Christian Studies

Understanding the Bible

By Michael Gehrmann-Gacasa, Ph. D. (Rel.)

The “four Gospel course” inspired me to compare two Bible Versions, please read by yourself what I found out, maybe you are also surprised like me!

The Gospels of Matthew and Mark in different Bible Versions Comparing the King James Version and the Peshitta (Lamsa Bible) The oldest Gospel we have, is Mark (but not the oldest book in the NT!), we know that Matthew was using Mark as one of his sources! There we find in the KJV Mark 15:34: And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Could that be, that Yeshua ( Jesus ) said to God: ”....why hast thou forsaken me? ” I can not believe this, because he said always that the father and he are one and every thing he did, leads him in this situation, so why will he complain like this? There must be a explanation about this, but which? We will find the answer in the “Peshitta”! This Bible is a translation from the

language Jesus spoke, aramaic not from greek, like all the others we use!! There are no changes made, no editions, since the time of Rabbi Yeshua!!

The “Peshitta” written in aramaic The King James Version, from greek

Lets us see how this is translated by Dr. Lamsa, who was a native speaker of aramaic:

And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and said, Eli, Eli, Lmana, shabachthani! which means, My God, my God, for this I was kept!

That makes really sense! Jesus knows that his mission is fulfilled on the cross!

Let us look at Matthew 6:9-13 KJV The Lords prayer, millions are this praying each Sunday in there church, around the world: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

How can that be, that we are praying to god .....And lead us not in temptation, again this makes no sense for me!

We will look again in the “Peshitta”, translated by Dr. Lamsa:

Therefore pray in this manner: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven so on earth.

Give us bread for our needs from day to day.

And forgive us our offenses, as we have forgiven our offenders.

And do not let us enter into temptation, but deliver us from error. Because thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Amazing, isn't it? This makes also more sense: And do not let us enter into temptation......., because god leads not in temptation, this is another one, the Satan who leads in temptation!!!

An other example is Matthew 19:24 KJV:

“And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

Let us see what Dr. Lamsa's translation in the “ Peshitta ” is:

“Again I say to you, It is easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

So no camel, a rope, that makes much more sense!!!!

Another point is, that the Gospel of Mark ends in the oldest Versions with chapter 16:8:

“.....and they said nothing to any man, for they were frightened”, so that means nothing is written there about Yeshua that he ascended to heaven and sitting on the rigth hand of god etc.! This is later added and not in the original!

I learned, that we have to be careful, if we try to understand the Bible and I will tell that all the people in the future, who believe that they know the Bible.....

A very good source for comparing different Bible Versions is: http://www.studylight.org

A Online-Version of the Lamsa Peshitta can be found at: http://www.aramaicpeshitta.com

I highly recommend 3 books:

1. Misquoting Jesus, by Bart D. Ehrman

2. Yeshua A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church, by Dr. Ron Moseley

3. When Jesus became God, by Richard E. Rubenstein

contact email: frater_m@37.com

Picture from the “Hagia Sophia” in Istanbul

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