SU BIBLIA EN ESPAÑOL REINA VALERA

CONOZCA SU BIBLIA EN ESPAÑOL REINA VALERA 1960

Este es uno de los temas que más me ha fascinado y al cual he dedicado varias horas de estudio. La razón es porque la Biblia es el libro sagrado, único mapa que puede hacer salvo al hombre, saber y conocer todo sobre ella es fundamental. La Biblia en el idioma inglés tiene su propia historia extensa y muy distinta a lo es la formación de nuestro santo libro en el idioma español. Algunos han alegado con muy poco criterio académico, que la Iglesia católica nos dio el canon, sin embargo, dudo mucho que ese haya sido el caso. A continuación, deseo resumir un poco de la historia entendiendo que es mucho más extensa que el material presentado aquí.reina valera

Formación del canon del Nuevo Testamento

No hay evidencia histórica que ningún individuo, iglesia o concilio ecuménico en particular determinarán en un momento específico los límites del canon. Incluso en la actualidad el leccionario oficial de la iglesia ortodoxa griega tiene material de sólo 22 de los 27 libros del N.T.

Jesús mismo preparó el camino para añadir material al canon del A.T. Cuando puso sus palabras no simplemente por encima de la interpretación de los escribas (Mt.5:33-37,43-48) sino a la par de la ley del A.T (Mt.5:21-42) Pablo dio instrucciones a las iglesias en Colosas y Laodicea a fin de que se intercambiara las cartas para lectura pública (Col.4:16). La epístola a los Gálatas debía circular entre una cantidad de iglesias (1:2). Aparentemente se enviaron copias de Efesios a varias iglesias en el Valle del Lico. La segunda de Pedro 3:15–16 es la referencia más temprana a la existencia de una colección de las cartas de Pedro y muestra la autoridad que se percibía en esta colección. Para el tiempo de Ignacio, obispo de Antioquía aproximadamente en el 110 d. C ya había cierto tipo de Corpus Paulino y para la época de Marción (140 d. C) el proceso de recolección virtualmente ya estaba completo. Por eso es esencial recalcar con énfasis las palabras del hermano Neil R. Lightfoot en su prominente obra “Como nos llegó la Biblia” lo siguiente:

Ningún concilio formó el canon de las escrituras. Ninguna iglesia por medio de sus decretos, nos dieron o aprobaron la infalibilidad de los libros de la Biblia. La Biblia no le debe su autoridad a ningún individuo o grupo. La Iglesia no controla el canon, pero el canon controla la Iglesia. Así que la autoridad divina es atribuida en la autoría de estos libros por la iglesia algunos siglos más tarde. Tal como un niño identifica a su madre, la iglesia tardía identifica a los libros que ya tenían por sí mismos una autoridad única y divina.  (How we got the Bible. Neil. R Lightfoot, pág.162)

Origen de nuestra Reina Valera 1960

Existe evidencia de que la Biblia en el idioma español ya era conocida en España en el siglo 10º. Un edicto de Jaime I de Aragón en 1223 prohibió a sus súbditos tener los libros del Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento en idioma romance. El Concilio de Tolosa en 1229 prohibió a los legos que usarán la Biblia en el idioma vernáculo sin embargo no se conocen esas traducciones. La primera traducción importante al castellano de la que se tiene datos precisos es la conocida Biblia Alfonsina traducida por orden del Rey Alfonso X de Castilla (Alfonso el sabio) que apareció en 1280 y fue una traducción de la vulgata, pero en forma resumida y parafraseada.

En 1527 el cardenal Quiroga obsequió al rey Felipe II la traducción al español que había realizado de la vulgata, esta traducción se conoce como la Biblia de Quiroga.

En 1543 apareció una versión del Nuevo Testamento traducida por Francisco de Enzinas, quién utilizó el texto griego que había publicado Erasmo en Bruselas en 1516. La obra de Enzinas fue el primer Nuevo Testamento completo que se conoció en español.

En 1556 Juan Pérez de Pineda publicó su versión del Nuevo Testamento para la cual había usado la versión encinas y había agregado su propia traducción de los Salmos. Debo decir que es a esta altura de la historia en donde Norman L. Geisler en su obra “Introducción general a la Biblia” añade a Martini y Anselmo Petite traductores         que fueron permitidos por la inquisición en 1758 hasta 1790 para traducir la Biblia al español (pág.577 del libro citado).

