Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)
Salutations in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
I often think of how good it is to be alive! But then there are other times, in which I wonder why I’ve even been given the privilege of remaining here another day on earth. I remember several times in my life when I should have died. And, I remember them all distinctly and in slow motion.
When I was nine, I went on a canoe trip on Blackwater River, and I remember swimming after we stopped on the bank for lunch. Quickly, the strong current pulled me too far from shore. I wasn’t strong enough to swim against it, and I shutter to think what would have become of me had a man not jumped in to grab me and pull me onto the bank. Why did God send that man save me?
Another time I was surfing during a hurricane on Pensacola Beach in my teens, and I remember falling off one of the biggest waves I’ve ever ridden in my life (about 15 feet high). As the white-wash rolled me under time and again, I couldn’t tell which way was up, and all started to become black as I began to suffocate for lack of air. I remember thinking, “This is it! I’m not going to make it!” But God in his infinite mercy let me bob up to the top just in time to take a deep breath right before being pummeled again by the next giant wave and slammed to the sandy bottom. Three or four times the waves held me under almost to the point of drowning, but somehow God let me float to the top over and over and eventually drift into shore where I fell down exhausted. But why? Why didn’t I drown that day?
I also remember the time in Honduras being held at gun point by two thugs who told me to be quiet as they went through my belongings and took what they pleased. One had a laser on his semi-automatic pistol and I remember seeing its red light dance across my chest. But even shaking with fear, I could not remain silent. As I preached to my captors, what I thought to be my last Gospel message, I remember thinking to myself, “This could be the end. So I’m going to go out preaching!”
Even after hearing the ruffians call their boss, and hearing the words on the other end in Spanish saying, “Kill them!” I found myself almost glad that the end was so near. And, as the would-be assassin pressed the gun to the back of my head, I remember silently praying, “This is it, Lord! I’m coming home! Just please help him hit the right spot so it’s painless!” But the thieves left without following through with their orders, and instead of a gun shot, all I heard was the loud bang of the door as they slammed it behind them. Why did God let me survive that day? Why do any of us live to face another day?
The only reason I can see that God let me live through my childhood, teens, and even my missionary endeavors is that he has a plan and purpose for me in this life. And so, I live everyday wanting to please him more, and fulfill what he’d have me to do in this life.
Still, it’s hard to know exactly what God’s will is in your life and what it is He wants you to do. I know how I want to do things for the Lord, but circumstances and adversity often keep me from doing things exactly the way I’d like. I’ve learned well that the old saying rings true: “Life isn’t always the way you want it to be!”
Death of loved ones, trials and tribulations, attacks from others, sickness, family responsibilities, and more, have kept me from fulfilling my ideas, plans, desires, and directions that I’d like to accomplish and go in for the Lord. Instead of plotting the course of my life, it appears my life is being planned for me by unexpected pitfalls, disasters, and heartbreaks along the way, which leave me with new responsibilities that force me to move in another direction.
Though I don’t understand why things work out the way they do, it’s fun to look back, (hindsight is better than foresight), and see God protecting me and using me to achieve what he HE wants done. (I think of Joseph, and how God used his captivity to save the children of Israel. I’m sure Joseph didn’t think God even cared about him while he was in prison, but after he helped save his brethren, I’m sure he saw what God did as a blessing and not a curse). In other words, I find God working through me, even though I don’t always get to work for Him the way I’d desire.
This is a tough lesson for most Christians to learn, but I’ve been grateful to learn it. You see it’s easy to do something for the Lord (as even the Pharisees thought they did God a service), but oftentimes we do things for him in the FLESH, and we do it our way instead of His way. And, boy what a disaster we can make of things! (Amen?) But, when we are fully surrendered to Jesus, we can then be used by Him as he pleases, and we can serve Him in the SPIRIT, fulfilling His will for us in our lives even though things don’t always go the way we had hoped. I guess Christianity isn’t so much about what WE ARE DOING FOR GOD, rather what GOD IS DOING THROUGH US and WITH US as we live sanctified lives fully surrendered to Him.
