'd say so - in 2 Timothy 3:2, boasters are lumped in with blasphemers.

[brandplucked]

Wow, I'm really only familiar with the KJV...I had no idea that "rejoice" = "boast" in other versions. The two words aren't even synonyms.



I'd say so - in 2 Timothy 3:2, boasters are lumped in with blasphemers.

You got it! Praise the Lord some people can still think straight.

Thank God for His Book of Truth - the King James Bible.

Blessings,

Will K