"Pure" vs. "Flawless" - Which is Better? You Decide

Some folks do not seem real concerned about the “updated” words on the MVs. Below are a couple of changes that are interesting to me.

1. Pure vs. flawless
In Psalms 12:6 the AV1611 says: The words of the LORD are pure words:
The MVs (at least most or maybe even all since they all appear to be from the same set of manuscripts) reads: Psa 12:6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,

The difference – the AV uses “pure” while the MVs use “flawless”. The difference you ask?
Let’s look at and “old fashioned” Webster’s 1828 English Dictionary. I’m partial to my own language myself.

Pure :
1. Separate from all heterogeneous or extraneous matter; clear; free from mixture; as pure water; pure clay; pure sand; pure air; pure silver of gold. Pure wine is very scare.
2. Free from moral defilement; without spot; not sullied or tarnished; incorrupt; undebased by moral turpitude; holy

Flawless:
Without cracks; without defect

Pure carries with it holiness and morality. Flawless doesn’t.
A septic tank can be without cracks or defects thus being flawless but is a septic tank associated with holiness or morality?

The AV611 uses pure for God is pure. And the last time I did a study on the word and the Word – they were inseparable. Which word would you like to have describing God’s words? Also, look at Psa. 12:7 in the NIV – it doesn’t even reference God’s words but “us”! The reference to the words has been removed!

Another example on pure – I just grabbed this one without searching much!
Av1611 - Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

NIV - Psa 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Pure vs. “radiant” – which one would you prefer? Radiant? Satan is an angel of light!
Just run the references and you will see the MVs do not think God’s words, statutes, and commandments are pure.

On this pure issue – in Dan. 7:9 Christ’s hair is not even pure anymore it is just white!
I’m kinda’ of partial to the word pure vs. anything else mentioned here as an alternative.

Boy, Isn’t this fun?

2. “Of” vs. In”
I’ve already devoted a post on this but we’ll try again within the context of this thread.

a. The AV1611 says:
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,

b. The NIV (and most others including the NKJV) –
Gal 2:16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

In the AV the justifying faith is Christ’s.
In the NIV the justifying faith is man’s.

Which faith do you feel safer trusting in, Christ’s or yours? Can your faith justify? Your faith in Christ cannot justify – only Christ’s faith can.

You say you don’t see the difference? I know, “in the Greek it says…” - and yes, I’ve already heard about the Greek there.

Now I’ve looked at just 2 words – “pure” and “of”. Would you like to go further?

Ya’ know what? Do you know what would be an interesting study – let’s see how the MVs describe the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m not talking about his deity for this has been covered though some folks still can’t see it (I Cor. 2:14). You believe “that in all things he might have the preeminence” don’t you – Col. 1:18? Wouldn’t that be an interesting study to see how the AV and the MVs compare in describing the charter of the Saviour?

Preeminence
The quality or state of being pre["e]minent; superiority in prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality, rank, etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil; as, pre["e]minence in honor.

Supremacy
The state of being supreme, or in the highest station of power; highest or supreme authority or power; as, the supremacy of a king or a parliament.

Preeiminence comes from eminent:
1. High; lofty; as an eminent place. Ezek.16.
2. Exalted in rank; high in office; dignified; distinguished. Princes hold eminent stations in society, as do ministers, judges and legislators.
3. High in public estimation; conspicuous; distinguished above others

The difference you ask?
Supremacy speaks of just being the highest in power – any earthly king can have the supremacy
Hitler had the supremacy in Germany. Caligua had the supremacy in Rome.

Preeminence carries with it not only being above all others but also carries with it excellence and dignity.

Ok, which word betters describes the Saviour?

I think I’ll go further with this study and just see how the MVs describe the Saviour in other passages. Now, wasn’t that fun!

God bless

 

I'll do a rare response here.

Thanks Natters for pointing that out. I really do appreciate your thoroughness in the matter. That was good follow-up on your part. That was an assumption on my part since often times the MVs seem to be similar for in other places they do have a tendency to agree. But since the NIV is very popular I still found it interesting.

So, I stand corrected - my bad. I've eaten crow before, nothing new to me, and now I'm even learning how to season it - not bad!

By the way - the modern, contemporary dictionaries have a simliar definition of the word pure - I ponted that out since an earlier response seemed to indicate that I use a more modern dictionary. And by the way I do not to believe Webster to be "inerrant".

God bless you and thanks again for correcting me on the "flawless" issue - I sure was "flawed" on that one