Chapter 23
The Bible Societies
National Bible Societies have proliferated. The British and
Foreign Bible Society has beome a model for other such societies all over the
world. We can but applaud the work of many of these societies in providing the
Word of God, in many tongues, distributed by the millions. But recent trends
give cause for alarm, for now most of these societies have become agents for
ecumenism. Many Scriptures now distributed by these societies are those
approved by the Roman Catholic Church. Such Bibles are always based upon the
corrupted Greek manuscripts beloved of Rome, and they also contain the
uninspired books of the Apocrypha.
Lest any be in doubt as to the baleful effects of the
distribution of such perverted Scriptures, we remind the reader of the Roman
Catholic attitude toward the Bible.
The attitude of the church toward the Bible societies is
one of unmistakable opposition. Believing herself to be the divinely
appointed custodian and interpreter of Holy Writ, she cannot without turning
traitor to herself, approve the distribution of Scripture "without note or
comment." The fundamental fallacy of private interpretation of the
Scriptures is presupposed by the Bible societies. It is the impelling motive
of their work. But it would be likewise the violation of one of the first
principles of the Catholic faith—a principle arrived at through observation
as well as by revelation—that of the insufficiency of the Scriptures alone
to convey to the general reader a sure knowledge of faith and morals.
Consequently, the Council of Trent, in its fourth session, after expressly
condemning all interpretations of the sacred text which contradict the past
and present interpretation of the church, orders all Catholic publishers to
see to it that their editions of the Bible have the approval of the bishop.
Besides this and other regulations concerning Bible
reading in general we have several acts of the popes directed explicitly
against the Bible societies. Perhaps the most notable of these are contained
in the Encyclical Ubi Primum of Leo XII, dated 5 May, 1824, and Pius IX’s
Encyclical Qui Pluribus, of 9 November, 1846. Pius VIII in 1829 and Gregory
XVI in 1844, spoke to similar effect. It may be well to give the most
striking words on the subject from Leo XII and Pius IX. To quote the former
(loc. cit.):
You are aware, venerable brothers, that a certain Bible
Society is impudently spreading throughout the world, which, despising the
traditions of the holy Fathers and the decree of the Council of Trent, is
endeavoring to translate, or rather to pervert the Scriptures into the
vernacular of all nations. . . . It is to be feared that by false
interpretation, the gospel of Christ will become the gospel of men, or still
worse, the gospel of the devil."
The pope then urges the bishops to admonish their flocks
that owing to human temerity, more harm than good may come from
indiscriminate Bible reading.
Pius IX says (loc. cit.): "These crafty Bible societies,
which renew the ancient guile of heretics, cease not to thrust their Bibles
upon all men, even the unlearned—their Bibles, which have been translated
against the laws of the church, and often contain false explanations of the
text. Thus, the divine traditions, the teaching of the Fathers, and the
authority of the Catholic Church are rejected, and every one in his own way
interprets the words of the Lord, and distorts their meaning, thereby
falling into miserable errors." The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 3,
art. "Bible Societies," 545
Having failed to stop the work of the Protestant Bible
Societies, the Roman Catholic Church now appears to support them. The United
Bible Societies (UBS), an organization which includes both the British and
Foreign Bible Society and the American Bible Society, along with most other
national Bible Societies, has encouraged Roman Catholic participation in joint
evangelistic services, joint prayer sessions for Christian unity, and
participation in local church councils and organizations.
Roman Catholics, who have no love for the Scriptures as
testified in their unrepented history, have, in recent times, seen fit to
promote the Word of God. However, it is not promoted on the basis of a belief
that the Scripture is the sole foundation of Christian faith, nor a true love
for the Word of God. To ensure that the reader is biased toward Roman Catholic
dogma, Roman Catholic versions are "assisted" in five ways:
1. The inclusion of the uninspired Apocrypha.
2. Profuse explanatory notes designed to destroy the plain
meaning of the Word of God.
3. Provision of courses instructing readers in Roman
Catholic dogma.
4. Use only of Scriptures based upon perverted Greek
manuscripts.
5. Approval only of Scriptures containing subtle
Catholicism.
Thus when Protestants support the distribution of Bibles
approved by the Roman Catholic Church, they are unwittingly assisting that
church to extend its influence and authority and to spread unscriptural
doctrines offensive to God. For example, the Roman Catholic Church cites the
twelfth chapter of the Apocryphal book, 2 Maccabees, which enjoins prayers for
the dead, in support of the damnable doctrine of purgatory, and in support of
the church’s extension of this doctrine to demand money for Masses offered in
behalf of those dead believed to be suffering in this fictitious state of
torture, that their severe agonies be alleviated.
We suggest that the time has come for true Protestants to
withdraw their support from such Bible Societies. Under no circumstance should
a faithful Christian regard it as good stewardship of the means God has
entrusted to him, to use it in support of the distribution of Scriptures
which, rather than uplifting the light of God’s Word, promote Roman
Catholicism’s darkness.
