Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as The Amplified Bible. The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:
"IN 1958 The Lockman Foundation and Zondervan Publishing House issued the first edition of THE AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT. The enthusiasm with which it has been received (more than one million copies are now in print) attests to its usefulness as a means of better understanding the Word of God. THE AMPLIFIED OLD TESTAMENT, Part 1 - Genesis to Esther - was published in 1964, and THE AMPLIFIED OLD TESTAMENT, Part 2 - Job to Malachi - in 1962. Both volumes have received the same degree of acceptance as that accorded earlier to THE AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT." [ See The Amplified Bible, ZONDERVAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, Copyright 1965 by Zondervan Publishing House, PREFACE. ]
Furthermore, the following explanations are provided:
"PARENTHESES ( ) and DASHES - -: signify additional phases of meaning included in the original word, phrase or clause of the original language.
TITLES OF DEITY: are set off, however, only with commas.
BRACKETS [ ]: contain justified clarifying words or comments not actually expressed in the immediate original text.
ITALICS: point out certain familiar passages now recognized as not adequately supported by the original manuscripts. Also, 'and,' 'or' and other connectives in italics indicate that the word itself is not in the original text, but it is used to connect additional English words indicated in the same original word.
CAPITALS: are used in names and personal pronouns referring to Deity, but sparingly elsewhere.
REFERENCES: are intended to cover any part of the preceding verse to which they apply.
SYNONYMS: are limited to what the text seems to warrant, both as to number and wording." [ Ibid., EXPLANATION of ARBITRARY PUNCTUATION. ]
Galatians 1:11-13 read as follows: "For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel - a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard. For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it; [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ, the Messiah. You have heard of my earlier career and former manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how I persecuted and abused the church of God furiously and extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best] to make havoc of it and destroy it." The apostle Paul ( see Galatians 1:1 ) recorded for us how he "tried to destroy" the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18, Acts 20:28 ( see Acts 20:28 ( NKJV; with center-column references ) where the equivalent translation for the phrase "of God" is "of the Lord and God" ), Romans 16:16, and Ephesians 1:17-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ) in verse 13 ( RSV, for example ). The Bible video ( associated with the following link ) is included for you, the reader, to view. Please click on the link below:
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https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bwt40y5qiELlTVc4TEZKazhXbDQ/edit?usp=sharing>.
If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:
<rewillis1_1@juno.com>
<Russell E. Willis>
NOTE: Keep in mind that
The Amplified Bible is not a traditional translation of the Holy Bible ( God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, Matthew 28:18, John 1:1, 14; 3:16, 17; 5:26, 27; 7:16; 8:26; 10:30; 14:6; 17:17; Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Colossians 2:8, 9, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, Titus 1:1, 2, and 1 John 5:6-8, for example ). [ Ibid., PUBLISHER'S FOREWARD. ]
Also, there are two explanations regarding Acts 20:28 ( NKJV; with center-column references ). To begin with, the equivalent translation "of the Lord and God" ( for the phrase "of God" ) indicates that the church belongs to both God, the Father and God, the Son ( Jesus ( see Matthew 1:16 )); the concept of the Godhead being involved here ( recall John 10:30, for example ). Since Jesus is the Son of God ( see Luke 4:35-41 ( especially verse 41, for example ), for example ), and the church belongs to Him ( recall Matthew 16:18, for example ), the church of God is the church of Christ. Secondly, we can simply consider the immediate context of this passage, and rightly conclude that Jesus ( God, the Son ) is implied here ( the phrase "with His own blood" has a cross-reference to Hebrews 9:14, which reads as follows: "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" ). Whatever the case may be, the phrase "church of God," in the Holy Bible, is not a reference to the church of God "religious" denomination: it is a reference to the New Testament church ( the church of Christ ).