FURLOUGH
As most of you know, we’ve taken a furlough in order to get some things done. God’s been good to allow us to finish several big projects, and we are close to finishing a few more. But it looks like it’ll take longer than we thought to finish everything. Still, we haven’t forgotten the ministry, and have found that it is still taking a lot of our time and energy. One week we work hard on Construction, and the next week we are home preparing packages of Bibles, tracts, teaching DVD’s, and more for mailing. I’d like to focus on just one thing or the other, but it seems like we can’t. We are just going to have to do both until we can eventually get everything done, in order to be able to devote all our attention to the ministry.
In the mean time, we’ve had fun taking a few weekends off from hard labor to pass out Spanish tracts at the Flea Market. There are Hispanic people everywhere in America! And it’s good to speak their language and be able to give them the Gospel.
We also have made a few Youtube teaching videos as well, which we have wanted to do for a long time. We made several in English about the King James, one on “How to be Saved,” and others on various topics. And we also posted several in both English and Spanish about the Spanish Bible Issue, various Spanish Bibles, and the History of the Spanish Bible. We hope you’ll have time to look them up and find out more about the Spanish Bible Controversy and why the Valera 1602 Purified is the purest Spanish Bible available today. This is the Bible we’ve been getting out and we will continue to do so. We ask for your prayers though, as we are down to our last three boxes, and we are hoping they will print more soon. (Note: For those of you who still don’t know about which Spanish Bible is the best, we have added a small “Crash Course” on the subject in with this prayer letter).
I’ve also posted a few more things on my blog. One was an article for “La Voz Bautista” an Independent Baptist Spanish Bi-Monthly Magazine in Mexico. I’ve translated it into English, so all can read about the importance of the Spanish word “SEÑOR” (LORD) and why our Valera 1602 Purified Spanish Bible is the only Spanish Bible to use that word, following the King James Bible, and also capitalizing it as the KJV does. You can read this article by visiting www.rrb3.com and then clicking on the link to my blog.
OBSERVATIONS
As we press on in reaching the Hispanic people with a pure Spanish Bible, it’s a joy to find our labor is not in vain, and that God is indeed using us. I get emails all the time from people telling me they greatly appreciate my ministry and my books about the Spanish Bible Issue, and they encourage me to continue to get the truth out to others. They even tell me things like, “What you are doing is important. Hispanics need to know where their Bible came from, and where a pure Bible is available today. There are too many men following a version of a Bible because of what Bro. So and So says about it, and they have never actually checked the version out for themselves to see if it lines up with the pure texts underlying our King James Bible. Keep up the good work!”
Several preachers, scholars, and Bible defenders have told me that God’s given me a very unique and varied ministry in giving out the truth about the Spanish Bible. They see what I have seen, that most Fundamentalists want to argue about their “camps” and their “versions” instead of simply dealing with the FACTS. Those men who refuse to face the truth don’t want to study for themselves, rather they form their convictions based upon the opinions of various translators, and not on the truth about the text.
So my ministry has really had an impact over the years, and for this I thank the Lord. I just want Hispanic people to have the pure word of God!
Probably the greatest complement I’ve gotten over the years is pastors and layman alike saying things like: “I really appreciate your giving nothing but the facts. We’ve read many websites, forums, and blogs about the Spanish Bible, and they all seem to attack, and even are guilty of name-calling. We appreciate you for not doing any of that, but simply reporting the facts in an orderly manner so that others might see the truth for themselves!”
Others have told me my ministry is much needed, and to keep up the good work in writing books, editing my webpage, and distributing good sound doctrinal, historical, and reference material for people to read and watch. One Pastor in particular said, and I paraphrase, “We are almost to the year 2011, which is EXACTLY 400 years after our blessed King James Bible! But today many KJV guys don’t even know why they are King James, and they’ve probably never even seen an original copy of the King James. We need to take a stand for the word of God in English and Spanish and educate people about the History of our Bibles, especially when the word of God is so important!”
