Questions and Answers

The most important verse in the Bible version debate.

Yep, you read it right.

I have been studying this issue for years (if that counts for anything)... I have taken courses on both sides of the issue, HAVE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE (no joke), have debated it more times than I can remember, have written more info on it than I can keep track of, have been both right and wrong about certain facts and points, etc...

I say all that to emphasize the point I want to make here, and not to lift myself up.

This verse also answers those who say that the new versions don't influence Bible doctrine.

After much study, I believe that the number one verse in the whole debate - the pivotal verse - is:

Revelation 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Underlying Doctrine - Imputation and Christ's Righteousness

The Bible doctrine I would like to draw your attention to is the doctrine of imputation. There are 3 major imputations in scripture.

1. Adam's sin imputed to our account: Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

2. Our sin imputed to Christ on the cross: 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

3. Christ's righteousness imputed to our account in place of our sin: Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

Romans 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness

Underlying Doctrine - Our Righteousness

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Explanation

I know, I know... this is easy stuff. You've probably heard it a thousand times. The biblical principles here are simple enough...

1. Your righteousness isn't good enough for God. You were born in sin, inherited from Adam, and could not save yourself.

2. Christ died for your sins and gave you his righteousness so you could be cleansed and be able to stand before God uncondemned.

The Clincher

ASV: And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

NASB: It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

AMPLIFIED: She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white--for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God's holy people).

NIV: Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

HCSB: She was permitted to wear fine linen, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.

NLT: She is permitted to wear the finest white linen." (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.)

ERV: And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

CEV: She will be given a wedding dress made of pure and shining linen. This linen stands for the good things God's people have done."

GNT: She has been given clean shining linen to wear.>> (The linen is the good deeds of God's people.)

NCV: Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear." (The fine linen means the good things done by God's holy people.)

NLB: She was given clean, white, fine linen clothes to wear. The fine linen is the right living of God's people."

NKJV: And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

RSV: it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure" --for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

NRS: to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure" - for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

ETRV: Fine linen was given to the bride for her to wear. The linen was bright and clean." (The fine linen means the good things that God's holy people did.)

TCJB: fine linen, bright and clean has been given her to wear." ("Fine linen" means the righteous deeds of God's people.)

UBV: And it was given to her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

JBREB: and it hath been given unto her, that she should be arrayed in fine linen, bright, pure, for, the fine linen, is, the righteous acts of the saints.

GWT: She has been given the privilege of wearing dazzling, pure linen." This fine linen represents the things that God's holy people do that have his approval.

WEB: It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

HNV: It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the holy ones.

YLT: and there was given to her that she may be arrayed with fine linen, pure and shining, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.'

Conclusion

There are some fringe versions, like "The Message", that keep the proper meaning in the text -"the righteousness of the saints" and not "righteous works, etc." - but they have a few other "minor" problems of their own to contend with. Take, for example, this verse from "The Message":

Matthew 5:14 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.” Enough said.

Yes, there are a few exceptions to this rule, but it seems to me that 99% of the time, if you're not using a King James Bible, your Bible tells you that when you stand before God, it's in your own righteousness.

There is no theological way around it... no way to defend the new versions on this point. You really can't be a born-again Christian and think that you can stand before God justified in your own works.

P.S.

Just for interest's sake, what do the old translations say? You know, the ones that existed before the Roman Catholic manuscripts came on the scene and into the Christian church in the form of "newer, easier to read Bible versions"...

Wesley's New Testament (1755): And it is given to her, to be arrayed in fine linen, white and clean; the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.

King James Version (1611): And to her was granted, that she should bee arayed in fine linnen, cleane and white: for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints.

Geneva Bible (1587): And to her was granted, that she should be arayed with pure fine linnen and shining, for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saintes.

The Bishop's Bible (1568): And to her was graunted that she should be arayed with pure and goodly raynes: For the raynes is the ryghteousnes of saintes.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535): And to her was graunted, that she shulde be arayed with pure and goodly sylke. (As for the sylke, it is the rightewesnes of sayntes.)

Tyndale New Testament (1525): And to her was graunted that she shulde be arayed with pure and goodly raynes. For the raynes is the ryghtewesnes of saynctes.

Wycliffe Bible (1395): And it is youun to hir, that sche kyuere hir with white bissyn schynynge; for whi bissyn is iustifiyngis of seyntis.

I rest my case.

-Richard Bostock