Translating and Authority of the Church

Did you know that different Bible translations give church leaders different levels of authority? It’s true! There’s a particular pattern of bias in how certain key verses have been copied and translated.

When we look at verses about authority in the church, we find that the Greek manuscripts tend to grant more authority to men than the Aramaic manuscripts.

It suggests the possibility that the Greek manuscripts may have been altered in key places (either accidentally or deliberately) to support the authority of men, with the Aramaic acting like a lifeboat, saving the original text.

In addition, modern translators are often biased towards supporting their own Church or doctrinal system, or are forced to translate in a way that pleases their sponsors and customers.

Our List

Matthew 23:10 — Don’t be called Instructors or Leaders?
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 — Entrusted or Housekeepers?
2 Corinthians 6:1 — God’s colleagues?
2 Corinthians 11:20 — Putting Up With or Obeying?
Ephesians 4:8 — Gifts in men?
Hebrews 13:7 — Leaders or Shepherds?
Hebrews 13:17 — Obey and Submit or Listen?
Hebrews 13:24 — Greet Your Leaders or Shepherds?
1 Peter 5:3 — Lording it Over or Acting Like a Lord?
Other Texts

Matthew 23:10 — Don’t be called Instructors or Leaders?

New International Version:

‘Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.’

Our Translation:

‘Don’t even be called leaders, because you only have one Leader, the Anointed One.’

Since we defer to the Aramaic text, our version says leader, however it is also supported by the Greek text.

Why do many other translations say something much weaker, like teacher and instructor?

The Greek text uses a word which can variously mean a teacher, a leader, or even a guide. Using the word teacher or instructor is misleading because it doesn’t match the context of the verse, nor the historical context.

Jesus was from the Jewish world, where religious teachers (called rabbis) had enormous far-reaching authority; two prominent groups, the Pharisees and Sadducees, were even a ruling class in the government! We know that this was the kind of teacher that Jesus was talking about, because he said this two verses earlier:

‘Don’t [have people] call you rabbi, for you only have one leader, while you’re all just brothers.’ (Matthew 23:8)

Therefore, merely translating it as ‘instructor’ or ‘teacher’ may be an attempt to muddle what Jesus was saying. They may be trying to downplay that Christians should not be like the ancient rabbis, acting as leaders with authority over their brothers. Yes, it may be a way to avoid reminding readers of prominent Church leaders today! Since most Bible translations are funded by religious organizations, could translators have watered down the wording to avoid embarrassing their sponsors?

Whatever the reason, by doing so they created a contradiction in the Bible text! You see, many Christians were teachers, and they were supposed to be…

Paul said:

‘I was appointed a preacher, an Apostle, and a teacher’ (2 Timothy 1:11)

And:

‘…you should be teachers (in view of the time)’ (Hebrews 5:12)

Indeed, Acts reports:

‘…there were several Prophets and teachers in the congregation at AntiOch’ (Acts 13:1)

In the Greek sources, all of the above texts use the word didaskaloi (διδασκαλοι) for ‘teachers’, whereas the word we translate as ‘leader’ is kathegetes (καθηγητής). Yes, they are different words. Christians can absolutely be religious teachers, but holding authority over their brothers as leaders is not allowed. Only Jesus is the leader.

How disappointing if it turns out that some translators have chosen to obscure this fact by using words like teacher or instructor instead of leader — all to avoid embarrassing modern Church leaders.

Also, correctly translating it as leaders may be embarrasing for one more reason: Peter was one of the Apostles listening to Jesus’ words here, yet the Vatican claims he was the first Pope, an office which later gained grand authority akin to a king or emperor.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 — Entrusted or Housekeepers?

New International Version:

‘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.’

Our Translation:

‘Therefore, you should think [of us all] 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!’

In most other translations, the wording is massaged to make it sound like Paul was talking just about himself and a few others, not all Christians (‘how you ought to regard us’). The words could easily be twisted to encourage someone to obey religious authorities, but the context shows he is talking about all of ‘us’.

Most translations also give no hint of 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 all Christians to think of them as equally below Jesus, with no suggestion that soley the Apostles were equal to him or instead of him.

Instead, the words are massaged in a way that they can be more easily twisted to support the authority of men. They were previously ‘assistants’ or ‘oarsmen’ who are beneath the Anointed One, no different from any other Christian, yes, mere ‘housekeepers’ looking after somebody else’s possesions.