I’ve also found myself scolded as well by others who say I’m not doing enough to get the word out about the Spanish Bible. They tell me, “You need to reach more people with the Valera 1602 Purified, because if you don’t, no one else will! Those who use other versions are intentionally hiding the facts about the Valera 1602 Purified because they don’t want people to know about something better, nor do they want others to stop paying for and using their versions! You need to get folks the facts that their versions are corrupt!”
It’s encouraging to hear from true Bible Believers. And, as apostasy grows in these last days, it’s getting much easier to spot who the true Bible Believers really are, for they are the ones who care more about doctrine, truth, and righteousness, than they do about groupism, men worship, money, attacking, and denominational traditions.
PREPARATIONS IN HARD TIMES
As the economy in America worsens, we’ve found our support level is going down quickly. For a while there, we were down to about 500 dollars a month. And we’re finding that all the support we get goes directly to the ministry. Thus, we’ve had to live on our savings for the last several years in order to continue. But knowing my Bible, and the precious promises within it, I know the Lord always makes a way for his work to be done. I also know that we have to “prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” That’s why we’ve been working hard to fix up our house in Alabama with the hope of selling it and getting out from under it.
My desire would eventually be to buy a boat and live aboard it, traveling from port to port in the Spanish-Speaking world preaching on the streets, holding Mission Conferences, and Spanish Bible History Sessions, Revivals, etc., all at various churches close to the ports. (Know of anyone who would like to donate a 40 foot plus sail boat to the ministry?)
Whether we’ll ever get to fulfill this desire, we at least have been looking at the hard truth that it’s getting harder to find support in these perilous economic times. We ask for your prayers.
OPPOSITION IS STILL THE GREATEST HINDERANCE
I learned years ago that serving Jesus does not come without a price. And I’m continually reminded of that fact. Today, there is much opposition against those who are trying to stand for the truth, especially from those who claim to be other Christians. When I went to Bible School, I was told, “The people that will hurt you most in the ministry is other Christians,” and boy have I found that to be true!
In these last days in which we live, we continually see very little “fruits of the Spirit” among apostate ministers who instead of encouraging and edifying others, spend their time arguing and criticizing. These are men who in the flesh are quick to judge and lash out against others. Many of these kind of ministers are not followers of the apostle Paul, rather followers of man’s traditions. They are against others who don’t do things their way, and they devote their time to harassing others rather than hallowing themselves.
This has given rise to the many movements within Christianity and even the Independent Baptist movement. And because of this, opposition constantly arises by political and phariseeical, brethren who chastise others for not being members of their “camp” or “group.” I call what they have the “secret society syndrome.” Others have called it the “Country Club Mentality.” And, I believe the Apostle Paul lamblasted such foolishness and men worship nicely almost two thousand years ago when he said:
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Cor 3:3-7)
I’m sure by now, you all know me. I’m not interested in following men, nor in exalting myself among others and rising in the ranks of certain Fundamentalist camps. Instead, I’m only interested in serving my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and bragging on Him. I only wish other pastors, missionaries, and ministers would get out of the “groupism” mentality and get back to simply serving the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and would with an open mind STUDY to show themselves approved unto God. For this Modern-day Phariseeism has led to many others like us losing support, friends, and fellowship. Why can’t those who claim to be Bible Believers unite around truth and work together to disperse it?
Yet, we still I press on, finding all we really need is to draw nearer to our Lord and Saviour than to men! Our prayer is that you to will draw nearer to the Lord as well in your lives.
Because of Jesus Christ our Lord,
Robert, Laura, and Emma Lee Breaker
1 Sam. 12:24!
A CRASH COURSE ON THE SPANISH BIBLE ISSUE:
For many a year I've followed the Spanish Bible Issue and I've watched Fundamentalists battle each other over which Bible in Spanish is the right one. And I've seen them all be consistenly WRONG on which Bible they chose, as each one defended a version that is either mixed with catholic texts, the critical texts, and/or is modern Spanish instead of the beautiful old Castellan of Spain, like the old Reina-Valera of 1602.
