The Jesus Series - Student Guide by Chris Viljoen - HTML preview

/ Home / Educational / The Jesus Series - Student Guide

PLEASE NOTE: This is an HTML preview only and some elements such as links or page numbers may be incorrect.
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.

158

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE OF ALL 4 GOSPELS

JESUS IS

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

Promised

Servant of

Son of man

Son of God

King

God

Christians

Gentiles,

ORIGINAL READERS:

Jews

Greeks

around the

Romans

world

Jesus is the

Faith in

Messiah

Jesus

Jesus was

Jesus is

because He

backed up

MAIN THEMES:

God but also

necessary

fulfilled Old

His words

fully human

for

Testament

with action

Salvation

prophecies

WRITERS STYLE:

Teacher

Storyteller

Historian

Theologian

The

Jesus'

principles of

GREATEST EMPATHY:

Sermons &

miracles

Humanity

Jesus'

Words

and actions

teaching

COMPARISON OF THE FOUR GOSPELS IN THE:

- Birth and Preparation of Jesus

- Message and ministry of Jesus

- Death and resurrection of Jesus

BIRTH AND PREPARATION - JESUS

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

Luke's purpose in writing

Luk 1:1-4

God became a man

Joh 1:1-18

The ancestors of Jesus

Mat 1:17

Luk 3:23-38

An angel promises the birth of John to

Luk 1:5-25

Zechariah

An angel promises the birth of Jesus to

Luk 1:26-38

Mary

Mary visits Elizabeth

Luk 1:39-56

John the Baptist is born

Luk 1:57-80

An angel appears to Joseph

Mat 1:18-25

Jesus is born in Bethlehem

Luk 2:1-7

Shepherds visit Jesus

Luk 2:8-20

Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the

Luk 2:21-40

temple

Visitors come from eastern countries

Mat 2:1-12

The escape to Egypt

Mat 2:13-18

The return to Nazareth

Mat 2:19-23

Jesus is talking to the religious

Luk 2:41-52

teachers

159

C Viljoen

John the Baptist prepares the way for

Mat 3:1-12

Mar 1:1-8

Luk 3:1-18

Jesus

John baptizes Jesus

Mat 3:13-17

Mar 1:9-11

Luk 3:21-22

Satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness

Mat 4:1-11

Mar 1:12-13

Luk 4:1-13

John the Baptist declares his mission

Joh 1:19-28

John the Baptist proclaims Jesus as the

Joh 1:29-34

Messiah

The first disciples follow Jesus

Joh 1:35-51

Jesus turns water into wine

Joh 2:1-12

MESSAGE AND MINISTRY - JESUS

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

Jesus cleans the temple

Joh 2:13-25

Nicodemus visits Jesus at night

Joh 3:1-21

John the Baptist tells more about Jesus

Joh 3:22-36

Herod puts John in prison

Luk 3:19-20

Jesus talks to a woman at the well

Joh 4:1-26

Jesus tells about the spiritual harvest

Joh 4:27-38

Many Samaritans believe in Jesus

Joh 4:39-42

Jesus preaches in Galilee

Mat 4:12-17 Mar 1:14-15

Luk 4:14-15

Joh 4:43-45

Jesus heals a Civil Servant's son

Joh 4:46-54

Jesus is rejected in Nazareth

Luk 4:16-30

Four fishermen follow Jesus

Mat 4:18-22 Mar 1:16-20

Jesus teaches with great Authority

Mar 1:21-28

Luk 4:31-37

Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law and

Mat 8:14-17 Mar 1:29-34

Luk 4:38-41

many others

Jesus preaches throughout Galilee

Mat 4:23-25 Mar 1:35-39

Luk 4:42-44

Jesus provides a Miraculous catch of

Luk 5:1-11

fish

March 1:40-

Jesus heals a man with leprosy

Mat 8:1-4

Luk 5:12-16

Jesus heals a paralyzed man

Mat 9:1-8

Mar 2:1-12

Luk 5:17-26

Jesus eats with Sinners at Matthew's

Mat 9:9-13

Mar 2:13-17

Luk 5:27-32

house

Religious leaders ask Jesus about

