Do most Modern Versions alter the meaning when it changes the word?
There are place in the Bible where changed word alter the meaning. These changes come into varieties which may destroy the teaching and turn the truths of God into a lie. Here we look on the two major changes:
1. Substitution. This means the word is swap to watered down or muddy the meaning. Examples:
A)1 Timothy 3:16 where God was substituted to either He/Who/Which, that demoted the deity.
B) John 3:3,7 “Born again” to born anew or born from above.
2. Ommision. Omitted words that cause theological impact of the scriptures. Examples:
A) Ephesians 3:9 “by Jesus Christ” is omitted in most New Versions implying Jesus Christ is not a Creator.
B) John 6:47 “on me” is omitted which new versions may teaches “universalism”. Salvation is by Grace through faith alone in Christ.” Watered down is “he that believes shall be saved”
C) 1 John 4:3 “Christ is come in the flesh” is omitted in most of the new versions following Gnostic beliefs that Christ is only a phantom.
The Greek “Anothen” in John 3:3, 7, is it Born Again/Born Anew /Born from Above?
There is the question that the accordingly, Gk “anothen” in the given text must somehow be translated Born” anew” or “from above” in the text of John 3:3, 7 where the KJV translated it as born “again” and not as mention in some modern versions. Interestingly, many new versions adapted the traditional KJV reading of the text though some had in their footnotes the variant readings of anew or from the above.
For the record, the KJV translators used it as
1) From above (5x)
2) Top (3X)
3) From the first (1x)
4) From the beginning (1x)
5) Not tr (1x)
Certainly, the KJ translators were non ignoramus of these instances. But why “FROM ABOVE “ is not used in the given text? The NET put it this way and few more
John 3:3 Jesus replied, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is
born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
It cannot be well said that “from above” since we are not from above. We don’t simply caught up while we’ve been born for the second time in our spirit. Only Christ and the Holy Spirit that is from the above that goes down that dwell among men. Verse 31 sheds light when it says we are not “from above” so that we cannot be born from above. In fact, Nicodemus thought of a sort of earthly things, “from the womb”.
KJV John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
ESV John 3:31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
What about born anew?
According to Meriam Websters
Definition of anew
1.
1: for an additional time
: again begin anew
2.
2: in a new or different form
a story told anew on film
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anew
So while it is true that it has the same meaning as again yet it cast the differing views of the No. 2 definition which may allow the Eastern belief of “reincarnation” or “nirvana” thus this is not pure.
The definition of the word ‘again” is quite pure. Here is what Meriam Websters Learners Dictionary says:
again /ə
ˈgɛn/
adverb
Learner's definition of AGAIN
1
: for another time
: one more time
§ Please, come see us
again.
§ Spring is beginning
again.
§ It was nice to see my friends
again.
2
: to a previous position or place
“Anew” speaks of time in a new or different form
“Again” speaks of one more time to a previous position or place
Exactly the KJV translation is by far correct in this instance.
God bless