As I watched the fray, I didn't realize at the time, that God was putting me right slap-dab in the middle of the controversy in order to teach me some things and then use me to help Hispanics learn about the History of their Bible, and to point them to the purest word of God in their language.
Looking back now over the years, I see just how God has used me in a mighty way to show English and Spanish Speakers alike the truth about the Spanish Bible Controversy and the practice of modern day Pharisees who hypocritcally hide the truth about their corrupt versions in order to deceive the masses.
Over the years, I wrote several books on the Spanish Bible Issue and I saw them printed and distributed far and wide, with much positive feedback. Gail Riplinger has even told me personally, "As far as I'm concerned, you are the foremost authority on the Spanish Bible Issue and the History of the Spanish Bible."
As fattering as that might be, I know I still have much to learn. But I'm grateful God has given me a purpose and a reason for my ministry. So, I steadfastly continue preaching the truth about the various Spanish Bible versions, and pointing Spanish speakers to the purest word of God in their language.
For those who don't know anything about the Spanish Bible Issue, I give the following crash course...
THE 1960 REINA-VALERA REVISION
Fundamentalists for almost half a century have adamantly defended the popular 1960 Spanish Bible, now known as the "Crown Version." But when that version came out in the early 1950’s (its text appeared in New Testament only, and was a bi-lingual edition printed with the RSV in English), no Fundamentalist would touch it with a ten foot pole! It wasn't until they printed it with the Scofield notes, that some Fundamentalists bought it. Then eventually more did, and it finally became the standard Fundamentalist Bible for the next forty years. (How sad they bought it more for the NOTES and not for the TEXT!) This is how many Fundamentalist missionaries who were KJV only in English hypocritically became RSV in Spanish.
Then, along came a few guys like myself who actually read the 1960 with the King James and became appalled at the many differences. We then began to ask why other missionaries, who only use the KJV in English and are against the English RSV, could use a Bible in Spanish that read with the RSV in many places? It just didn’t make sense.
Eventually a Missionary in Guatemala found a book by Jose Flores (a consultant on the 1960 revision) in which the author stated the 1960 Spanish Bible relied heavily on the English RSV and the CRITICAL TEXTS in it's revision. Myself and others began to point this out, as well as the many DOCTRINAL ERRORS in the 1960. We also showed the influence of Eugene Nida and his Damnable doctrine of DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE, which teaches a man doesn't have to translate the words rather only the idea or the message behind the words. (This allows the translator to become his own "Interpreter" rather than an honest and objective translator).
But for our speaking out on the truth, we were labelled as "trouble makers" and "Bible attackers" instead of the true Bible Believers we are who wanted a pure bible to take to Hispanics.
THE 1909 REINA-VALERA REVISION
Not all Fundamentalists jumped on the bandwagon of the 1960. A few stuck with the old 1909, and were often ridiculed and attacked by the 1960 crowd because of it. Many claimed it was "archaic" and "out-dated" and others should just chunk it in favor of the more popular 1960. But many a dogmatic Fundamentalist who knew his Bible and saw the horrendous errors of the 1960 would not waiver. He stood firm on his conviction of using the old 1909, which had become known as "La Antigua" (the Old version).
But when faced with the truth that the 1909 was done by men who not only favored the Critical Texts, but also used them in their translation, many 1909 users became upset. Eventually they desired a pure Bible based upon the pure texts underlying the King James Bible, and not a version mixed with the critical texts of men. So they began to look elsewhere.
THE 1543 ENZINAS NEW TESTAMENT
A movement began in Arizona in the 1990's to resurrect the old Francisco de Enzinas New Testament of 1543, the work of a learned and well-known Protestant Spaniard. It was reprinted in old Castellan (where the "s" is an "f" and the "v" is a "b," etc.) but saw very little distribution and acceptance by many Fundamentalists. Although it was much better than the 1960 and 1909, it also had been messed with by Catholics who changed some things after Enzinas did his work. So it too wasn't pure.
THE 1865 A.B.S. SPANISH BIBLE
Then in 2001, Jeff McCardle and Paul Garcia tried to resurrect the 1865 Spanish Bible. I was there when they called a group of men together to show them the version they'd found and how they tried to convince us all that it was, and I quote, "The true word of God in Spanish."