Mat 9:14-17 Mar 2:18-22

Luk 5:33-39

fasting

Jesus heals a crippled man by the pool

Joh 5:1-15

Jesus claims to be God's Son

Joh 5:16-30

Jesus supports his claim

Joh 5:31-47

Disciples pluck wheat on Sabbath

Mat 12:1-8

Mar 2:23-28

Luk 6:1-5

Jesus heals a man's hand on the

Mat 12:9-14

Mar 3:1-6

Luk 6:6-11

Sabbath

Matt 12:15-

Great crowds follow Jesus

Mar 3:7-12

Jesus chooses the twelve disciples

Mar 3:13-19

Luk 6:12-16

Jesus gives the beatitudes

Mat 5:1-12

Luk 6:17-26

160

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

Jesus teaches about Salt & Light

Mat 5:13-16

Jesus teaches about the Law

Mat 5:17-20

Jesus teaches about anger

Mat 5:21-26

Jesus teaches about lust

Mat 5:27-30

Matt

Jesus teaches about Divorce

5:31,32

Jesus teaches about Vows

Mat 5:33-37

Jesus teaches about retribution

Mat 5:38-42

Jesus teaches about loving enemies

Mat 5:43-48

Luk 6:27-36

Jesus teaches about giving to the

Mat 6:1-4

needy

Jesus teaches about Prayer

Mat 6:5-15

Jesus teaches about fasting

Mat 6:16-18

Jesus teaches about Money

Mat 6:19-24

Jesus teaches about Worry

Mat 6:25-34

Jesus teaches how to criticize others

Mat 7:1-6

Luk 6:37-42

Jesus teaches about Ask, Seek, Knock

Mat 7:7-12

65 Jesus teaches about the way to Heaven Mat 7:13-14

Jesus teaches about Fruit in people's

Mat 7:15-20

Luk 6:43-45

lives

Jesus teaches about building house on

Mat 7:21-29

Luk 6:46-49

Rock vs Sand

A Roman centurion demonstrates faith

Mat 8:5-13

Luk 7:1-10

Jesus raises a widow's son from the

Luk 7:11-17

dead

Jesus relieves John's doubts

Mat 11:1-19

Luk 7:18-35

Matt 11:20-

Jesus promises rest for the soul

A sinful woman anoints Jesus' feet

Luk 7:36-50

Women accompany Jesus and the

Luk 8:1-3

disciples

Pharisees say Jesus is under Satan's

Matt 12:22-

Mar 3:20-30

power

Religious leaders ask Jesus for a

Matt 12:38-

miracle

Matt 12:46-

Jesus describes his true family

Mar 3:31-35

Luk 8:19-21

Jesus tells the parable of the four soils

Mat 13:1-9

Mar 4:1-9

Luk 8:4-8

Jesus explains the parable of the four

Matt 13:10-

Mar 4:10-25

Luk 8:9-18

soils

Jesus tells the parable of the growing

Mar 4:26-29

Seed

Mat 13:24-

Jesus tells the parable of the Weeds

Jesus tells the parable of the Mustard

Matt 13:31-

Mar 4:30-34

Seed

161

C Viljoen

Matt 13:33-

Jesus tells the parable of the leaven

Jesus explains the parable of the

Matt 13:36-

weeds

Jesus tells the parable of hidden

Mat 13:44

treasure

Jesus tells the parable of the pearl

Matt 13:45-

merchant

Jesus tells the parable of the fishing

Matt 13:47-

net

Jesus calms the storm

Mat 8:23-27 Mar 4:35-41

Luk 8:22-25

Jesus sends the demons into a herd of

Mat 8:28-34

Mar 5:1-20

Luk 8:26-39

pigs

Jesus heals a bleeding woman and

Mat 9:18-26 Mar 5:21-43

Luk 8:40-56

raises girl from the dead

Jesus heals the blind and dumb

Mat 9:27-34

The people of Nazareth refuse to

Matt 13:53-

Mar 6:1-6

believe

Jesus urges the disciples to pray for

Mat 9:35-38

workers

Jesus sends out the 12 disciples

Mat 10:1-15

Mar 6:7-13

Luk 9:1-6

Jesus prepares the disciples for

Matt 10:16-

persecution

Herod kills John the Baptist

Mat 14:1-12 Mar 6:14-29

Luk 9:7-9

Mat 14:13-

March 6:30-

Jesus feeds Five Thousand

Luk 9:10-17

Joh 6:1-15

Matt 14:22-

Jesus walks on Water

Mar 6:45-52

Joh 6:16-21

Matt 14:34-

Jesus heals all who touch him

Mar 6:53-56

Jesus is the true Bread from Heaven

Joh 6:22-40

The Jews do not agree that Jesus is

100

