| Author | Message | ||
| Katarain Registered user Username: Katarain Post Number: 120 Registered: 1-2012 |
I remember when the Clear Word "Bible" was published, and I also remember when they changed the name from the Clear Word Bible to just the Clear Word. I also know that it was a personal devotional project of Jack Blanco, and then it was published. I don't know if that was his intention all along. I also know that my family of origin was upset about it because no one should be adding to the word of God, and we thought it needed to be more clearly marked as a paraphrase with EGW stuff added in. We did have a copy of it, but for the same reason that I'm keeping my EGW books now--as a reference. Not because we used it as a Bible. I've heard it said that SDAs have their own Bible, the Clear Word, as part of a way to discredit them. I think there are plenty of doctrinal issues that are unBiblical, but, at least in my family of origin, we didn't use the Clear Word as a Bible and we disapproved of it. So I'm not sure it's fair to say that SDAs have their own Bible, even unofficially. It makes it sound like they all agree it's a great Bible, and they're just hiding it. Did things change in the last 10 years, that it actually is broadly accepted and used as the SDA Bible? I know that I had friends who really liked it, and I know occasionally, we would hear of someone using it from the pulpit, which we again would disapprove of. But this was years ago, before I got married, so I accept that things might have changed. | ||
| 1john2v27nlt Registered user Username: 1john2v27nlt Post Number: 397 Registered: 5-2009 |
When I was sda, they discouraged use of single author paraphrases because of potential bias. They discouraged the Schofield bible for bias & doctrinal issues. The denomination officially distances themselves from this bible, saying they do not publish or promote it. But it is highly featured in Adventist Book Stores, there are children's versions, etc. I have been in churches where members prefer this version to all others. I have seen a clip of a sda minister interviewing Jack Blanco. The minister encouraged the use of this 'bible' for his congregation. JB says he never intended it for publishing but was urged into it. Regardless of all that surrounds the publishing of it, many do prefer it. The Review & Herald Publishing Assn prints & distributes it - that IS an sda publishing company. How can the denom deny it? | ||
| Joyfulheart Registered user Username: Joyfulheart Post Number: 907 Registered: 10-2006 |
Almost everybody at my former SDA church had a copy of the clear word - blurred word/ clear wierd whatever... If you look at the ABC it is featured way more than the other Bibles. There are versions for everyone at every age and every stage and whatever parts of the "bible" you want. Official endorsement isn't the issue. Actions speak louder than words. At prophecy seminars, the new baptized members always got a set of the conflict of the ages series as a gift. They usually also got a Clear Word and an Ellen White Bible. A couple of the wealthy members got one of each for all of them. | ||
| Marysroses Registered user Username: Marysroses Post Number: 290 Registered: 4-2007 |
My moms church prefers the Clear Word and gives new converts a copy. I wonder if it's being translated into Spanish and other languages. That is something about EGW that doesn't seem to get as much attention as it deserves. I have noticed that Spanish versions of White books are heavily paraphrased and edited and are often far from the original content. If a person doesn't read English, they may never find this deception out for themselves. So easy to update and revise when " translating". | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9754 Registered: 3-2004  |
A retired SDA pastor uses it as one of the Bibles he uses in the "non" denominational class he is teaching, where he teaches SDA doctrine. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13692 Registered: 12-2003  |
It's deceptive to say they don't "publish" it. It is printed by a division of the Review and Herald Publishing Assn, and it is sold by the Adventist Book Centers which advertise it online and market it inside their stores as a Bible. To say they don't publish it id as deceptive as saying The Quiet Hour and Your Story Hour are not "Adventist" organizations because they are privately, not denominationally, owned. Colleen | ||
| Punababe808 Registered user Username: Punababe808 Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2012 |
The sda church I accompanied my mom to used the garbled word non-Bible in the service and many parishaners also brought their own copy to the service to refer to when texts were referred to. | ||
| Cloudwatcher Registered user Username: Cloudwatcher Post Number: 624 Registered: 5-2009  |
Even though I think many people use it, I don't think many Adventists know that EGW and SDA distinctive doctrines are inserted within the text (without warning). I have several friends who just thought it was an easier to read version of the Bible. Here's the video that J9 referenced. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy_roGWv0L8 Whether or not individual members approve or not, I don't see a *movement* within SDA to stop its sale and use. It's unofficially the official Bible of the church. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13694 Registered: 12-2003 |
Oh, so well said, Delina: the unofficial "official" Bible of the SDA organization. Colleen | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 1135 Registered: 5-2009 |
Quite true, sadly, cloudwatcher! Great comments by everyone. I just don't understand WHY SDAs even really "need" it if they already have EGW's books anyway... just goes to show that so many SDAs don't actually read/study the Bible if they don't know the difference between the two. My grown step kids all use it. | ||
| Truman Registered user Username: Truman Post Number: 147 Registered: 1-2012 |