With their list of 200 verses that showed the 1865 was better than both the 1960 and 1909, and closer to the King James, some people readily accepted the 1865. I was skeptical, and did not, determining to study it out more. I did, and found Mr. H.B. Pratt who worked on the 1865 (with a man named Mora) was very biased towards the critical texts (so much so that he produced a version in 1893 based entirely on them, called "La Version Moderna"), and that he had inserted some critical text readings into the 1865. He also changed many words with no textual basis to do so (often times changing "God" to "Lord" or vice versa for no reason!)
With a list I had found of about 50 places in the 1865 that read either against the King James or with the critical texts, I went with Jeff McCardle to speak to Peter S. Ruckman about the issue. Jeff had already written an article in Ruckman's Bible Baptist Bulletin, in which he stated that Spanish Speakers should defend: "...Every word of the 1865 Spanish Bible."
Faced with the truth, Jeff eventually made 50 changes in his beloved 1865, in favor of the King James and pure texts, but later decided to undo those changes, as they didn't go along with his teaching that no Bible after 1881 could be the preserved word of God. Because of his backpeddling, and not wanting to purify his version further, Jeff has since lost much credibility, and his movement and his Valera Bible Society are now suffering because of it. Emanuel Rodriguez (who is in favor of the new Gomez Bible) has recently written a good article on the internet exposing Jeff McCardle and his illogical and flip-flopping doctrinal position.
THE 1602 PURIFIED SPANISH BIBLE
The next version to come along did what McCardle did not, in that it did do an extensive revising of the original Valera 1602 with the pure texts underlying our King James Bible. It is the Valera 1602 Purified (also known as the 1602 TR in the New Testament and the 1602 Purified or 1602 Monterrey as the whole Bible). Those who worked on this version are Hispanic in orgin (not American like McCardle). They are further Independent Baptist Fundamentalists Christians located in Monterrey, Mexico. As a local Church, they worked for 15 years purifying the Spanish Bible to bring it in line with the Textus Receptus and Hebrew Masoretic texts.
Following the advice of Cipriano de Valera in his preface of his 1602 version, they went directly back to the original 1602 and started from there. (Note: The 1602 original wasn't printed much exactly like Valera's 1602 edition, as Bible Societies rather took and "revised" [i.e. "changed"] it in many passages to read more in favor with the Catholic texts to be able to distribute it in Catholic countries. This is why modern bibles like the 1960, 1909, 1865, the new Gomez, and more retain the Catholic term "Verbo" instead of the correct, Protestant term "Palabra" in speaking of Jesus Christ).
Those behind the 1602 Purified also went verse by verse with all older Protestant Bibles as well as the King James as they scrutinized every verse with the Textus Receptus and the Hebrew Masoretic Text. What they produced was the most exhaustive and scholarly work done by ANYONE on the face of the earth in giving Spanish Speakers a Bible that reads not only with the pure texts (instead of the Critical Texts), but also retains the old Castellan Spanish of Reina and Valera instead of updating to modern Spanish (like the Gomez does).
The Valera 1602 Purified is endorsed by Gail Riplinger, as the right Spanish Bible, not only because of the much work (prayer and fasting) involved, but also because it chose to use the old PROTESTANT WORDS instead of modern CATHOLIC words. It is also the only Spanish Bible that uses “SEÑOR,” following the King James Bible (and its use of LORD in all caps) in the Old Testament, instead of “Jehová.”
After the Valera 1602 Purified came out in 2002 (exactly 400 years after the 1602 revision), it was not well received. The reason being most Fundamentalists were still in attack mode. They used either the 1909 or the 1960 and didn't want anything else, as that's what their "group" had used for many decades. (I call them "groupies" who only use a Bible because others in their group do, not because they want a pure Bible for the Spanish Speaking People).