However, with a little careful wording, they can be raised up above you, where they can tell you ‘how you ought to regard us’. They (not you) are ‘servants of Christ’ whom God Himself has entrusted with his mysteries.

We are very important, don’t you know!

It is hard to see how mere ‘housekeepers’ or ‘galley rowers’ and ‘assistants’ could ever have the right to dictate doctrine to other Christians, or to declare that people must believe a certain confession of faith or be considered ‘heretics’. Therefore, translators massage the words accordingly.

2 Corinthians 6:1 — God’s colleagues?

New International Version:

‘As God’s co-workers…’

New Living Translation:

‘As God’s partners…’

Our Translation:

‘Moreover, since we’re your helpers…’

In the Greek text, it really says something like, ‘Since we’re working together…’. The Aramaic is consistent in saying that the Apostles are servants, assistants, and helpers.

But in some translations, they’re no longer a mere helper, no, not at all… They’ve been promoted to ‘God’s co-workers’ and ‘partners’! In more modern terms, we could say ‘God’s colleagues’!

To declare mere men as God’s co-workers and partners is quite extreme, and can easily be twisted to support the authority of men. We’re not just any old men, we’re God’s colleagues! You ought to do what we say!

2 Corinthians 11:20 — Putting Up With or Obeying?

New International Version:

‘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.’

Our Translation:

‘In fact, you obey anyone who ‘enslaves’ you, or ‘eats’ you, or takes from you, or who elevates himself over you, or [even] slaps you in the face!’

We have two main changes here.

First, there is an important difference between the Greek word (translated by the NIV as ‘you put up with’, literally, endure) versus the Aramaic word (translated by us as ‘obey’, literally, to submit to a higher authority).

Second, we have the expression puts on airs in the NIV, more accurately translated as elevates himself. The Greek and Aramaic words agree here, but the modern translator has decided to soften the real meaning. Strong’s explains that this word was associated with ‘honor and status’ and ‘could mean to be elevated in rank’.

Well, if the verse is warning you about obeying someone who elevates himself over you, then it may be quite embarrassing for some leaders to hear this read aloud in Church! So in the Greek manuscripts, the word is changed to put up with, which is a much milder word, and could be talking about tolerating some random difficult person.

Finally, modern translators have helped massage the verse further, by muddling the meaning of elevating oneself to merely putting on airs. Yes, entirely removing any thought of rank or status; it’s now just an attitude problem.

Readers and listeners could now think that it’s talking about anyone who is a bit arrogant and opinionated. There is no longer any thought that it could mean self-appointed men within the congregation.

Since the two languages do not agree on the first part of the verse, which language is correct? It’s not clear. However, we generally trust the Aramaic text because it was more widely distributed early on, and therefore, less likely to have accidental and deliberate changes. We believe it’s like a lifeboat, preserving many original readings.

Ephesians 4:8 — Gifts in men?

This is a mistranslation unique to the New World Translation published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

It says:

‘When he ascended on high he carried away captives; he gave gifts in men.‘ (emphasis added)

However, our translation of Ephesians 4:8 says:

‘To the highest places, he has stepped up,
And he led captives into captivity;
Then he gave gifts to the people.’

Our version entirely agrees with what both the Greek and Aramaic versions of Ephesians say.

In our view, the context is describing the miraculous gifts of the spirit, which were poured out upon the early Christians. Paul is applying the Psalm to those gifts.

However, Jehovah’s Witnesses want Paul to be talking about something else: That the men in charge are gifts from God, whom you must obey. So they change it to talk about ‘gifts in men’, the men, of course, being those in charge of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their congregations.

How does the New World Translation justify this change? Well, this verse is actually a quote from Psalm 68:18 (67:19 in LXX numbering), which appears to say something different from what Paul said in Ephesians:

The Greek Septuagint reads: ‘you-received gifts in/with/among men/people’
The Hebrew Masoretic Text reads: ‘you-have-received gifts among-men/man’

Notice the difference? Paul says Jesus gave gifts to people, while the Psalm says he received gifts in or among men, or just gifts man.

This apparent contradiction then gives the NWT translators the opportunity to ‘fix’ Paul’s words to match how they could possibly be translated from the Greek Septuagint version.