Joh 6:41-59

from heaven

101

Many disciples leave Jesus

Joh 6:60-71

102

Jesus teaches about inner purity

Mat 15:1-20

Mar 7:1-23

Mat 15:21-

103

Jesus casts a demon out of a girl

Mar 7:24-30

The crowd marvels at Jesus' frequent

Matt 15:29-

104

Mar 7:31-37

healing

Matt 15:32-

105

Jesus feeds four thousand

Mar 8:1-9

Religious leaders ask for a sign in the

106

Mat 16:1-4

Mar 8:10-12

sky

107

Jesus warns against wrong teaching

Mat 16:5-12 Mar 8:13-21

108

Jesus returns a blind sight

Mar 8:22-26

Mat 16:13-

109

Peter says Jesus is the Messiah

Mar 8:27-30

Luk 9:18-20

162

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

Mat 16:21-

Mar 8:31-

110

Jesus foretells his death the first time

Luk 9:21-27

9:1

111

Jesus is transfigured on the mountain

Mat 17:1-13

Mar 9:2-13

Luk 9:28-36

Mat 17:14-

112

Jesus heals a demon possessed boy

Mar 9:14-29

Luk 9:37-43

Jesus predicts his death the second

Matt 17:22-

March 9:30-

113

Luk 9:44-45

time

10:30

Mat 17:24-

114 Peter finds the coin in the fish's mouth

The disciples argue about who would

115

Mat 18:1-6

Mar 9:33-37

Luk 9:46-48

be the Greatest

The disciples forbid another to use

116

Mar 9:38-42

Luk 9:49-50

Jesus' name

March 9:43-

117

Jesus warns against temptation

Mat 18:7-9

Jesus warns not to look down on

Matt 18:10-

118

others

Jesus teaches how to treat a believer

Matt 18:15-

119

who sins

Jesus tells the parable of the

Matt 18:21-

120

unforgiving debtor

121

Jesus' brothers mock him

Joh 7:1-9

Jesus teaches about the cost of

122

Mat 8:18-22

Luk 9:51-62

following him

123

Jesus teaches openly at the temple

Joh 7:10-31

124

Religious leaders try to arrest Jesus

Joh 7:32-53

125

Jesus forgives an adulterous woman

Joh 8:1-11

126

Jesus is the light of the world

Joh 8:12-20

127

Jesus warns of coming Judgment

Joh 8:21-29

Jesus is talking about God's true

128

Joh 8:30-47

children

129

Jesus says he is eternal

Joh 8:48-59

Jesus sends out seventy-two

130

Luk 10:1-16

messengers

131

The seventy-two messengers return

Luk 10:17-24

Jesus tells the parable of the Good

132

Luk 10:25-37

Samaritan

133

Jesus visits Mary and Martha

Luk 10:38-42

Jesus teaches his disciples about

134

Luk 11:1-13

prayer

135

Jesus answers hostile accusations

Luk 11:14-28

136

Jesus warns against unbelief

Luk 11:29-32

137

Jesus teaches about the light within

Luk 11:33-36

138

Jesus criticizes the religious leaders

Luk 11:37-54

139

Jesus speaks against hypocrisy

Luk 12:1-12

163

C Viljoen

140

Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool

Luk 12:13-21

141

Jesus warns about worry

Luk 12:22-34

Jesus warns about preparation for his

142

Luk 12:35-48

coming

143

Jesus warns of coming divisions

Luk 12:49-53

144

Jesus warns about the future crisis

Luk 12:54-59

145

Jesus calls the people to repent

Luk 13:1-9

146

Jesus heals the crippled woman

Luk 13:10-17

Jesus teaches about the kingdom of

147

Luk 13:18-21

God

Jesus heals the man who was born

148

Joh 9:1-12

blind

Religious leaders question the blind

149

Joh 9:13-34

man

150 Jesus teaches about spiritual blindness

Joh 9:35-41

151

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

Joh 10:1-21

Religious leaders surround Jesus at the

152

Joh 10:22-

temple

Jesus teaches how to enter the

153

Luk 13:22-30

kingdom

154

Jesus mourns over Jerusalem

Luk 13:31-35

Jesus heals a man with sugar water

155

Luk 14:1-6

(dropsy/edema)

