It can make you wise unto yourself... if you have enough to play with, and feel free to speculate as to what something means.
The King James with its archaic English and anachronisms is a speculation feast for subjective thinkers who want authority over
others.
If an angel appeared to you today?
He would speak just like you do.
You might not know he is not a man. (Hebrews 13:2)
He would not be sounding like he just came from some Shakespearean festival.
First, it is written:
"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;" (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Second, Jesus spoke in Hebrew when He read the Scriptures but when Jesus cried out, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" on the cross, He spoke in a language that the Jews did not understand. So my talking to angels unawares in my own language is not proof that God did not preserve His words in 1600s English.
You said:
Here is one of your cited verses...
Titus 2:11-12
11 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
One can easily assume too much from over simplified English translations.
The Greek word we read translated
"teaches" means to allow someone to learn a their lesson a hard way. To let someone get burned and hurt, thus causing that person to learn to say "No!" to unrighteousness. It does not mean simply teaching moral mandates as to tell others to be good little boys and girls.
You won't see that, what I just showed you. Not from typical translations, including the King James.
You need to find a real teacher for that.
Wow. We appear to agree a little here (at least on the interpretation of the underlying Greek).
I did look this up with the help of ChatGPT. There does appear to be some merit to this.
The verb
paideuō in this context appears to convey more than simple instruction alone. It suggests a kind of training that involves not only imparting knowledge but also shaping character, often through corrective discipline. The word
paideuō was historically used to describe the kind of guidance a parent would give to a child, which could include instruction, discipline, and correction as necessary to foster growth and maturity.
In Titus 1–3, the theme of corrective teaching and training as part of Christian life and growth is evident in several places, providing a context for understanding
paideuō ("teaching" or "discipline") in Titus 2:12. Here are some key passages that build this context:
- Titus 1:9, 13 – Paul instructs Titus to ensure that elders hold “fast the faithful word” so they can “convict those who contradict.” He also urges Titus to “rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” The idea here is that faithful teaching includes both encouragement and correction, which aligns with a broader understanding of paideuō as training that often involves discipline.
- Titus 2:7-8, 15 – Paul emphasizes the need for Titus to be an example of good works and sound doctrine, marked by “integrity” and “sound speech.” He adds that Titus should “exhort and rebuke with all authority.” This reinforces the idea that instruction is not just informative but also corrective, involving moral training that may require reproving or rebuking.
- Titus 3:10-11 – Paul advises Titus to “reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,” which reflects a disciplinary approach where correction and rejection (if the person remains divisive) are part of maintaining the health of the community. This implies that teaching and guidance sometimes include a disciplinary component when individuals resist correction.
Throughout these chapters, Paul’s counsel to Titus often includes rebuke, correction, and moral discipline. This broader context suggests that “teaching” in Titus 2:12 (using
paideuō) involves more than just instruction; it involves training believers to reject ungodliness and live rightly, which often includes corrective elements.
In fact, if we understand God's grace as personified in Jesus Christ, it aligns well with the idea that His grace would involve not only instruction but also discipline and chastening. Hebrews 12:6 supports this, saying, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” This passage reflects the idea that Jesus, in His love and grace, does not merely instruct us passively but actively trains us in righteousness, including discipline where necessary, to help us grow in holiness and obedience.
Ephesians 5:25-27 basically says that Christ gave Himself for us so that we might sanctify ourselves by the washing of the water of the Word (Scripture) so that we may present to ourselves to Him as a church that is holy, and without spot. The corrective Scripture and the moving of Jesus in our lives to correct us can help us to obey.
But again, as I pointed out before, just because less information like this is not conveyed does not mean the KJV is inferior or not perfect. God may also simply want to convey more basic truths to us first before we are ready to grasp the deeper truth. If such is not the case, then there would be no such thing as the milk of the Word vs. the meat of the Word.
In any event, while learning Greek is good, you have to be careful with teachers of Greek in these last days. There are some Greek definitions on certain Greek words that are false which have been pushed upon us since the Westcott and Hort movement. M
onogenēs (μονογενής)s, and the Greek word "
spoudazō" (σπουδάζω) are two examples off the top of my head. I say this because such Critical Text Scholarly interpretations on these words were only invented by this Westcott and Hort movement and it is not recognized by the Greek world of linguists of people who actually live in Greece and speak the language natively, which can be traced back to Koine Greek (Which can at times show changes with certain words).
In fact, it makes sense that there would be a hostile take over of Scripture because that is what Satan seeks to destroy.
You said:
Not by teaching ourselves by reading Scripture as if it were written in prose.
In Christ.....
It is written:
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2:27).
....