Para 1560 salió a la luz la Biblia del Oso, traducida por Casiodoro de Reina. Esta fue la primera versión de la Biblia completamente traducida al español a partir de los manuscritos más antiguos disponibles en la época en hebreo, griego y arameo. Para el Nuevo Testamento Reina usó la tercera edición del texto de Erasmo. Tan solo este hecho hace que Reina Valera sea muy cercana mi corazón, pues en la historia de la Biblia al español, me causa melancolía pensar en los cientos de personas que por primera vez en toda la historia del hombre estaban leyendo en su propio idioma y de forma completa la perfecta palabra de Dios. El texto de Erasmo fue muy respetado en su momento y si hablamos de la tercera edición mucho más todavía, aunque como toda traducción no escapa de los errores de traducción. Quiero ser claro en que una cosa son los errores de traducción y los errores en el contenido. Más tarde Cipriano de Valera invirtió 20 años en la revisión de la traducción que había completado Reina. Publicó el N.T en Londres en 1596 y en 1602 toda la Biblia en Amsterdam. Otras revisiones de esta traducción se hicieron en 1862, 1865, 1874, 1883, 1890, 1909, 1960 y 1995, 2016 y no estoy seguro si en la actualidad trabajan para alguna otra revisión.   Algunos me han tildado de “Reina-Valera Lover” a lo que me declaro culpable de todos los cargos. Yo no sé, pero prefiero confiar en un trabajo de traducción que ha sido revisado más de 20 veces que una versión moderna que acaba de salir y no posee ninguna revisión en lo absoluto.

La versión de la Biblia Reina Valera de 1960 estuvo a cargo de la sociedad Bíblicas unidas que designó un comité especial para ello. Los viajes comenzaron a manera de consultoría, participaron poco más de 80 líderes evangélicos de toda América latina, para colaborar principalmente en la revisión del castellano y asegurarse que el lenguaje estaba acorde y a la altura de las ideas originales. Países como: México, Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica (por supuesto) entre otros se dieron la ardua labor de revisión. Algunas palabras como Caridad, que se confunde con limosna debieron cambiarse por Amor en muchos pasajes como por ejemplo 1 Corintios 13.

Muchas de las diferencias entre Reina Valera y las versiones modernas radican principalmente en el texto griego base. Erasmo utilizó Textus Receptus mientras que en su mayoría las versiones modernas utilizan Westcott y Hort como base o el de Nestle–Aland. Considero que es muy cruel desechar con alevosía y ventaja la versión Reina Valera por la Biblia de las Américas o cualquier otra versión moderna sin antes conocer al menos un poco el sacrificio de tantos hombres y los años de historia que le encierran. Gloria sea Dios de que Biblia siga siendo el libro más vendido en el mundo y que muchas versiones en español estén circulando, pero nos sigue preocupando el trato ligero que se le da a la palabra de Dios en Biblias de parafraseo o cualquier otra semejante que busque más que cualquier otra cosa venderse más y llegar al lenguaje popular de nuestros días.  Termino citando las palabras del hermano Wayne Jackson en su artículo “gente que cree en la biblia” donde hace notar lo siguiente:

“¿Posee la Biblia realmente inspiración divina?  Una declaratoria escasa de evidencia es hueca. El hecho es que la evidencia para demostrar la inspiración divina de la Biblia es abrumante e impresionante… continúa diciendo, nosotros somos gente que cree en la Biblia a causa de la poderosa evidencia que contiene en la inspiración celestial de las santas escrituras.”

Referencias

Neil R. Lightfoot. (1963). How we got the Bible. MI: Baker Books.

Norman L. Geisler. (1986). A General Introduction to the Bible. Chicago: Moody Press.

Wayne Jackson. “A Bible-Believing People.” ChristianCourier.com. Access date: January 21, 2022. https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/279-a-bible-believing-people

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Our Constantly Changing World

Our Constantly Changing World

Take a quick look at your world and it immediately becomes obvious that all that is around us is in a constant state of change. While the nature of man has not changed, the world in which we live is so different from the world of our grandparents. Imagine what former generations would think if they were transported into our world. It is so different from what they knew.world change

There is an interesting Greek word used to describe this change. In a historical setting, it was used to describe Jesus as He passed by Matthew, the tax collector, and called him to become a follower of Jesus. Matthew was sitting at his place, but immediately he left all to follow Jesus (Matt. 9:9). Jesus passed by and the situation was never the same.

