G. A. Riplinger now makes her final statements of the first lecture of this video. Unfirtunately she does not make this last assertion clearly. She fails to name a book, chapter, or verse reference. Several times she begins a statement, but then quickly says something else, and never completes the original point. So, I am assuming that she was referring to 1 Corinthian 1:18 (or either 2 Corinthians 2:15) where the KJV has "are saved" and the NKJV has "are being saved". Looking at the context of 1 Corthinians 1:17-19 in the KJV now--
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Almost every version I looked at has "are being saved" or similar wording including: AMP, NET, ALT, NASB, NIV, NLT, ESV, and Young's. Supporting the KJV rendering of "are saved" was Darby and Rheims (ironically, she accuses the NKJV of Catholic teaching here).
The word in English "saved" is a form of the Greek verb
sozo (Strong's #4982) which means to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction. It can to save a suffering one from perishing (like one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health) and/or to preserve one who is in danger of destruction (rescue). A beautiful picture of salvation. The KJV translates it primarily as "save" (93 times), but also "make whole" (9 times), "heal" (3), "be whole" (2), and three other words (110 total).
David Guzik says that "the verb tenses of are perishing and are being saved are significant. They
both describe a work in progress. Each of us is definitely moving in one of those two directions."
A. T. Robertson writes concerning this phrase that it is in "sharp contrast to those that are perishing and same construction with the articular participle. No reason for the change of pronouns in English. This present passive participle is again timeless. Salvation is described by Paul as a thing done in the past, 'we were saved' (Romans 8:24), as a present state, 'ye have been saved' ( 2:5),
as a process, 'ye are being saved' (1 Corinthians 15:2), as a future result, 'thou shalt be saved' (Romans 10:9 )."
Marvin Vincent in his NT Word Studies has "literally
that are perishing... The present participle denotes process: they who are on the way to destruction. Compare 2 Corinthians 2:15. And also concerning the Greek translated 'which are saved'... "
being saved: in process of salvation."
Alexander Maclaren writes that "instead of reading ‘them that perish’ and ‘us which are saved,’ we ought to read ‘them that are perishing,’ and ‘us which are being saved.’ That is to say, the Apostle represents the two contrasted conditions, not so much as fixed states, either present or future,
but rather as processes which are going on, and are manifestly, in the present, incomplete."
Albert Barnes writes that "this stands opposed to 'them that perish.' It refers, doubtless, to Christians, as
being saved from the power and condemnation of sin; and as having a prospect of eternal salvation in the world to come."
Robert Jamieson claims that "rather, 'them that are perishing,' namely, by preferring human 'wisdom of words' to the doctrine of the 'cross of Christ.' It is not the final state that is referred to; but, 'them that are in the way of perishing.'
So also in 2 Corinthians 2:15, 16."
Riplinger says that this became an issue when dealing with her students at Kent State concerning their eternal security. But even she states that "are saved" in the Greek verb means "a past action that continues into the future". She would have her audience to believe that there is no place in the NKJV where the phrase "are saved" is used, which is untrue (see 1 Corinthians 15:2, Revelation 21:24 in the NKJV).