So they literally change Paul’s quote in Ephesians from saying:

‘he gave gifts to the people’

To saying:

‘he gave gifts in men’

They don’t admit to changing Paul’s words

Their translation’s Study Edition comments on the verse, saying:

‘Paul here refers to Ps 68:18, where David thanked Jehovah for the conquest of Jerusalem. Jehovah figuratively ‘ascended on high’ by conquering the city atop Mount Zion. He also supplied the Israelites with captives from among the conquered—strong men who became useful workers. Under inspiration, Paul applies this prophetic psalm to Jesus’ acting as a conqueror in behalf of the Christian congregation. After Jesus ‘ascended on high’ to heaven, he had immense authority. He used it to bring capable ‘gifts in men’ into his congregation to act as loving shepherds and overseers of God’s flock.’

Notice this:

The commentary does not mention that Paul’s quote and the Psalm say two different things.
The commentary does not admit that their translation has changed Paul’s words to match their interpretation.

Yes, they simply give their interpretation of the verse, as if nothing is wrong at all. It’s truly incredible!

If Paul’s quote doesn’t match the Psalm we have today, then it is better to simply be honest and acknowledge that there’s a discrepancy. There should not be an attempt to change it, say nothing, and then hope nobody notices.

However, there’s a bigger problem. We strongly believe that Paul’s quote of the Psalm is actually correct, and that it only appears to be different because people today misinterpret the Hebrew and Greek wording.

The original meaning of the Psalm agrees with Paul

Just to remind ourselves:

Paul’s quote of the Psalm reads: ‘he gave gifts to the people’
The Greek Septuagint reads: ‘you-received gifts in/with/among men/people’
The Hebrew Masoretic Text reads: ‘you-have-received gifts among-men/man’

The Hebrew word used is often translated as just man or sometimes as among men. The Greek word can mean in, with, among, or sometimes even by means of.

Remember, the original is a poetic song, and wording is often ambiguous. Things are often implied or vague. So if we take all of the possible meanings together, could we read it as saying that he received gifts and then shared them with or within or among the people? Or that he distributed these gifts among or by means of the people?

Well, yes, it’s possible. For two main reasons:

Firstly, it perfectly aligns with Paul’s statement; he had the spirit, we should listen to him.

Secondly, this understanding is supported by the ancient Aramaic version of Psalm 68:18 itself, which states:

‘You have ascended on high and you have captured [a] captivity and you have given gifts to the children of men […].’

Yes, it seems that Paul may have been quoting this Aramaic version of the Psalm!

The Aramaic translator, being much closer to the original context (~2,000 years closer!), clarified the ambiguity of the original Hebrew for us. Paul was simply quoting the widely understood meaning of the Psalm in his day, which the Aramaic text preserved. In other words, all versions of the Psalm agree, it’s just that today we’ve lost the original meaning of the Hebrew (and it’s very literal Greek translation).

Thankfully, an ancient Aramaic text is there to clarify it for us!

If that’s correct, then all sources are saying that gifts were given to the people, even if stated in a vague poetic way. They were never saying that the gifts were people themselves, and Paul confirms that the gifts are the miraculous gifts of God’s breath.

Indeed, Paul mentions the spirit and it being a gift three times in the context:

Verse 3: ‘recognize the unifying force of [God’s] breath’.
Verse 4: ‘there’s just one ‘body’ and one spirit’
Verse 7: ‘the amount of loving care that was shown to each of us depends upon how much of the Gift the Anointed One measured out to us’

It’s then only logical that he then applies the Psalm as a prophecy about Jesus receiving gifts from God and then sharing them with his Christian congregation.

This means that Psalm 68:18 is really a prophecy about Jesus. Its fairly ambiguous wording in Hebrew may be because it’s meant to have a double meaning, unknown to the original writer. Yes, it was initially talking about a military victory, but hidden within it was a prophecy about the future outpouring of the spirit. Paul is essentially revealing a hidden messianic prophecy! Indeed, we even list it in our catalog of messianic prophecies.

Despite all of this, the Witnesses still insist on the interpretation that certain modern men are ‘gifts’ from God, often skipping slightly ahead to Ephesians 4:11-12 to support their claim. Those verses say:

‘And he gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers, with a view to the readjustment of the holy ones…’ (New World Translation)

However:

They have divorced it from the wider context, the talk of the gift of the spirit.
They have ignored the historic context, as when these roles were assigned in the first century, people also had miraculous gifts like healing or prophesying. Yet today, no one possesses such gifts.
They have changed Paul’s quote to match their interpretation of the Psalm, then not mentioned it and hoped nobody noticed.
They have ignored that today men are assigned to church roles by human bureaucracies, votes, or just by being picked by their mates.