In 1986 the British and Foreign Bible Society issued a
catalogue of English-language Bibles and New Testaments published by the
society. In this catalogue were included the Jerusalem Bible, which the
catalogue correctly states to be the work of Roman Catholic scholars, three
editions of the New American Bible which is accurately stated to be an
American Catholic translation, an edition of the Revised Standard Version
containing the Apocrypha, the New Jerusalem Bible, and the Good News Bible
containing the Apocrypha and which the catalogue claims is stamped with the
imprimatur of Basil, Cardinal Hume, the Roman Catholic archbishop of
Westminster. Again we remind each reader that any donations given to the
British and Foreign Bible Society are, in part, used to distribute these
Bibles which comply with Roman Catholic views. Further, we believe that the
common practice of inviting representatives of the British and Foreign Bible
Society or national Bible Societies to preach in Protestant churches be
discouraged, for it simply gives credence to these societies and encouragement
to congregations to support their work, including their distribution of Bibles
containing error.
The Second Vatican Council in 1965 opened the way for
ecumenical Bible translations by approving translation projects in
"co-operation with the separated brethren." Already in 1964 a meeting of major
Bible Societies had agreed to the production of a common biblical text in the
original Hebrew and Greek, acceptable to both Protestants and Catholics, so
that a Bible acceptable to all faiths could be prepared in the languages of
the world. Such Bibles could be prepared only by Protestant compromise, for
the Roman Catholic Church would never lend its approval to Bibles devoid of
the Apocrypha, nor to those translated from the Textus Receptus.
Protestants, on the other hand, have become so weakened in their opposition to
Roman Catholic error that they will accept such appalling compromise with
truth.
In 1966 the British and Foreign Bible Society amended its
constitution to permit the inclusion of the Apocrypha in versions which it
distributed. The American Bible Society and most other national societies
followed the British lead.
The Roman Catholic Church formed the World Catholic
Federation for the Biblical Apostolate (WCFBA) under the leadership of
Monsignor Alberto Ablondi, the Roman Catholic bishop of Livorno, Italy, to
promote these ecumenical translations. A spokesman for this organization
stated that such projects were
An act of common witness and an expression of common
grounds. World-Event, No. 57/1984, 6
It was also suggested that
this collaboration opens doors to a better understanding
of each other’s point of view and prepares the way for ecumenical dialog.
Ibid.
Further the spokesman confirmed that
The WCFBA is not merely interested in, but committed to,
this common witness in joint Bible work, which does break new ground for
future ecumenism. Ibid.
Bishop Ablondi sees interconfessional translations as
One of the important advancements of post-Vatican II
ecumenism—an important step toward unity. Ibid
True Christians must examine the very Scriptures which
these Bible Societies are perverting, especially as the bishop claims that
these translations
will help overcome prejudice in a divided church. Ibid.
It is these Scriptures which shout an urgent warning
against this ecumenical movement which is bound to be so successful that
all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [the
beast, symbolic of Roman Catholicism1], whose
names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8
Further, God’s people are called by our loving God in His
last desperate plea to mankind to
Come out of her [out of Roman Catholicism and apostate
Christianity] that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not
of her plagues. Revelation 18:4
We are too late in earth’s history for Christians to align
themselves with organizations promoting unity condemned of God.
It is not alone in English-speaking lands that this thrust
of the Bible Societies is to be found. The distribution of Arabic Bibles in
North Africa and the Middle East by the United Bible Societies is a combined
effort of Protestants and Roman Catholics. This fact was highlighted by the
Executive Secretary of the Bible Society in North Africa when he reported:
1985 got under way with the inauguration of our new
offices. . . . This event, preceded by a reception for various heads and
staff of diplomatic missions, and marked by an outstanding sermon delivered
by the Cardinal Archbishop of Algeria, Monsignor Léon-Etienne Duval, will be
remembered as a high point in the rich interconfessional life of this
country. UBS Report 1985, 131
In Brazil a Portuguese translation of Scripture which
included the Apocrypha was produced by an ecumenical team led by Dr. Robert
Bratcher, the United Bible Societies international translation consultant (UBS
World Report 180, May 1985, 3). Dr. Bratcher was the chief translator
of the Good News Bible. In his writings this minister has denied the inerrancy
of Scripture.
Even more sinister is it, that in Latin America the
distribution of these modern Bible versions, approved of Rome, is seen as a
powerful weapon in the Roman Catholic counterattack against the inroads of
Protestantism in that part of the world.
Ecumenical cooperation . . . which includes the
distribution of over one million Bibles a year, has been successful in
minimizing the divisive inroads of sectarian proselytizing. World-Event,
Nos. 65-6/1986
Thus the United Bible Societies’ work is counterproductive
to the work of the gospel. Dare any true Christian support such ventures,
knowing that Rome boasts their efficacy in keeping its flock in medieval
darkness? It must be pointed out that the United Bible Societies in Latin
America appointed Miss Maria Teresa Porcile, a Roman Catholic, as their
consultant for interconfessional translations. This same organization has
assisted Catholicism by providing translations of the Apocrypha in some of the
minor languages of Latin America, including the Quechua and Aymara languages
of Bolivia, and Creole in Haiti. Undoubtedly many contributors to the United
Bible Societies would be deeply disturbed if they knew how their funds are
being used.