156

Jesus teaches how to seek glory

Luk 14:7-14

Jesus tells the parable of the great

157

Luk 14:15-24

feast

Jesus teaches about the cost of being a

158

Luk 14:25-35

disciple

159

Jesus parable of the lost sheep

Luk 15:1-7

160

Jesus tells the parable of the lost coin

Luk 15:8-10

Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal

161

Luk 15:11-32

son

Jesus tells the parable of the smart

162

Luk 16:1-18

driver

Jesus tells about the rich man and the

163

Luk 16:19-31

beggar

164

Jesus talks about Forgiveness & Faith

Luk 17:1-10

165

Lazarus gets sick and dies

Joh 11:1-16

166

Jesus comforts Mary and Martha

Joh 11:17-

167

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead

Joh 11:37-

168

Religious leaders plan to kill Jesus

Joh 11:45-

169

Jesus heals ten men with leprosy

Luk 17:11-19

164

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

Jesus teaches about the coming

170

Luk 17:20-37

Kingdom of God

Jesus tells the parable of the persistent

171

Luk 18:1-8

widow

Jesus tells the parable of two men who

172

Luk 18:9-14

prayed

Jesus teaches about marriage and

173

Mat 19:1-12 Mar 10:1-12

divorce

Matt 19:13-

Mar 10:13-

174

Jesus blesses little children

Luk 18:15-17

Matt 19:16-

Mar 10:17-

175 Jesus is talking to the Rich Young Man

Luk 18:18-30

Jesus tells the parable of the workers

176

Mat 20:1-16

who are paid equally

Matt 20:17-

Mar 10:32-

177 Jesus predicts his death the third time

Luk 18:31-34

Matt 20:20-

March

178

Jesus teaches how to serve others

10:35-45

Matt 20:29-

March

179

Jesus heals a blind beggar

Luk

10:46-52

18:35-43

180

Jesus brings salvation to Zacchaeus

Luk 19:1-10

Jesus tells the parable of the king's ten

181

Luk 19:11-27

servants

Matt 26:6-

182

A woman anoints Jesus with perfume

Mar 14:3-9

Joh 12:1-11

Joh 12:12-

183 Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey Mat 21:1-11 Mar 11:1-11 Luk 19:28-44

Mat 21:12-

Mar 11:12-

184

Jesus cleans the temple again

Luk 19:45-48

185

Jesus explains why he must die

Joh 12:20-

Most of the people do not believe in

186

Joh 12:37-

Jesus

187

Jesus summarizes his message

Joh 12:44-

Jesus says the disciples can pray for

Mat 21:18-

Mar 11:20-

188

anything

Religious leaders challenge Jesus'

Matt 21:23-

Mar 11:26-

189

Luk 20:1-8

authority

Mat 21:28-

190 Jesus tells the parable of the two sons

Jesus tells the parable of the wicked

Matt 21:33-

191

Mar 12:1-12

Luk 20:9-19

tenants

Jesus tells the parable of the wedding

192

Mat 22:1-14

feast

Pharisees search. question Jesus Re:

Mat 22:15-

Mar 12:13-

193

Luk 20:20-26

Pay taxes

Pharisees search. question Jesus Re:

Matt 22:23-

Mar 12:18-

194

Luk 20:27-40

Resurrection

165

C Viljoen

Pharisees search. Jesus Re: Greatest

Matt 22:34-

Mar 12:28-

195

Commission

Religious leaders cannot answer Jesus'