Because of their "group" or "camp" mentality, they chose to attack rather than study the issue, and were quick to put down the exhaustive work of the Valera 1602 Purified. They even made the outlandish claim that Pastor Raul Reyes was a "homosexual" (Isn't it kind of funny the enemies of King James called him the same thing?) and many other such derogatory names.
Those behind the Valera 1602 Purified were vehemently attacked by apostate Fundamentalists, but they didn't let it bother them. Instead they chose to work by themselves and let their critic's words come to naught. Like Pastor Raul Reyes said, "We had to make a decision. Either take out time to write back the letters and emails of our attackers, (which would have turned out to be a full time job), or shun their childish attacks and do the work of God trusting Him to help us get a pure Bible to the Spanish Speaking people."
Thus, they decided to let their finished work speak for itself. (Which it does by reading entirely with the pure texts against the critical texts, while still staying as close to the old Valera of 1602 as possible).
When the Purified was first printed, only as the New Testament (the whole Bible came out in 2007), the 1960 attackers who obtained a copy showed their ignorance of their own language and their own Bible history by attacking the word "Palabra" instead of "Verbo." Many of them had never even seen an original 1602, and didn't even know that allold protestant versions used "Palabra" instead of the pro-catholic word "Verbo."
The 1960 crowd’s adamant defense of their version proved they were more interested in politics than in the purity of God's words. But the more they lamblasted the Valera 1602 Purified, the more people became curious about it and sought it out. Thus, they learned the best way to keep the Purified out of the hands of the masses was to simply not mention it anymore. And that's exactly what they did, and what others are doing now, not even mentioning it in favor of a newer version called the Gomez. (Note: Many who are now in favor of the modern Gomez Bible are those same 1960 users who attacked the 1602 Purified).
THE modern 2004 / 2010 GOMEZ BIBLE
After the Valera 1602 Purified came out, some wise Fundamentalists began to realize they could not longer deny the fact that both their 1960 and 1909 Spanish Bibles had mistakes, additions, critical text readings, and doctrinal errors. Eventually the attacks slowed down and hispanic Fundamentalists realized the mistakes in their Bibles could no longer be denied. Thus, they chose to discuss the issue, rather than continue to debate it.
It is during this time, Mr. Humberto Gomez, a Fundamentalist Independent Baptist missionary to his native country of Mexico, decided he'd get on the band wagon and make his own translation of the Spanish Bible, by revising the old 1909 Spanish Bible. He knew no Hebrew or Greek, but he believed God had told him to begin work on revising the Spanish Bible, so he did.
The first edition of his New Testament came out in 2004, and soon became known as the RVG '04 (or Reina-Valera Gomez 2004). Interestingly enough, however, many have claimed his first edition reads a lot like the Valera 1602 Purified (which he has been rumored to have used in his churches for a short time), and that they thought he used the Purified in his work, making sure to change many words for Spanish synonyms in order to make it look like his own work. Whether this is true or not, we'll probably never know, but this has been the charge that was made.
But, the facts are when Gomez' first edition of the New Testament came out, it was horrendous and full of errors and mistakes! For example, in 1 Corinthians 7, it gave permission to a man to marry his own daughter. (Yep, you read that right!) And in John chapter 2, it had Jesus at a party with intoxicated people drinking hard liquor. (Yep, you read that right too!)
But instead of Gomez' work being attacked by modern Fundamentalists, he found many jump to his side and volunteer to help him with his work. (I guess they didn't read the first edition, for if they had they might have thought otherwise).
Their "help" consisted of emailing him many suggestions of things he should change. Mr. Gomez knew no Hebrew or Greek, so he eventually enlisted the help of Dr. Donald Waite, and together they tried to make their translation read more in line with the pure texts. However, Gomez was insistent upon being the "final authority" on the project, based upon his own words. (Thus, it is still called the Reina-Valera GOMEZ Bible).
The Gomez is now out in its fifth edition, and is now called the Reina-Valera Gomez Spanish Bible. Many Fundamentalists are now adopting this version, and even Chick Publications is printing it. (They are now calling their revision the Gomez 2010).