It is used to describe Jesus’ encounter with Bartimaeus, the blind man. As the Lord was passing out of Jericho, He opened his eyes (Matt. 9:27). Jesus continued His journey and the blind man was no longer sitting and begging. He followed Jesus. The world of all those who lived in Jericho was never the same because Jesus walked through their world.

One lexicographer illustrated the meaning of this word as seeing what happened in a panoramic picture as a movie camera scans what is before. As the action occurs, the picture continually changes. This continuous change is emphasized when we note that this Greek word is in the present tense, indicating ongoing change.

With this in mind, consider the spiritual application made of this word. In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul described the face of Moses as it glowed after he had been in the presence of God. The veil Moses wore kept them from immediately seeing the change, but soon it was gone. Paul says that they could not see “what was passing away” (2 Cor. 3:13). That glory shown in his face was passing away. As Paul wrote these words, the glory associated with that law was about to end. Just 15 years after the apostle wrote these words, Judaism came to a crashing halt when the Romans destroyed the temple.

The same is true of our world. John described all that was in the world—the lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life—and says it all “is passing away” (1 John 2:15-17). This truth shows us the folly of investing our lives in the physical world. It is passing away.

Our world is constantly changing. Yesterday’s world with all its problems does not exist. Can you think of anything which has not changed? I know of only one thing which never changes. “The word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Pet. 1:25). “Every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psa. 119:160). The world is changing, but He never does!

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David Dealt with Calamities

David Dealt with Calamities

The headings of the psalms are not inspired words from God but reflect the ancient concepts of what was occurring in the life of the psalmist when he penned that psalm. The heading of Psalm 57 describes the events happening in the life of David when he wrote the psalm—“When David fled from Saul into the cave.” Regardless of when it was written, it shows us how David dealt with the most dire situations in his life.

David Psalm 57

How did David deal with Calamities?

David first looked at the most high God. In the midst of trials, God was one who “performs all things.” David’s God (and ours!) was not one who sat idly by when He saw His children suffering (verse 2). He is One who sends forth blessing of salvation from heaven and reproaches the enemies of those who threatened His children, attempting to swallow them up. He was the God who sends forth mercy and truth (v. 3).

David then looked around him and thought about his enemies. If the heading is accurate, King Saul had just returned from fighting with the Philistines and, upon learning where David had fled, took 3,000 soldiers to kill him (1 Sam. 24). David and his men had taken refuge in the recesses of a large cave when Saul approached the cave and went inside. David’s greatest enemy was before him with thousands of soldiers just outside the cave. Look at how David described them. They were the fiercest warriors among the sons of men. Their violent spirit was like coals of fire, their teeth were like spears and arrows and their tongues were like a sharp sword (v. 4). They had figuratively dug a pit into which David might fall and prepared a net to ensnare him (v. 6).

David then showed his reactions to God’s providence in the midst of ungodly men. “My heart is steadfast.” His heart was anchored and firmly fixed on God and His nature. None of the adversity moved him. Instead of trembling with fear, David’s heart was singing the praises of God. As each day dawned, the man after God’s own heart loudly proclaimed His glory (vs. 7-9).

The psalm closes with words contrasting God and those fierce beasts of David’s enemies. God was glorious, and His mercy and truth reached from David (in the recesses of that cave) unto the highest heavens. Read the events of what happened at the cave to see how God responded to all of this and delivered David.

Look again at the first verse. “In the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamites have passed by.”  Our lives are so often stressful and surrounded by adversity. When you find yourself in these circumstances never give up. We serve an eternal merciful God and all “these calamites” will pass by. Remember He is with you in your darkest “cave.”

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Known by Name

Known by Name

Carl Linnaeus may or may not be a name you recognize. He was the inventor of the modern system of classification for plants and animals. Maybe you have heard of Kingdom, Phyla, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. This nomenclature has been used since the mid-1700s as a scientific means of identifying various forms of life. It reminds me of Genesis 2:19-20 where God tells Adam to name all the animals. God created humanity to name things, and our desire to do such has not been impeded by the years since Adam’s first efforts.

carl name

You may not know me, but God does.

Naming things, however, does not mean that we give them purpose. Some have confused our ability to give things a name with giving things a purpose. God has given purpose to all things that exist, our naming them simply reflects the purpose that is already found within them. Science may be able to name and classify many things according to purpose, but ultimately science cannot name every particular living thing. God, however, is not bound by such limits.