Matt 22:41-

Mar 12:35-

196

Luk 20:41-44

Question

Jesus warns against the religious

Mar 12:38-

197

Mat 23:1-12

Luk 20:45-47

leaders

Matt 23:13-

198

Jesus condemns the religious leaders

Mat 23:37-

199

Jesus mourns over Jerusalem again

200

A poor widow gives all she has

Mar 12:41-

Luk 21:1-4

201

Jesus tells about the future

Mat 24:1-22 Mar 13:1-20

Luk 21:5-24

Matt 24:23-

Mar 13:21-

202

Jesus tells of his second coming

Luk 21:25-33

Matt 24:36-

Mar 13:32-

203

Jesus tells about staying alert

Luk 21:34-38

Jesus tells the parable of the ten

204

Mat 25:1-13

bridesmaids

Jesus tells the parable of the borrowed Matt 25:14-

205

money

Matt 25:31-

206

Jesus tells of the final judgment

DEATH AND RESURRECTION - JESUS

MATTHEW

MARK

LUKE

JOHN

207

Religious leaders plan to kill Jesus

Mat 26:1-5

Mar 14:1-2

Luk 22:1-2

Mat 26:14-

Mar 14:10-

208

Judas agrees to betray Jesus

Luk 22:3-6

Mat 26:17-

Mar 14:12-

209

Disciples prepare for the Passover

Luk 22:7-13

210

Jesus washed the disciples' feet

Joh 13:1-20

Jesus and the disciples have the Last

Mat 26:20-

Mar 14:17-

Joh 13:21-

211

Luk 22:14-30

Supper

Joh 13:31-

212

Jesus predicts Peter's denial

Luk 22:31-38

213

Jesus is the way to the Father

Joh 14:1-14

214

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit

Joh 14:15-

Jesus teaches about the vine and the

215

Joh 15:1-16

branches

216

Jesus warns about the world's hatred

Joh 15:17

Joh 16:4

217

Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit

Joh 16:5-16

Jesus teaches how to use His name in

218

Joh 16:17-

prayer

219

Jesus prays for Himself

Joh 17:1-5

220

Jesus prays for His disciples

Joh 17:6-19

166

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

221

Jesus prays for future believers

Joh 17:20-

Matt 26:30-

Mar 14:26-

222

Jesus again predicts Peter's denial

Matt 26:36-

Mar 14:32-

223

Jesus is in pain in the garden

Luk 22:39-46

Matt 26:47-

Mar 14:43-

224

Jesus is betrayed and arrested

Luk 22:47-53

Joh 18:1-11

225

Annas questions Jesus

Joh 18:12-

Matt 26:57-

Mar 14:53-

226

Caiaphas questions Jesus

Matt 26:69-

Mar 14:66-

Joh 18:25-

227

Peter denies that he knows Jesus

Luk 22:54-65

The council of religious leaders

228

Mat 27:1-2

Mar 15:1

Luk 22:66-71

condemns Jesus

Matt 27:3-

229

Judas kills himself

Mat 27:11-

Joh 18:28-

230

Jesus stands trial before Pilate

Mar 15:2-5

Luk 23:1-5

231

Jesus stands trial before Herod

Luk 23:6-12

232 Pilate hands Jesus over to be crucified

Mat 27:15-2 Mar 15:6-15 Luk 23:13-25

Joh 18:39

Joh 19:16

Mat 27:27-

Mar 15:16-

233

Roman soldiers mock Jesus

Mat 27:32-

Mar 15:21-

234

Jesus is led away to be crucified

Luk 23:26-31

Joh 19:17

Matt 27:35-

Mar 15:25-

Joh 19:18-

235

Jesus is placed on the cross

Luk 23:32-43

Matt 27:45-

Mar 15:33-

Joh 19:28-

236

Jesus dies on the cross

Luk 23:44-49

Matt 27:57-

Mar 15:42-

Joh 19:38-

237

Jesus is laid in the tomb

Luk 23:50-56

Matt 27:62-

238

Guards are placed at the grave

239

Jesus rises from the dead

Mat 28:1-7

Mar 16:1-8

Luk 24:1-12

Joh 20:1-9

240

Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene

Mar 16:9-11

Joh 20:10-

Matt 28:8-

241

Jesus appears to the women

Mat 28:11-

242

Religious leaders bribe the guards

Jesus appears to 2 believers who are

243

Mar 16:12-

Luk 24:13-35

traveling on the road

Jesus appears to the disciples behind

Joh 20:19-

244

Luk 24:36-43

closed doors

Jesus appears to the disciples including

245

March

Joh 20:24-

Thomas

16:14

167

C Viljoen

Jesus appears to the disciples while

246

Joh 21:1-14

they are fishing

247

Jesus is talking to Peter

Joh 21:15-

Mat 28:16-

March

248

Jesus gives the Great Commission

16:15-18

Jesus appears to the disciples in

249

Luk 24:44-49

Jerusalem

250

Jesus ascends to heaven

Mar 16:19-

Luk 24:50-53

168

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

ACCURACY OF TRANSLATIONS

169

C Viljoen

IS THE KJV BIBLE ACCURATE

The KJV Bible has more than one abbreviation:

- KJV = King James Version

- KJB = King James Bible

- AV = Authorized Version

- Note that we are not looking at the NKJV (New King James Version) but at the original.

o The NKJV is still the original translation into English, but instead of using a 1611 dictionary, a modern 1982 dictionary was used and words like “thou” and “thy” were changed to “you”

and “your”.

- The original version was called the “HOLY BIBLE” as the photo shows.

What is the KJV Bible:

- This is an English version of the Christian Bible, and it was originally written for the “Church of England”.

- The project was done between 1604 and 1611.

- The book is intended to be the most accurate copy of the oldest original texts of the Christian Bible in the world.

The books of the old KJV (therefore the KJVA or King James Version /w Apocrypha):

- 39 Books of the modern biblical Old Testament.

- 14 Books of the Apocrypha

o Most of the books are in the “Vulgate Deuterocanon” which the Roman Catholics use.

- 27 Books of the New Testament.

- Our modern Bible consists of all these above books, except the 14 in the middle.

How do we decide that the KJV is the most accurate English Bible today:

- It was the 3rd translation ever approved by the Church of England in world history. The first Bible was the “Great Bible” used during King Henry the 8th and written in 1535, and the second Bible was the “Bishops' Bible” of 1568.

- In January 1604, James the 5th (King of Scotland) and James the 1st (King of England and Ireland) met at the “Hampton Court Conference”, and there they thought of the idea of creating a new, more accurate, law Bible after they noticed many problems with the version they used earlier.

- James ordered the translators to make sure upon death that the KJV Bible was translated 100%

accurately from the original texts, and that the Bible made clear the greatness and truth of God, and let the book be considered holy.