But as I've gone through and studied that version, I found an interesting thing. Even though it claims to be a revision of the old 1909, it in many places reads with the corrupt 1960 Spanish Bible, choosing words and even sentence structure that follows that version exactly. (In other words, it appears Mr. Gomez' Bible is nothing more than a revision of the 1960). Some have hypothesized that the reason is because Mr. Gomez wanted many of those Fundamentalists who used the 1960 to come over to his side, knowing they would accept a version which read closer to their revision. Whatever the case may be, Gomez and his Bible is clearly becoming a political movement, as those who adhere to that version all seem to adore and worship Mr. Gomez more than the pure words of God. And the Gomez Bible, even though it might be closer to the King James in some places, still retains the catholic word "Verbo" instead of the protestant word "Palabra."
Further, the Gomez is dogmatically being labeled by its proponents as "The Preserved words of God in Spanish." But is this so?
The question needs to be asked: "Did God wait until Gomez to give the Spanish Speaking People His preserved Words?" If so, "Why?" And, "What about the 'marrying your own daughter thing?'" Was that God preserving His word?
We also must ask, "Did God want the many synonym words that Gomez chose in his version, many of which are not in the original 1602, to be His preserved words in Spanish, or did God give us His preserved words in 1602, and we should honor and keep those old words as much as possible?" (Just as those who put out the Valera 1602 Purified did.)
And finally, we should also ask, “If Fundamentalist were once wrong in using the 1960 Spanish Bible, could it be they are wrong again in turning toward this modern version?”
IN SUMMARY
The Spanish Bible Controversy has been an issue of much bitter fighting, and attacks by modern Fundamentalists who battle each other over which Bible they think is best in Spanish. Usually, their reasoning that their version is best is because it’s the one their group uses or has used for years. But very few wish to actually do the painstaking work of comparing all the versions together with the King James and the texts underlying it, to see how it lines up. Instead of finding the pure words of God to take to the Spanish Speaking people, they seem content to give them something else, even though they know it contains catholic words, critical texts, and man’s synonymns.
As for me, my desire is to take Spanish-speaking people the pure words of God in their language, free of critical and catholic text readings. And, I believe the purest word of God in Spanish to be the Valera 1602 Purified, which is Old Castellan Spanish (not modern Spanish) and is the closest not only to the pure texts underlying the King James Bible, but is also the closest to the original 1602 and the Protesant texts of the Spanish reformation.
But as I watch modern Fundamentalists, I find they aren't as interested as they claim to be about a pure Spanish Bible. I appears they are more intersted in politics. And, instead of them talking about the "texts," (GOD'S WORDS) they seem to be either attacking or praising different Bible "translators" (MEN).
Fundamentalists have been WRONG in openly embracing the 1960 and the 1865. Could it be they are wrong again in accepting a new version like the modern Gomez Bible? You must decide for yourself. And the only way to decide is to study it for yourself.
I've done just that, and I only use the Valera 1602 Purified Spanish Bible in Preaching and Teaching, and I do so only after having studied the issue. From my studies, I've come to the conclusion that the Valera 1602 Purified is the purest Spanish Bible available today. But don't take my word for it. Do what I did. Get an old 1602, all the old Spanish Protestant Bibles: the 1543 Enzinas, the 1556 Juan Perez de Pineda, the Biblia de Ferrara of 1553 and others. Then look at them verse by verse with the 1865, 1909, 1960, the Gomez, and more.
And what you'll find is that the Valera 1602 Spanish Bible is old Spanish (just like the KJV is old Elizabethan English), and reads in favor more with the texts of the Protestant Reformation, while the 1865, 1909, and 1960 all read with the Critical Texts time and again. And though the modern Gomez claims to have purified all critical text readings, you'll also find that the Gomez reads closer to the 1960 and even the Spanish NIV than it does with the old Reina-Valera Spanish Bible!
So that’s the Spanish Bible Issue in a nutshell. Fundamentalists need to stop the "Groupism" and “Politics!” And instead, they should get busy starting "STUDY GROUPS" to verify the FACTS.
For more information, please go to my website at:
www.rrb3.com