God knows the number of the hairs on our heads and every sparrow that falls, and He knows us too by name! Isaiah 40:26 says, “Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.” This intimacy is comforting to the saint and troubling to the sinner. The saint will appreciate the fact that God knows him personally and is helping him to grow and develop. The sinner will be troubled that God knows all his sin and will hold him accountable. God knows you by name; will you get to know Him?

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1 Corinthians 7 Means What?

1 Corinthians 7 doesn’t mean what you think it does

There seems to be a rash of young men, (especially preachers), who have gotten addicted to pornography, which ultimately leads them down a path to adultery.

Having personally talked/counseled with several of these young men, it is my prayer that we can break this chain of addiction and focus on rebuilding Christian homes. Congregations need to be addressing this massive elephant in the room!

sex bible

A proper relationship lives with proper hearts.

Success in these marriages often comes down to pride. If the man is willing to humble himself and is truly repentant, then often the marriage can be saved. However, if pride rears its head—as it often does—then things get really ugly. And I mean really ugly.

For many of these men, they choose to place the blame for cheating at the feet at their spouse. Basically, they wield 1 Corinthians 7 like a club, saying their wife is not fulfilling her duties as a spouse (Never mind the fact that many of these individuals were hooked on pornography long before they said “I do”). The number of individuals caught up in this sin has grown to the point that I fully believe there will be a movement/group formed by these individuals, who,—using crazy mental gymnastics—will claim to be the innocent party in the future. Playing the role of victim, these individuals claim their spouse did not perform their marital duties, and thus, drove them into the bed of someone else.

If we lived in normal times, where men used reason and logic, I would not worry about Christians buying into such rubbish. But sadly, we do not live in normal times. We live in an era where emotions and feelings drive everything—while reason and logic are thrown out the window. Here’s the irony of this entire situation: Research reveals that in the sexually immoral city of Corinth there was a group of men practicing ascetic religion in which they believed abstinence made you more spiritual. Paul was actually rebuking the men for not having sexual relations with their wives!

And yet, today this passage has been twisted to mean something totally different. The passage was actually about forced celibacy, not sex-on-demand. 1 Corinthians 7 is often used by Christian husbands to bludgeon their wives for not being sexually receptive as often as they prefer/demand. Somehow Ephesians 5:25-33—loving your wife like Christ loved the church—gets forgotten as porn addicted men make outrageous demands from their wives—and then play the victim if their wife does not live up to be the porn star the husband is used to seeing on a screen.

Here’s a couple of points we need to consider:

Point #1: Marital intimacy is about more than just the sexual act. It’s about more than coercion or manipulation just to receive self-gratifying pleasure.

Point #2: A sex-starved marriage does not make pornography right. Period.

Point #3: A sex-starved marriage may be the result of YOU not cherishing your spouse outside the bedroom.

Point #4: A sex-starved marriage does not give one party the right to dishonor the marriage bed through adultery. You are still charged to keep the marriage bed pure (Hebrews 13:4).

Point #5: A sex-starved marriage is not grounds for divorce and remarriage.

Point #6: 1 Corinthians 7 is not all the Bible has to say about sex and marriage. Spend some time looking at what Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians 13, and Song of Solomon say.

Point #7: Every person is responsible for their own sin. It is not your spouse’s fault if you choose to sin simply because your husband/wife does not fulfill you in the way you think they should.

Point #8: One way to fix the perceived “problem” is to stop focusing on yourself so much and consider the wants, needs, desires, of your spouse.

Point #9: Sex in a marriage should not ever be used as leverage or withheld as punishment.

Point #10: Your spouse is also not responsible for how you deal with temptation.

Are there cases where a spouse is not living up to his/her duties as a spouse? I’m 100% sure this occurs. These situations need to be discussed calmly and rationally, and counseling may even need to take place to address the root causes of this issue. But there is also the problem of men who are watching paid actors in a porn video and then expecting their wife—who has been home all day with two or three small children—to perform like the actress on the screen.

Friends, this is not why Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 7.God is the creator of sex. In the context of the marriage-bed it is a beautiful thing. Sadly, in our hyper-sexualized world, we have perverted that which was meant to be good and beautiful. Our culture has replaced intimacy with pornography. But true love—the love that Jesus shows for His beautiful bride—is a beautiful self-sacrificial image of Christ and His bride.

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