Anachronism

by Wayne Blank

Anachronism, from the Greek words ana, meaning back, and chronos, meaning time, is the deliberate or subconscious substitution of facts related to time. From the perspective of The Bible, it's most often seen as the interpretation of the original Holy Scriptures to conform to one's own country or era. This is often seen in art, where, for example, Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ was portrayed as an Italian peasant by Italian artists, or as a Flemish housewife by Flemish painters. Anachronism may well be the greatest reason that humans have so many differing interpretations of the Scriptures relating to Christian Living, Bible History and Prophecy - perspectives of "truth" which, not coincidentally, almost always conveniently match the interpreter's own location, circumstances, or political and economic point of view.

The Sands of Time All Bible Translations Are Anachronistic

Anachronism is also evident, to a lesser or greater degree, in the many translations of the original Hebrew (the "Old Testament") and Greek (the "New Testament") Scriptures that have been done throughout history. It ranges from the increasing tendency of today's translators to produce their own "politically correct" perversions of God's Word, to the classic (and overall, excellent) King James Version which used terms and language that were the norm for 1611 England, when and where the King James was produced, but which were actually completely unknown to the people of the Bible e.g. "thee," "thou," penny, castle, duke etc.

Beware Of "Personal" Interpretation

"First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their licentiousness, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from of old their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not been asleep." (2 Peter 1:20-2:3 RSV)
"For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before Him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do." (Hebrews 4:12-13 RSV)

Fact Finder: Does God conform Himself to ever-changing human societies?
Malachi 3:6

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