Yet, it gets worse…

They changed the Psalm too

In addition to changing Paul’s quote, the New World Translation also changed the Psalm he quoted. They changed it to say:

‘You took gifts in the form of men’ (Psalm 68:18, NWT; emphasis added)

This has no support in the Hebrew text. It clearly uses a word which simply means ‘man’, sometimes translated as ‘among men’. And their translation is supposed to be from Hebrew.

This change is entirely taken from one possible translation of the Greek word en in the Greek Septuagint text to mean ‘in’, and then interpreting it to mean ‘in the form of’.

Now, normally, there would be no problem with that as long as it’s clearly shown. It’s common for Hebrew-based Bibles to dip into the Greek Septuagint for the odd verse, if the translators think it helps or clarifies a text. However, it’s also customary to tell the reader. Yet there is no mention of this in their Study Edition (not even a footnote). Further, there are no [square brackets] to show that the words ‘the form of’ were added by the translator, which is the normal custom when adding clarifying words not present in the source text.

Readers will therefore be given the entirely false impression that the Hebrew of Psalm 68:18 really says ‘in the form of men’, when it absolutely does not.

Men or people?

Finally, it’s important to note that Ephesians 4:8 uses anthropon (ανθρωπων), which means ‘people’, not aner (ανηρ), which means ‘males’. Similarly, the Hebrew word in Psalm 68:18 can also mean ‘people’ when not referring specifically to a group of males.

It would normally be fine to translate it as people if we honestly admit that the verse is talking about the gifts of the spirit, since both men and women received them. But since Jehovah’s Witnesses insist the verse is talking about the men in authority within their religion, they have to translate it as men, and all knowledge of it being people is conveniently forgotten.

See our translator note on Ephesians 4:8
See this verse in our catalog of messianic prophecies
See our article on Quotes in Ephesians
See Ephesians 4:8 in our Greek interlinear
See the quoted Psalm in our Septuagint interlinear
See the quoted Psalm in BibleHub’s Hebrew interlinear

Hebrews 13:7 — Leaders or Shepherds?

New International Version:

‘Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.’

Our Translation:

‘Remember your shepherds who teach you God’s word. Then, as you see the results of their conduct, copy their faithfulness.’

The NIV’s ‘Remember your leaders’ would contradict Jesus’ command about not having anyone other than him to call your leader (Matthew 23:10) — but that’s okay because the NIV changed that verse, and now it doesn’t contradict this one!

The Aramaic does not say ‘leaders’, it says ‘shepherds’ — a very different thought, and one that does not contradict Jesus’ command. Christian men are, after all, encouraged to be shepherds, not leaders, princes, or kings.

This is another reason why we trust the Aramaic text when it disagrees with the Greek text, as contradictions such as this tend to disappear. It really may be a lifeboat, preserving many original readings.

Hebrews 13:17 — Obey and Submit or Listen?

New International Version:

‘Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority…’

New King James Version:

‘Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive…’

Our Translation:

‘Also, have confidence in your shepherds, and listen to them…’

Despite the New King James Version saying ‘obey’, the New International Version correctly says ‘have confidence’; our translation says the same thing. This more accurately reflects the Greek and Aramaic texts.

However…

The NIV and the NKJV then says ‘leaders’ and ‘those who rule over you’ because the Greek manuscripts say ‘the ones leading you’. In contrast, the Aramaic text again says ‘shepherds’.

Finally, the Greek text uses the word meaning ‘submit to their authority’, but the Aramaic word means something more like ‘listen and agree’.

So we go from obeying people who rule you and submit yourself to them… To merely having confidence in those who shepherd you and listen to them in an agreeable manner.

These are wildly different thoughts. The version found in other translations can be easily used to justify any man who wishes to rule over others in the congregation.

Hebrews 13:24 — Greet Your Leaders or Shepherds?

New International Version:

‘Greet all your leaders…’

New King James Version:

‘Greet all those who rule over you…’

Our Translation:

‘Give [my] greetings to all your shepherds…’

Again, shepherds in the Aramaic become rulers and leaders in the Greek.

1 Peter 5:3 — Lording it Over or Acting Like a Lord?

New International Version:

‘…not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.’

Our Translation:

‘And don’t act like lords [over] the flock; rather, become good a example.’

Both the Greek and Aramaic texts agree here, with Greek using a word often translated as lording it over someone, but also meaning dominating, exercising authority, or to subdue and overpower someone, while Aramaic simply says not to act like a lord.