- The KJV was written by 47 scholars, and all were members of the Church of England.

o The New Testament was translated from the Greek scroll copies.

o The Old Testament was translated from Hebrew and Aramaic scroll copies.

o The 14 Apocrypha books were translated from Greek and Latin scrolls.

o As we learn in the Jesus series, the original texts no longer exist, but instead thousands of copies have been found that come from the originals, all with the exact same information in them (meaning there are over 8000 copies that prove the texts have never changed from the originals), and the KJV group used the oldest possible scrolls ever found in history for their English translation.

- Between the 16th and 18th centuries, this Bible became the undisputed Bible of the English world because it was translated exactly, word for word, from the oldest original texts, and all scholars of the centuries used this book for their ancient historical Bible studies.

170

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

- It was the first book ever to land on a printing press in the 19th century and was the most popular book ever printed in history.

o Almost all copies of this Bible contained the standard English language of 1769 and were later re-edited by Benjamin Blayney in Oxford (the most accurate dictionary writers of the modern world). Note the spelling of the ancient English words on the 1611 original Bible photo. Almost all these copies did not have the 14 Apocrypha books in them.

- The bishop in London gave a rule to the translators that they may not have any “footnotes” in the Bible to explain their intentions. It just must be right! The bishop also ordered the translators to change NO words to the modern version, but to use the original English words and meanings as indicated by the 1611 dictionaries. For example, “church” may not have changed to “congregation”.

- The translation of the English KJV from the original oldest scrolls worked like this: o 47 Scholars did the translation.

o All of them belonged to the Church of England.

o These translators had 6 committees. Two from the University of Oxford, two from the University of Cambridge, and two from the Church of Westminster. All were the most learned church and Bible scholars who knew the ancient languages, and all had sympathy for the Puritans who wanted to keep the church pure and wanted to make the church free from Catholic works.

o EACH of the 6 committees were given copies of the 1602 “Bishops Bible”, and they worked from the copies and compared them to the original scrolls while translating the original scrolls, listing all the necessary changes.

o Each of the scholars worked hard between 1604-1609 to translate the original versions correctly and each wrote a copy of what he thought was the correct language usage.

o Between 1609-1611 the 47 scholars' copies were exchanged 47 times between all the scholars, and each one's works were reviewed by each other and cross-checked and referenced and compared with the bishops’ bible, to make sure that everyone's copies agree and that everyone agrees on every dot and comma of the Bible. Everyone “checked”

each other's work. The copies were also then handed over to a “General Committee of Review” so that a larger group of people could each give their opinions on the translations of the scholars.

o To better understand:

▪ 47 Scholars EACH wrote an accurate translation of their part of the Bible, which was given to their 6 committees.

▪ ALL 47 translated copies were exchanged, 47 TIMES, so that EACH GUY could check 47 times that the other scholars' translations were accurate and that everyone agreed.

▪ Then the final copy was handed over to an external “review committee” that included more than 50 scholars, who studied the translations.

▪ Keep in mind that the Bible was finished in 1611, when spelling was not yet standard, and in 1769 the first copy of the KJV was released again, this time with ALL

THE SAME WORDS, only with accurate spelling, after 20 years of work which was done by Francis Sawyer Parris.

171

C Viljoen

More about this Bible:

- We think that the “thou”, “art”, and “thy” are difficult, but wait until you read the oldest version, when the English language itself was not yet fully developed. They use words like: “Conteyn” which should be “Contain”, or “Teftament” which should be “Testament”, etc.

Why were the 14 Apocrypha books taken out:

- The Puritan group in the Church of England noticed many problems with the books.

o This is a group of Protestants who wanted to purify the church from “Catholic” works, to reform the church of England to a Christian church. They only partially succeeded, but they were the ones who pointed out the problems with the 14 Apogrypha scrolls (“catholic”

books). They also noted:

- In Galatians 4:25 of the Bishops' Bible, the word “susoichei” or “bordreth” was not properly translated, because the word that was put in the Bible did not have the apostle's feeling or situation or place in which he wrote it considered.

- In Psalm 105:28 of the “Great Bible”, it was translated “They were not obedient”, but according to the original texts it should be “They were not disobedient”.

- In Psalm 106:30 also from the “Great Bible”, it read “Then stode vp Phinehes and prayed...” but the original Hebrew translation should be “...and executed judgment...”

- THE MAIN REASON: Although these 14 books form part of Bible history, and it would not hurt to read them for interest, they give ABSOLUTELY NO evidence for the Christian faith, and are therefore not considered important in the Christian Bible that Jesus preached from or quoted from the Old Testament. If Jesus doesn't like it, we don't like it. Thousands of people wrote books in those days, but that does not mean that everything was considered “THE SCRIPTURES” by Jesus. So, we read the books that tell the story of Jesus (the New Testament), and we read the stories that Jesus quoted (the Old Testament).

o It would make sense that we as Christians (Jesus' faith) rather only read the Bible stories of Jesus in the New Testament as we know it today with 27 books, and that we also only believe in the scriptures that Jesus himself quoted from the 39 books of our Old Testament.