From the Department of Redundancy Department: If they had only tested E. White's writings with clear scripture, her writings would not have stood (even in their organization). Instead, they chose to "test" (morph) scripture to fit with her views. A natural, and tragic, result is a "bible" largely of her writings - to ensure there is no "confusion." The fact that many pastors and churches use it as their main "bible" is enough incriminating evidence. Or did I miss the news that the GC had instructed Adventist Unions/Conferences/Missions/Pastors not to use it? (Didn't think so.) | ||
| Martin Registered user Username: Martin Post Number: 155 Registered: 11-2008 |
Never saw it used when I was a SDA and still living in Spain. The most common translation used was the Reina-Valera (edition of 1960) which, in a way, it's the equivalent to the KJV for english speaking countries. However, I remember hearing something about it in the church and online, maybe about 10 years ago... Something about it being a bit controversial, whether it was a paraphrase or not. It hit a bit too close to home, as it wasn't unusual to criticise the JWs for having their own "translation" of the Bible. Anyway, I think that what Marysroses says about the translations in Spanish and the problem with people not speaking English is quite true... It would have been a bit harder to find all the information about the problems within the SDA theology without knowing English. Although there are a few online resources in Spanish, there aren't as many as in English. Not sure about Ellen's books in Spanish... Aren't many of her books, even in English, just compilations of quotes from many sources? Not talking about her "borrowing" from other authors *wink wink*, but just books dealing with this or that issue, edited by somebody else, taking quotes from here and there. | ||
| Katarain Registered user Username: Katarain Post Number: 122 Registered: 1-2012 |
Adventists I know advise against using the compilations. You need the books for the context--ironically. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13695 Registered: 12-2003 |
What you say, Martin, is true...and this is exactly the reason the general conference has initiated the "Connecting With Jesus" project of translating 10 of EGWs core books into a variety of world languages and sending out millions of copies. At the 2005 GC where the project was announced, they said in the introduction to the program that converts to Adventism in countries where they do not have EGW in their native languages tend to lose the SDA distinctives. So true. Now, with the advent of Ted Wilson, it appears the Great Controversy project has eclipsed, at least for now, the Connecting With Jesus project. They have printed The Great Controversy in languages for every world division and have set a goal of millions of copies to be delivered in whatever way necessary to non-Adventists around the world, soliciting the participation of members in every country. This distribution is to be followed in 2013 by carefully orchestrated evangelistic meetings in major world cities accompanied by concurrent lay evangelism schools so the locals can continue the work begun by the evangelists. Colleen | ||
| Martin Registered user Username: Martin Post Number: 156 Registered: 11-2008 |
Thanks Colleen, I didn't know about those projects from the GC... Sigh. I guess that, for some, translating the "lesser light" to every possible language is more important than translating the "greater light" for everybody to understand it, no? Anyway, all that work is already being done by those in, generally, "Sunday keeping" churches, so why should they worry? Additionally, I guess they don't see any reason to officially have their own version of the Bible, whether it's the Clear Word or anything else, when their "unofficial scriptures" have already been written several decades ago. I have to go. Here finishes this little rant. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2609 Registered: 7-2007 |
Curious. Why would someone need a lesser light to point to the greater light? Would someone need a flashlight on a bright sunny day to find the sun? Welcome to the forum, Punababe808!  | ||
| Punababe808 Registered user Username: Punababe808 Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2012 |
Thank-you, Asurprise. Speeking of the sun, next Monday will be a solar Ring of Fire. Earth hasn't had that since 1994. Alot of Ring of Fire parties going on. Find one and party in celebration of Gods awsome universe. Two weeks later Venus is due to slither past the sun. | ||
| Katarain Registered user Username: Katarain Post Number: 124 Registered: 1-2012 |
The solution to people not reading the greater light is not trying to get them to read a lesser light. And the solution is definitely not mixing the lesser light with the greater light. The solution is to read the greater light! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 13704 Registered: 12-2003 |
It seems obvious enough, Katarain--I still wonder how I "bought" those lesser light arguments! Colleen | ||
| Katarain Registered user Username: Katarain Post Number: 128 Registered: 1-2012 |
You and me both! | ||
| Colossians2v8 Registered user Username: Colossians2v8 Post Number: 43 Registered: 4-2012 |
I know no denomination is perfect, but I really have a lot of love for these small country churches, Church of God, Pentecostal and the like. As far as translations go with these types, you can have their KJV when you pry it from their cold dead hands. | ||
| Colossians2v8 Registered user Username: Colossians2v8 Post Number: 44 Registered: 4-2012 |
Oh, and my mother-in-law kept telling me EGW was the lesser light pointing to the greater light, and she once said that EGW said if people read their Scripture they wouldn't need her. From that point on I always said, well I read Scripture, I don't need EGW or any paraphrases, and my King and friend is the greater light.. ya know... |
