Is anyone familiar with the Bible version Recovery Version from Living Stream Ministry? I have got one in English and another one in German today at the university. But I am not sure if the translation and explanation of Living Stream Ministry are reliable. After searching for information about Living Stream Ministry on the internet I am not sure if I should keep them.
I did check this out from their website, and this is a version reflecting the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. However, regarding this Bible it says
The Recovery Version of the Bible is translated from the original languages according to principles and standards of translation established by major English translations of the last five centuries.
What this really means is that they are following the *critical* Hebrew and Greek texts, and it was not during the last five centuries that they were created, but during the last two centuries. These critical texts are based on corrupted Hebrew and Greek texts, and for the New Testament, essentially two extremely depraved manuscripts with thousands of changes, many of which have doctrinal significance.
Also, since this version has extensive notes which are based on their interpretations, some of which are mystical and some are questionable. For example (John 1:1):
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Christians take this to mean that long before creation (in eternity past) the Son of God existed as God the Word, the second Person of the triune Godhead. "The Word" is another name for the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God.
However the footnote for "the Word was God" says
Not God the Son only, but the complete Triune God.That cannot be, since Jesus is not God the Father or God the Holy Spirit. There are three distinct Divine Persons within the Godhead. So this appears to be Oneness Doctrine, which makes Jesus the triune God, and this is incorrect.