The phrase ‘lording it over’ is a particular phrase in English. It’s more about having an attitude problem, where someone is pushy or bossy. It’s a much milder thought than the more literal acting like a lord. This Aramaic expression is much more comprehensive, because it covers men taking charge who are both good and bad; yes, even being a benign dictator would still be wrong!

Yes, acting like a lord conveys the thought of both real and perceived rank and authority. Yet among Christians, according to Jesus, it’s not a man’s place to be called a leader, no, not even if he’s a good one!

This is likely why we have few records of Jesus’ faithful apostles exercising formal authority over other Christians, and no mention of them forming permanent governing councils. When they did meet (as in Acts 15), it was more collaborative than authoritative. They appear to have continued primarily as helpers, avoiding positions of authority over their fellow believers — exactly as Jesus taught.

However, over the centuries, centers of power arose, especially in Rome and Constantinople. Many Church leaders became princes of the church, extracted tithes, raised armies, lived in palaces, and acted as judge and jury over ‘heretics’ who disagreed with Church doctrine.

They acted like lords in every way possible.

Other Texts

There are other verses in the Bible which support Jesus’ teaching that Christians should never be in authority over other Christians. Thankfully, these texts have not been altered. However, they are largely ignored, and religious leaders certainly don’t apply them to themselves! Here are some examples.

First, consider how most people think that Church leaders are perfectly entitled to decide upon doctrine and mandate rules and systems for others to follow. After all, that’s what they’ve been doing for centuries! But there’s one command that most people overlook:

‘Don’t go beyond the things that are written!’ (1 Corinthians 4:6)

Wait, what? That’s right – you can’t create new doctrines or set up rules that people must follow that are not already written in the scriptures. Only what’s already written in the scriptures are commands, everything else is just an opinion!

Further, in Acts 15:28-29, the apostles who knew Jesus established a principle that no further burdens should be put upon believers:

‘For through the Holy breath, it’s become clear to us that we shouldn’t put any burdens on you other than these necessary things:

‘Stay away from:

‘Things that are sacrificed to idols,

‘From blood,

‘From the strangled,

‘And from sexual immorality.

‘If you stay away from these things, you’ll do well.’

So when an ecclesiastical body declares that everyone must believe a new doctrine, or creates new rules that others must follow, are any of them valid?

Well, let’s look at what Paul said about changing the good news:

‘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!‘ (Galatians 1:6-9)

Did you catch that? Paul wasn’t just suggesting that changes were bad – he was saying that anyone who makes such changes should be cursed!

Yet what happened over the centuries?

A series of Church councils mandated all kinds of doctrines that everyone was forced to believe in and obey. Most famously, they made decisions about the nature of Jesus in very specific and obscure ways, strongly influenced by Greek philosophy, and often beyond the understanding of ordinary folks.

Even if their interpretations of Jesus’ nature were correct, they were not part of the original message preached by the Apostles, and that is obviously going beyond what’s written.

Further, anyone who even slightly modified their complex doctrines were considered heretics, leading to bitter splits among the Christian community, known as ‘schisms’.

Also, the straightforward command to ‘Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus’ transformed into ‘Obey our authority and doctrines, and if you do not, you will burn in hell for eternity’.

The early Church quickly became a complex and hierarchical organization, with a multitude of rules and doctrines not found in the Bible, but strictly enforced by ecclesiastical courts with threats of excommunication and eternal damnation.

How did we get here?

Paul saw this coming. He warned:

‘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.’ (2 Corinthians 11:4)

However, it was not just the early Church in Rome that went beyond what is written. Over the past 2,000 years, countless Christian groups have appeared and set up their own doctrines and rules found nowhere in the Bible (or based on fraudulent or faulty translation), and most have even created their own ‘heretics’ to persecute.

Key Points

The Bible explicitly forbids going beyond what’s written.
Changes to the original message are condemned in the strongest terms.
Early warnings about doctrinal changes proved prophetic.
Many Church doctrines are neither found nor mandated in the original text.

Key Takeaway

It seems that at some point in ancient times, before the 4^th century AD, key verses in the Greek manuscripts were altered to support the authority of Church leaders. Thanks to the Aramaic text, we can see was is likely to be the original wording today.

Shamefully, modern translators have often failed to tell readers about these issues, and they have even added to the problem by including their own distortions to these verses — probably to please their denominational sponsors and financial backers.