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Revelation 22:14

Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by Jesus is Lord, Jun 5, 2004.

  1. Jesus is Lord

    Jesus is Lord New Member

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    Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. - Revelation 22:14 NASB

    Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. - Revelation 22:14 KJV

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    Okay, this is not a KJV-MV thread. But yesterday evening I came along this passage. From a theological point of view I "like" the NASB reading better than the KJV here. It would be a great verse about our cleansing by the blood of Jesus. But there are two things that made me think.

    1. The context in htis chapter is about doing the commandments of God. The word "do" can be found in this context very often (for example verse 11: "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.").

    2. The NASB says that we have to wash our robes. But the Bible says very clear that it is Jesus that cleanses us (1. John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.").

    These two things let me tend to prefer the KJV reading.

    Which reading do you consider to be correct?

    [ June 05, 2004, 03:12 AM: Message edited by: Jesus is Lord ]
     
  2. Craigbythesea

    Craigbythesea Active Member

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    First of all, one has to understand the difference between readings and renderings. The differences between the KJV and the NASB are sometimes due to a different reading, and other times they are due to a different rendering. In the case of Rev. 22:14, the difference between the KJV and the NASB is due to different readings, that is, they are not simply translating (rendering) the words differently, they are translating from different readings of the text. One of the readings translates as “do His commandments,” the other reading translates “washing their robes.”

    Which reading is the correct reading? This question cannot be answered safely on theological grounds alone. There are many other considerations, such as manuscript evidence and phraseology. The great majority of New Testament scholars believe the reading followed by the translators of the NASB is much more likely to be the original reading than is the reading followed by the translators of the KJV. But in this case, one can not say for sure which reading is correct; we can only say that most of the evidence points to the reading followed by the translators of the NASB.
     
  3. Askjo

    Askjo New Member

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    See "commandments" in the NT passages.
     
  4. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    While this is a good idea, what good would looking up the English word "commandments" do, when it could be translated from two or more Greek words?

    If you are going to look something up, try looking up the underlying Greek word. You can do that in E-Sword (which is a free download), but it only has the KJV, not the NASB (The Lockman Foundation requires you pay to download it).

    It also boils down to manuscript differences. The TR of the KJV was compiled by a single man from a few manuscripts (which has been revised many, many times). The NASB uses the critical text, which has been compiled by numerous scholars from thousands of manuscripts through textual criticism.

    I guess you have to decide which one do you want to trust.

    In Christ,
    Trotter
     
  5. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    By the way, the following also use "wash their robes", or something similar:

    ESV
    ASV
    Darby
    Weymouth
    Montgomery
    BBE
    20C
    The Message

    Anyway, those are the ones on my 'puter that follow the same as the NASB.

    In Christ,
    Trotter
     
  6. robycop3

    robycop3 Well-Known Member
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    If we "wash our robes", JESUS provides the "soap & water" & is Himself the "Washer".
     
  7. Ransom

    Ransom Active Member

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    Jesus is Lord asked:

    Which reading do you consider to be correct?

    This is an interesting variant; the difference between "wash their robes" and "do his commandments" rests on a whopping three letters.

    Also, John uses both phrases elsewhere, both in the Revelation and in his other writings, though the idea of obeying God's commandments is far more prevalent.

    I guess in the end it boils down to the textual evidence, which I don't have at hand.
     
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