I came to Christ 30 years ago and was a backslider (of sorts) for the last 22 and a half years because I was so disappointed that I was not being taught a DEEP, INTIMATE, LOVE relationship with the creator (I wanted to be reconnected with Him DEEPLY), but I still went to many (MANY) "bible studies", heard MANY sermons, read all kinds of literature, commentaries, scripture encyclopedias and dictionaries, etc.......but I NEVER heard any of these comments.....
'
My Bible puts it this way.'
'
My Bible doesn't even have that verse.'
'Listen to this Note about ancient and more reliable manuscripts.'
'My Bible says something totally different.'
'My Bible says the very opposite.'
....THERE IS A HEAVY BIAS in the article.
The author also says that there were "unbelieving scribes" (as opposed to GOOD 'believing scribes' that are spiritually ACCEPTABLE????).....
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell AS YOURSELVES".
....(you know that these verses exist, quoting scriptural statements by verse number is a sloppy and bad habit for a HEARTFUL "SOLID FOOD" LOVE devotion/worship,....a TEXT DEVOTION is not a HEART DEVOTION.....the reason I became a backslider).
.....I hardly believe that we should think ill of the scribes simply because they did not "believe".
The author is simply a 'MILITANT' (a HOT HEAD with a "cause" of his own) with what he thinks is his own agenda (actually it is the flesh agenda of billions of people). There are many people who simply have a chip on their shoulder against God and all absolutes and convention/right-wrong principles (they are ANTI-CONVENTION and resent the 'GUIDING PRINCIPLES' of any true integrity/merit....'darkness resents light').
Peace and harmony are logical, evil is ILLOGICAL (after the fall, humanity gained the KNOWLEDGE of right-wrong, but continues to misuse it).
The Lord's desire is that we live in peaceful co-existence with each other, and so, you can always recognize a 'preacher of darkness' by their words and attitude/speech (violent, aggressive, forceful, etc.....MILITANT for a "cause"/agenda).
You will also notice some 'irrationality', anger, and LONG WINDED RATIONALIZATIONS (pages instead of a few simple paragraphs)......a lie needs to be 'FABRICATED', rationalized, and BUILT/CONSTRUCTED (watch out for the "fiery darts" of human nature).
The Zealots were militants and wanted an earthly kingdom just like the Jews wanted (the author is a "son of the kingdom").......
"the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth".
I seriously doubt that all of the words that God ever spoke since creation are recorded in scripture. The WORD became flesh. JESUS CANNOT be transcribed or transposed (WRITTEN) onto PAGES (scripture is "THE WORD OF TRUTH", not the "word of GOD".
In ancient times, God spoke SOME of those words that are recorded. Man has never even taught or encouraged anyone to think of scripture as the 'INSPIRATIONS of God' (which 2 Timothy 3:16 could verify).
"TRUTH" (real truth, OBJECTIVE truth) is viewed by most people as HORRIBLE TRUTH (because it conflicts with the status quo and all that has been ACCEPTED, but also that it is non-negotiable.......it is UNESCAPABLE)......and so, God's TRUE MESSAGE that I write about will be accepted and understood only by the courageous and those with deep integrity (they have "PRINCIPLES", Hebrews 5:14).
Not everybody (or even the common man) wants real truth (most people are satisfied by SUBJECTIVE "truth"/bias), they only want their own 'whatever works for myself' (they want 'as I choose to see fit' "truth").....(what is "144,000"?).
As to the ULTIMATUM....WARNING from a LOVING KIND God to all of His faithful readers that is AT THE END of the last book in scripture, it is a THREAT (it comes from an ULTIMATUM...do this or else) that is being given to all of God's faithful and sincere lovers. It is not a FORE-warning of caution. It is being given to the faithful who have ALREADY demonstrated their dedication by reading ALL of the WHOLE BOOK.....(is God so illogical?.....and ferocious?).
The term "lake of fire" is only in Revelations (elsewhere in scripture, Jesus talks of a "HELL of fire", the term and concept are from ancient Egypt paganism).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_of_fire
I'm not suggesting that the WHOLE book of Revelation is false I have quoted from it and Rev. 7:16 tells us that we will "neither thirst" if we have living water)....the 7 Judaizer churches were there also for those who accepted Jesus as "messiah" (regardless of whether or how much they embraced and exhibited the "Spirit").
The ancient Egyptians also had scribes (scribes are still used in the legal and medical fields to "PEN" official documents,....the same as ancient 'religion scribes').
The "ULTIMATUM WARNING" to all faithful readers makes as much sense as the belief that God is COMMANDING His faithful to LOVE HIM in Mark 12:30.
"and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength".
My dad did not COMMAND me to love him, neither can love be legislated (made a rule or law, it can ONLY be freely given).
God always was fully aware that only His faithful read scripture and that it is not necessary to even SUGGEST that He be loved (He would even be insulting Himself to COMPEL anyone to LOVE HIM).......NO, He is telling us HOW to love Him (we should love WITHOUT having any fear of Him (love Him with "PERFECT love" that casts out fear, that is why we are told to use "ALL" of our whole being).
So, instead of us reading scripture in a defensive, irrational, partisan, prudish, prideful, and empirical manner (a pure heart can and will understand properly UNLESS we fall 'hook, line, and sinker' for the "strong delusion" that has been embraced by our secular mammon teachers), we will only begin to understand God's true MESSAGE by first coming to Him with the simpleness of a CHILD and be "clay to the potter".
The fault with "VERSIONS" is really not an issue, for it is the MESSAGE that has been preserved (the "DEPTHS of God" about HIS Spirit and the inner man).
"Discussion" and debate are necessary in order to explore and discover truth (the real truth, but when we find the real truth, we must be willing to ACCEPT what is contrary to the "status quo" (and that requires the courage of a renegade/'lone wolf' inner man that is SOVEREIGN and self-accountable to CONSCIENCE).
The Athenian culture.society that Paul spoke to were raised admiring the PRINCIPLES and noble qualities of Socratic truth (Socrates explored/discussed truth and it's PRINCIPLES of decency/integrity and honorable living).
Paul had a background in philosophy (besides Saul's rigorous dedication, perhaps that was the most qualifying reason God chose SAUL) and the Athenians enjoyed hearing of that which they "worship as UNKNOWN" (Acts 17 beginning at verse 20).
http://listverse.com/2011/02/19/top-10-greatest-philosophers-in-history/
....(scroll down to number three).
So, you see, it is NOT text or literary expertise that makes for devotion, it is CHARACTER (the character of "THE INNER MAN"),.....it is "CONSCIENCE" and the things of the SOUL (a "living, breathing, soul" that has been restored to the way Adam was before the fall).
Paul noted that their poets expressed concisely that the creator is the origin of all existence as though they LIVED INSIDE OF HIM (we are to spiritually be living inside of Jesus's body (having no gender, "neither male nor female").
Would you rather be a 'book complier' master of text, slave to man's feeble "interpretation" or a GODLOVER master of yourself?......(live the LIBERTY law for HAPPINESS/"joy in life").....THIS is God's will.