In Burundi, a nation of Central Africa,
a new interconfessional translation of the Bible in
Kirundi [the national language] was started . . . by the Roman Catholics
together with the Protestants: work is done by a staff of three—a Roman
Catholic and a Protestant translator, and a typist. UBS Report 1984.21
In 1984 the Burundi Bible Society arranged to print
40,000 copies of the traditional Catholic version of the
New Testament in Kirundi. Ibid.
The UBS signed an agreement with the Roman Catholic
bishopric in Burundi regarding the production of this edition, which will be
printed until the new interconfessional translation is completed. Ibid.
The situation in Cameroun is tragic. There the ecumenical
movement led to severe persecution of Protestants who would not compromise
their faith. In 1967 the leader of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church of
Cameroun reported:
In one year, at least fifty people in our congregation
were imprisoned, my mother being a victim. My father, who was a pastor, died
in prison. During a three-year period we were all pushed out. The ecumenical
group took over all our territory, they took all our churches, they took all
our resources. Trinitarian Bible Society Quarterly Record, October
1985, 4
Yet despite this terrible consequence of ecumenism, the
General Secretary of the Bible Society of Cameroun reported:
The visit of the Pope to Cameroun was an opportunity for
distribution of Scriptures among Roman Catholics. We supplied a summary of
our activities to the Holy See and the Pope mentioned it with satisfaction
during his visit to our country. . . . Many of our translation projects,
most of which are interconfessional, are progressing extremely well. UBS
Report 1984.22 and 1985.22
In Ethiopia the work of the United Bible Societies was of
the same order as in other African nations.
The 1984 Report of the United Bible Societies mentioned
with evident satisfaction that "the annual general assembly of the Bible
Society of Ethiopia was held in the Patriarchate conference hall of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church." By way of change, the 1985 Report stated that
the "prayer day" of the United Bible Societies "was held in the Catholic
cathedral and was attended by His Grace Abune Paulos Tsadiwa, Cardinal of
the Catholic Church" and that "a Bible rally was held in a Catholic church
in Addis Ababa to raise funds, to encourage Scripture distribution and to
enlist new members." UBS Report 1984.26 and 1985.25, quoted in G.
Burnside, The Bible Societies and Rome, 8
The nation of Kenya has also been invaded by ecumenical
translators. The Bible Society in that nation has translated the Bible into
three languages and has included the Apocrypha and also satisfied their Roman
Catholic pastors by using the corrupted Greek manuscripts. These languages are
Swahili, 2 Luo and Borana. The
same group has produced these faulted translations in four other
languages—Massai, Meru, Pokot and Turkana.
There is no secret as to what is happening in the field of
Bible translation in Kenya, for Roman Catholic Bishop C. Davies of Kenya has
stated:
The Kenya Episcopal conference has had a much greater say
in translation work through the good relations which are expressed by having
three members of the Board of Governors (of the Bible Society). World-Event
No. 59/1985, 32 and WCFBA III, 68-69
Further, Peter Kiarie, a Roman Catholic, is the Bible
Society’s chairman and also a member of the African Regional Executive
Committee of the United Bible Societies. 3
In the Seychelles, an island nation in the Indian Ocean,
the ecumenical committee consists of representatives of the Seventh-day
Adventist, the Roman Catholic, and the Anglican Churches. The General
Secretary of the Bible Society of Mauritius (a nearby nation, also in the
Indian Ocean) holds regular meetings with the Roman Catholic bishops of
Mauritius, Réunion and Seychelles. The result of this ecumenism is that
To mark the Pope’s visit to Mahé, the main island in the
Seychelles group, a Scripture portion was distributed containing an
introduction to the role of the Pope in the Catholic Church as well as the
text of the two Letters of Peter in Today’s French translation. The
Scripture portion was published by the Bible Society of Mauritius, which is
responsible for Bible Society work in the Seychelles, and was produced in
cooperation with local Catholics. UBS World Report 199, January 1987.
Can God approve such a work?
Even in Sudan the Sudan Bible Society has been engaged in
the ecumenical translation of Scripture into four languages of that
nation—Belanda, Jur, Ndogo and Viri. WCFBA III, 80-81
In Europe the Catholic Church has such influence in the
United Bible Societies that Bishop Ablondi is a member of the General
Committee and European Regional Executive of the United Bible Societies. As
noted earlier, he is also the president of the World Catholic Federation for
the Biblical Apostolate.
The evidence of the work of most Bible Societies is all too
easy to document. Undoubtedly many sincere supporters are ignorant of the real
work of these societies. Careful consideration must lead any true-hearted
Christian to withdraw his support from these societies.
1 See C.D. Standish and R.R. Standish,
Antichrist Is Here, Hartland
Publications, Box 1, Rapidan Virginia 22733 U.S.A.
2 See the appendix entitled
God’s Word Made a Joke The cartoonist little
realized that these translations are underway, when he sneeringly put down
those interested in true Bible translations by referring to a Swahili
translation.
3 All data on Kenya derived from World-Event No.
59/1985, 32 or WCFBA III, 68-69
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