I am football free already until January each year. I used to make an exception for Notre Dame, but I really do have other things to do in 2017.
Disrespect has been the theme of the Lutheran synods for decades now. The LCMS, WELS, ELS, CLC, and ELDONUTs are just as bad as ELCA, but the smaller sects still try out their superior act on the innocent and uninformed.
The beginning of the ESV was May 1997 with a meeting headed by James Dobson. Dobson was deeply troubled with the gender-inclusive issues within the NIV and TNIV. The results of the meeting was the "proposed" creation of a new version without the new-age, homosexual, gender-incusive agenda. Surprisingly, the “troubled” group united around the liberal and apostate Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible. Thus the dubious birth of the ESV was conceived. In September 1998, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School professor Wayne Grudem and Crossway President Lane Dennis received the blessing of the ecumenical National Council of Churches to build the ESV upon their 1971 revision of the Revised Standard Version. And thus the ESV came to life. . .
World Magazine documents the secretive conception of the ESV:
“The version [ESV] had its roots in discussions that took place before the May 1997 meeting called by James Dobson at Focus on the Family headquarters to resolve the inclusive NIV issue. . . The group discussed the merits of the Revised Standard Version, first published in 1952 by the National Council of Churches and recently replaced by the New Revised Standard Version, a regendered update. Some months later, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School professor Wayne Grudem and Crossway President Lane Dennis entered into negotiations with the National Council of Churches to use the 1971 revision of the Revised Standard Version as the basis for a new translation.”
(David Bayly, “Decline of the NIV?”, World Magazine, 5 June 1999)
Wikipedia states concerning the motive for the ESV:
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Standard_Version)
The primary premise for the ESV was to combat the gender-neutral changes infiltrating many other popular versions. The term “gender-neutral” refers to removing the masculine references such as “he, him, man, father, brother, brethren” and replace them with gender-neutral words such as “they, people, person, human” etc. These changes occur to support the homosexual-equal-rights-unisexual-new-age agenda and totally ignore the masculine gender within the Greek text (of any manuscript). (See our detailed review of the TNIV at www.av1611.org/kjv/tniv_intro.html)
And how did the ESV perform in combating the gender-neutral language?
Dr. Mark L. Strauss, author of Distorting Scripture?: The Challenge of Bible Translation & Gender Accuracy, writes concerning the “gender-neutral language” of the ESV:
“The recently published English Standard Version (ESV; Crossway Bibles, 2001) is a revision of the Revised Standard Version (RSV, 1952). One of the major areas of revision in the ESV is the introduction of gender-inclusive language (sometimes called gender-neutral language). In hundreds of cases the ESV introduces terms like ‘one’ or ‘person’ or ‘others’ for the RSV’s masculine generic terms ‘man’ and ‘men.’ . . .
In this way, the ESV is very much like the recently published Today’s New International Version (TNIV), which revises the New International Version (NIV) in a similar manner. . .”
(Strauss, Mark L. Strauss. The Gender-Neutral Language of the English Standard Version (ESV))
Remember, the primary reason Dobson and crew devised the ESV was to counter the introduction of gender-neutral language in the new versions.And yet, the ESV did the same thing!
Dr. Strauss relates the “odd and ironic” infiltration of gender-neutral changes in the ESV because the ESV publishers and promoters were “some of the strongest attacks against the gender language of the TNIV”. Remember, that was the supposed “purpose” of the ESV – to counter the gender-neutral agenda. . .
“What is odd and ironic is that the some of the strongest attacks against the gender language of the TNIV are coming from those who produced similar gender changes in the ESV. One has to wonder therefore whether these attacks are motivated as much from ideological and marketing concerns related to the ESV as from a concern for fidelity in translation.”
(Strauss, Mark L. Strauss. The Gender-Neutral Language of the English Standard Version (ESV))
Can you spell “H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E”?
And this is no small change. For instance, the word “man, men” is “neutered” in the ESV 968 times. The masculine pronoun, “he, him, his” is neutered 1832 times! And the new-age, evolutionist, neuter buzz-word “human” is employed 63 times.
How can key Christian leaders assemble, conceive and design a counter-attack against the “gender-neutral” Bible version invasion and yet when the plan is actually implemented the exact opposite occurs? Did they deceive themselves? What happened to their original convictions? It’s almost as if someone else took over and changed their course of action? Who could have done such a subtle and sinister deed? [Hint” He tempted Eve (and damned mankind) with the simple, subtle question “Yea, hath God said?” (Genesis 3:1)] While some may scoff at that allegation, there is no doubt in this author’s mind that the subtle serpent of Genesis 3 was at work. What other explanation can rationalize such a total change of course?
The following are a few examples (from the thousands) of gender-neutral changes flooding the ESV. Notice, replacing “man” with the generic term “person, human, peoples, one” etc. significantly deflects the direct application of the verse.
Mathew 5:13
KJB
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
ESV
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
Mathew 19:23-24
KJB
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
ESV
And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Romans 3:4
KJB
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
ESV
By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:28
KJB
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
ESV
For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Romans 5:7
KJB
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
ESV
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--
Romans 10:10
KJB
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
ESV
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
1 Corinthians 2:11
KJB
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
ESV
For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Notice in the following verses that “man” is replaced with “human, human being”. Now honestly, is there anybody that really believes “human” is easier to read or clearer than “man”? Does any “human” on the planet really believe that “man” is archaic or outdated and that a new Bible version is required to replace “man” with “human”? Apparently, Dobson, Crossway, and the ESV “boys” do. . .
1 Corinthians 2:13-14
KJB
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
ESV
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 4:3
KJB
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
ESV
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
Act 17:25 (notice “worship” is dulled to “served”)
KJB
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
ESV
nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
Romans 2:9
KJB
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
ESV
There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
Romans 3:5
KJB
But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
ESV
But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
Romans 6:19
KJB
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
ESV
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
1 Corinthians 2:13
KJB
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
ESV
And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
1 Corinthians 3:3
KJB
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
ESV
for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
1 Corinthians 9:8
KJB
Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
ESV
Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?
Galatians 3:15
KJB
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
ESV
To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.
Ephesians 4:14
KJB
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, andcunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
ESV
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Philippians 2:8
KJB
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
ESV
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Colossians 2:8
KJB
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
ESV
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
James 3:8
KJB
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
ESV
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
1 Peter 2:13
KJB
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
ESV
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
1 Peter 4:2
KJB
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
ESV
so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
***
GJ - Note that the National Council of Churches was simply a rebranding of the Federal Council of Churches, a group so Communist that they had to change the name. The NCC's RSV was the first translation ever to remove the Virgin Birth from Isaiah 7. They back-tracked but put in a footnote to thumb their snouts at the Fundies who objected.