The 14 books of the Apocrypha have no importance or new information for the Bible and can be seen as books of history for the Bible, but not part of the Christian Bible.

o Jesus was a Jew, who introduced Christianity to us in the New Testament, and he basically taught us: You must still obey the law of the Old Testament, but now there is forgiveness for sin, and you no longer have to die to be made if you make mistakes. So, the whole Bible is important to us, specifically the stories of Jesus, and the stories of the Old Testament. NOT

the Apocrypha books, because their stories are not about the Christian faith, and give nothing new information that we don't already learn from the Bible.

o According to the Anglican church, these 14 books can be used to teach good manners to people, but they cannot be used to teach “Doctrine” or “Faith” to people because that is not what the books are about.

o The names of the 14 books in the Apocrypha are: Tobit, Judith, Additions to Esther, Wisdom, Ben Sira, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Prayer of Azariah, Susanna, Bel, 1 Maccabees, 2

Maccabees, 1 Esdras, Prayer of Manasses, & 2 Esdras.

172

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THE APOCRYPHA TEXT IS THE “PRAYER OF MANASSES”

It's a short book, also with only one chapter, like Judas in the modern Bible.

Prayer of Manasseh 1 KJVA

“1 O Lord, Almighty God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; 2 who hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornaments thereof; 3 who hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment; who hast shut up the deep, and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name;

4 whom all men fear, and tremble before thy power;

5 for the majesty of thy glory cannot be borne, and thine angry threatening towards sinners is importable: 6 but thy merciful promise is immeasurable and unsearchable; 7 for thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and repentest of the evils of men. Thou, O Lord, according to thy great goodness hast promised repentance and forgiveness to them that have sinned against thee: and of thine infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that they may be saved.

8 Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, which have not sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner:

9 for I have sinned above the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to behold and see the height of heaven for the multitude of my iniquities.

10 I am bowed down with many iron bands, that I cannot live up my head, neither have any release: for I have provoked thy wrath, and done evil before thee: I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments: I have set up abominations, and have multiplied offenses.

11 Now therefore I bow the knee of my heart, beseeching thee of grace.

12 I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my iniquities: 13 wherefore, I humbly beseech thee, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with my iniquities.

Be not angry with me for ever, by reserving evil for me; neither condemn me to the lower parts of the earth.

For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent;

14 and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me, that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy.

15 Therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life: for all the powers of the heavens do praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

These books were found a long time ago, and there is nothing wrong with this prayer, but it would be good to be skeptical of any books found after 1800 (not written, BUT “FOUND”) that people share mention of the Bible, because after that evolution started by Darwin, and many people called false prophets arose.

Since it is possible to fake Bible books, this is dangerous ground! ESPECIALLY if those books teach us anything that DOESN'T MATCH the books already in the Bible!

173

C Viljoen

174

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

175

C Viljoen

IS THE AFRIKAANS BIBLE ACCURATE

The Statenvertaling (that's the German “State” translation) of the Bible was the very first translation from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek versions of the Bible, translated into German. The Bible's name was the Statenbijbel, and it was done by an order from the government of the Protestant German Republic and was first published in 1637. This German Bible was the norm for all white people until 1933.

The 1933/1953 Afrikaans Bible is the literal translation that was first published in 1933. A revised edition was published in 1953. The translation is known today as the 1933/1953 translation and is still a very popular traditional translation translated from the Hebrew and Greek texts by JD du Toit, EE van Rooyen, JD Kestell, HCM Fourie, and BB Keet.

It was given to African people for the first time in Bloemfontein at a Bible festival on 27 August 1933. The 1933 translation was specifically written to be very close to the old German version, to prevent Christians who were used to the German version does not reject the Afrikaans Bible. In 1953 it was translated to be just like the first one, but with more modern words and different spellings of people's names. This is where the 1933/53 version originated, which is the most accurate version of the Afrikaans Bible.

The German version of 1637 is therefore the oldest translation and will therefore also most likely be the most accurate “semi-Afrikaans” version of the original writings of the Bible, but because the 1933 version was written to specifically match the 1637 one, there will be little difference between the two.

BUT: Because the English KJV has gone through so much more research to confirm its accuracy, it would be better to compare your Afrikaans Bible with the KJV Bible, and to use the KJV as the most accurate version we can read today and understand.

