This page will be updated with more information. Last updated June 2023.
When working on the translation, one can’t help but notice suspicious patterns.
What patterns?
One such pattern occurs in verses stating how much or little authority men have over the flock. The Greek text seems to grant more authority to men than the Aramaic. This is very suspicious. Were these verses altered or mistranslated accidentally? Or was it deliberate?
This page will be a summary of all the verses in the Christian books which discuss authority over the flock. This page will note whether there are any suspicious issues with their translations, and note exactly what they do or do not permit.
Matthew 23:10
NIV: Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
KJV: Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
2001: Don’t even be called leaders, because you only have one Leader, the Anointed One.
Notice how ‘leader’ has been changed to ‘instructor’ in the NIV. It says ‘masters’ in the KJV and ‘leaders’ in the NASB. You can't set up a clergy or hierarchy. Certainly not a pope. Even if we accept the translation of ‘teachers,’ this implies that you can't teach some new doctrine that you've invented.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
NIV: This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
2001: Therefore, you should think [of us] as just the Anointed One’s assistants [or in Greek, galley rowers], and as housekeepers of God’s mysteries. And when it comes to housekeepers, all that’s required of them is just to be found faithful!
The wording is slightly massaged to remove the idea that the Apostles are mere galley rowers (the exact expression is attendant, but it was used for oarsmen in Greek). In Aramaic, it’s more like an assistant. In other words, the Apostles wanted the Christians to think of them as below them.
Instead, the words are massaged. From being assistants or oarsmen who are beneath everyone else, and mere housekeepers of God’s mysteries, they are raised up to become servants who are entrusted with God’s mysteries. Christ gave this to us, not to you!
Further, do ‘housekeepers’ or mere ‘galley rowers’ and ‘assistants’ have the right to change doctrine or to declare that people must believe a certain doctrine? Further, can they condemn anyone who disagrees with them?
1 Corinthians 4:6
NIV: Do not go beyond what is written.
2001: Don’t go beyond the things that are written!
According to this, you can't create new doctrines or set up new organizational arrangements. Only what’s already written in the scriptures is allowed. Therefore, if an ecclesiastical body (or even an individual) declares some new doctrine, specifies something not specified, or creates new rules or systems for others to follow, is any of it valid? It seems not.
2 Corinthians 6:1
NIV: As God’s co-workers ...
2001: Moreover, since we’re your helpers [Aramaic rendering]...
The Aramaic is consistent in saying that the Apostles are servants, assistants, and helpers. But in Greek, they’re promoted to God’s co-workers. If the Greek manuscripts were deliberately changed to say this (and it wasn’t just a mistake), then this is a shocking power grab. To declare mere men as God’s co-workers is outrageous. In modern terms, it would be some men describing themselves “as God’s colleagues.”
2 Corinthians 11:4
NIV: For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
2001: For [I know that] if [someone] should come preaching about a Jesus other than the one whom we preached to you, or if you should receive a spirit other than the one you’ve already received, or if [you should hear] good news other than what you’ve [already] accepted, you’d likely tolerate it too well.
Jesus described himself as God’s Son, but later ecclesiastical bodies declared him to be part of a Godhead – a phrase not found in any manuscript (but they inserted it into the Bible anyway).
2 Corinthians 11:20
NIV: In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.
2001: In fact, you obey[Aramaic] anyone who ‘enslaves’ you, or ‘eats’ you, or takes from you, or who elevates himself over you, or [even] slaps you in the face!
Notice how the Greek-based text has been massaged to be less about people taking charge of you: “obey” becomes “put up with,” and “elevates himself” becomes “puts on airs.”
Would this text allow anyone to form a ruling clergy class? No, because by definition they elevate themselves over others and demand obedience.
Galatians 1:6-9
2001: I’m amazed that you’re so quickly making the change from the One who called you (by the loving care of the Anointed One) to a different type of good news. It really isn’t another [good news], it’s just that certain ones among you are causing problems, and have made changes to the good news about the Anointed One. However, if we –or even a messenger from heaven– were to come preaching something to you as good news other than the good news that we’ve already preached to you... Let him be cursed! Let me say that again: Whoever preaches good news to you other than what you’ve already believed – let him be cursed!
Doctrinal changes are not allowed. Yet “God sent his Son” became “God Himself became a man”, and a plethora of other rules, doctrines, and hierarchical arrangements. “Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus” became “Obey our rules and pay us money or burn in hell”.
Hebrews 13:7
NIV: Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
2001: Remember your shepherds [Aramaic version] who teach you God’s word. Then, as you see the results of their conduct, copy their faithfulness.
The Greek version would contradict Jesus’ words about not having human leaders. The Aramaic does not. Has the Greek been ‘massaged?’
Hebrews 13:17
NIV: Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority...
NKJV: Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive...
2001: Also, have confidence in your shepherds,[Aramaic] and listen to them...
‘Obey’ in the NKJV becomes ‘have confidence’ in the NIV and 2001. Also, see above about ‘leaders.’ Further, the Aramaic text saying ‘listen to’ becomes ‘be submissive’ and ‘submit to their authority’ in Greek-based Bibles!
Hebrews 13:24
NIV: Greet all your leaders...
NKJV: Greet all those who rule over you...
2001: Give [my] greetings to all your shepherds...
Again, shepherds become rulers and leaders.
1 Peter 5:3
NIV: ...not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
2001: And don’t [set yourselves up as] rulers over those who’ve been entrusted to your care; rather, become examples to the flock.
The phrase “lording it over” sounds more like a mere attitude problem, but the actual wording means to act as a Lord, i.e. to rule over people. Yet many ‘Christian’ leaders over the centuries even became princes and kings, lived in palaces, and ruled over entire nations.