Theocratic Aid To Kingdom Publishers

Lesson 71

USES OF THE "AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION"

Now is the time to expertly handle the Word of God. This glorious day of Jehovah sees the waging of war on all religion with unrelenting zeal by those who have become champions of true worship. Already having learned something as to the features offered by the American Standard Version, a study of some of its many uses is next in order.

In addition to the more than 6,600 scriptures using the name "Jehovah" properly in describing his majesty and excellent personality, the American Standard Version furnishes an authoritative study as to the form of the word "Jehovah" and the meaning of the name. This analysis is furnished at Exodus 3:13,14 together with the footnotes thereon. It is written, "God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." The footnotes also render the first part, "I AM, BECAUSE I AM," or, "I AM WHO AM," or, "I WILL BE THAT I WILL BE." The footnote further indicates that "I AM" in the Hebrew is Ehyeh, which is related to the root of the name "Jehovah". Thus the name Jehovah is a form of the verb to be (haváh), actually the causative form of this verb. Also, this indicates that Jehovah as the great I AM is the great purposer, thus revealing the meaning of his matchless name.

In the battle against false doctrines, the superior rendering of John 5:29 in the American Standard Version as to the resurrection is an oft-used weapon. It there reads, "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resur-

rection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." This debunks this scripture of the religious twist given it that those who have done evil will receive a resurrection of damnation and be consigned to a place of eternal torment. Job, the man of integrity, had hope in the resurrection, and that his redeemer lived. Note Job 19:25, 26: "But as for me I know that my Redeemer [Vindicator] liveth, and at last he will stand up upon the earth: and after my skin, even this body, is destroyed, then without my flesh [yet from my flesh] shall I see God." This one scripture can be quoted in support of the subject of vindication; also as a supporting text on the ransom, as well as for the doctrine of the resurrection. Note the superior rendering of the two footnotes for this scripture, as shown in brackets.

In combating misconceptions as to the rulership of this old world, the American Standard Version has an important superior rendering of 1 John 5:19, which is a sword thrust often used in attacking religion. The King James Version weakly and vaguely says: "And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness." Note the power and accurateness of the American Standard Version rendering, where it sharply says: "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one." Luke 2:14 is likewise superior to that of the Authorized Version. The American Standard Version says: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased."

To refute the religious error ridiculously put forth that the kingdom of God is in one's heart, the American Standard Version rendering of Luke 17: 21 can be wielded effectively by using its marginal reading. It says, "For lo, the kingdom of God is within you." The footnote reads, "in the midst of you," which is the correct thought, the kingdom then being in their midst in the person of the King, Christ Jesus. A host of other superior readings and renderings could be cited.

The Authorized Version at Acts 13: 20 reads: "And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet." But the oldest Bible manuscripts read differently at Acts 13:19, 20, as shown in the American Standard Version, which reads: "He gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years: and after these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet." This correct rendering is essential in setting events properly in the stream of time.

The condemnation of death rests upon all mankind. Death, as a state or condition, and its consequences, are questions of vital interest to every human creature. This subject cannot be better expounded than by the use of the American Standard Version. In view of the fact that the Hebrew word sheol is left untranslated and retained uniformly in the 65 places where it appears in the Hebrew Scriptures, and likewise the Greek word hades is left untranslated in the Christian Scriptures, the original meaning of the scriptures can be advanced. If the words sheol and hades are looked up in the Watchtower Bible (A.S.V.) concordance an excellent selection of references can be obtained to give the Bible meaning of these words. Sheol is the condition of death in the grave with a hope of a resurrection. Hades also refers to the grave.

"Then will ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol." (Gen. 42:38) "He that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more." (Job 7:9) "For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol." (Ps. 16:10) "For Sheol cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee." (Isa. 38:18) "I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; . . . 0 death, where are thy plagues? 0 Sheol, where is thy destruction?" (Hos. 13:14) "That neither was he [Christ] left unto Hades." (Acts 2:31) "I have the keys of death and of Hades." (Rev. 1:18) "And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire." (Rev. 20:14) Thus the American Standard Ver-

sion is unsurpassed for a study of the subject of the death condition.

The subject of the "trinity" frequently arises. This involves the name of the living God Jehovah, and a fine study is supplied on this subject in the American Standard Version. Religionists often quote Deuteronomy 6:4 in the Authorized Version and argue that the word God (Elohim) being in the plural denotes plurality of person. But a study of this text in the American Standard Version gives an excellent refutation. It says: "Hear, 0 Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah." The footnote supplies this reading: "Jehovah our God, Jehovah is one." Or another alternate rendering is given in the footnote, "Jehovah is our God, Jehovah is one." Elohim (for God) though plural denotes plurality of Jehovah's excellence; and every rendering of the text at Deuteronomy 6:4 in the American Standard Version emphasizes that Jehovah is one, and not a "trinity".

Another famous "trinity" exposer is the American Standard Version study of 1 John 5:7, 8. For centuries religionists have supported their false doctrine of the "trinity" with the Authorized Version rendering, which reads: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." As has been explained elsewhere, this spurious passage was added in the sixteenth century, by Erasmus. The American Standard Version gives the uncorrupted rendering as follows: "And it is the spirit that beareth witness, because the spirit is the truth. For there are three who bear witness, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one."

Many are the powerful sword thrusts that can be prepared from the American Standard Version. It will be only by use and comparison in private study that the Bible user will discover all its advantages. Each minister of Jehovah will make full use of the great number of

superior, reliable and effective renderings of this version of the Scriptures.