More about the authors follows in an old-fashioned story:

Full-fledged enterprise of the Afrikaans Churches (1923 - 1933): With the appearance of the trial edition, it became apparent that the Afrikaans people were looking forward to a Bible in their mother tongue, but that the translation had to be done instead from the original languages and that it had to be translated into the true language of the Afrikaans-speaking community. To realize this goal, full-time translators and Afrikaans language advisors had to be nominated.

As final translators are dr. JD du Toit and BB Keet appointed, but since dr. Keet could not get an exemption from his teaching duties at the Theological Seminary in Stellenbosch, Dr. JD Kestell nominated in his place.

Dr. du Toit would for the Old Testament and dr. Kestell is responsible for the New Testament. Later, as final translators, Dr. HCM Fourie and EE van Rooyen and finally also dr. BB Keet. A significant number of collaborators and advisors made important contributions. The Afrikaans language advisors were Prof. SPE

Boshoff, TH le Roux, DF Malherbe, and JJ Smith.

In 1927 Dr. C. van Gelderen, Semitician at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, came to South Africa for six months as an adviser for the translation of the Old Testament from the Hebrew original text.

176

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

In 1929 a revised edition of The Four Gospels and The Psalms was published. It was well received by the ecclesiastical public and served as a spur to complete the complete translation as soon as possible. This goal was achieved in 1933.

On 29 May 1933, the first shipment of Afrikaans Bibles arrived in Cape Town with the Carnarvon Castle from England. On Sunday, August 27, 1933, the Afrikaans Bible translation was received festively all over the country. The central celebration was in Bloemfontein, to which, among others, Dr. Kestell and du Toit participated. The festival is characterized by great enthusiasm, joy, and gratitude. From then on, the Afrikaner people would hear the great deeds of God in their own language.

The period of review (1933 - 1953):

The final translators realized that a revision of the translation was necessary, especially considering the discussion that followed the publication of the new translation. They also received instructions from the three Dutch Churches to continue the work. Because three of the final translators died during this time, only Dr. du Toit and Keet remained to finish the job. At the appearance of the revised edition in 1953, only dr. Keep alive.

This translation had excellent qualities and was of particularly great significance for the establishment of the Afrikaans language.

greeting

Silence

The last two photos of this study are a copy of the Codex Vaticanus (the oldest original writings ever discovered to this day), and the Tanakh (the Bible of the Jews).

177

C Viljoen

178

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

EXTRA NOTES ON KJV

KJV 1611 most accurate, even more than 1933/53 Afrikaans. Compare 2 Samuel 21:19 WHO DEFEATED

GOLIATH? Check for more discrepancies between KJV and other translations.

To avoid copyright in Bible translations you must change at least 10% of the Bible to make your new Bible. How terribly badly is the message changed when one translation is used to write the next?! Wow!

Stick to KJV!

WHY? about 600 manuscripts confirm other translations. Over 48,000 manuscripts confirm the KJV.

NKJV also has one small mistranslation. Stick to KJV. With other translations, preach only the verses you have first confirmed from your original KJV, if you want to read easily before an audience.

Isaiah is the most preserved book in all of history. In Israel there is a place where the whole floor moves down and goes under concrete when war breaks out, on which the Isaiah scroll is preserved in a big, long ring in glass.

Test if your people read the Bible: Tell them the Bible says: You must discipline the one you love and so that's why you can beat your wife. Because you love her. Leave them until one comes back and shows you how the Bible says: Chastise your son whom you love. Then you know they read the Bible. If they come to prove you wrong. Lol...

Israel tours cost roughly R29k for 8 days, everything included except your own souvenirs.

Dr. Kent Hovind also has a lesson on “bible translation history”.

It's ok not to remember addresses. As long as you remember the BIBLE.

179

C Viljoen

180

The Jesus Series - Student Guide

STUDY PACKAGES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FREE

For student guides, search Chris Viljoen Ministries on Facebook.

THE REVELATION SERIES (AFRIKAANS TRANSLATION ALSO AVAILABLE): THE JESUS SERIES (AFRIKAANS TRANSLATION ALSO AVAILABLE): PROVERBS RIDDLES (ONLY CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN AFRIKAANS): G

V A D E R

S P R E U K E

R A A I S E L S

V R A E S T E L

M E M O R A N D U M

C H R

S T U S

C H R

T U S

J O E N

MORE IS ON THE WAY WITH YOUR HELP!

OTHER RESOURCES WITH STRONG BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES

The following are powerful sources of God's word, available soon for order through Amazon or upon request at morne@nlb.co.za, written by my mentor and pastor: PS Morné and Crystal du Plessis among others, from the NLB congregation in Boksburg, Gauteng, SA 181

C Viljoen