Question #39
QUESTION: Isn't the New Scofield Bible a King
James Bible'?
ANSWER: Not only is the New Scofield Bible
NOT a King James Bible, it is not even a "Scofield" Bible.
EXPLANATION: The first and most weighty reason why
the New Scofield Bible is not a Scofield Bible at all is shamefully
simple. Dr. C.I. Scofield did not edit it. Dr. Scofield
died in 1921! Barring a very "selective" resurrection, it
is impossible for a man who died in 1921 to edit a book in 1967.
The publisher's justification for a new "edition" is that Dr. Scofield,
whose reference Bible was first published in 1909 added material and
published another edition in 1917. But it is an author's preogative to
alter his own works, but that certainly does not give others, more than 45
years after his death, a blank check to make alterations and then sign his
name to it!
If we altered the ending of "Macbeth" we would be less than honest to
claim that the change met Shakespeare's approval.
Secondly, the editors exercised great liberty in changing attributes
of Dr. Scofield's reference work that Dr. Scofield himself felt important
enough to include in his work. In the introduction to their doubly
dishonest 1967 publication they admit such changes.
New Scofield: "Among the changes and improvements in
this edition are: important word changes in the text to help the reader; a
modified system of self-pronunciation; revision of many of the
introductions to the books of the Bible, including designation of the
author, theme, and date; more subheadings; clarification of some
footnotes, deletion of others, and the addition of many new notes;: more
marginal references; an entirely new chronology; a new index; a
concordance especially prepared for this edition; new maps; and more
legible type. Some of these features are explained below."
By their own words, they admit to altering Dr. Scofield's text (the
King James Bible), introduction of books of the Bible, notes, marginal
references, chronology and many other features.
Did Dr. Scofield give his approval to these changes? Not unless one of
the nine committee members had the witch of Endor conjure him up as she
had Samuel!
In fact, the publisher even admits that the changes made were
arbitrary choices of the revision committee.
"Each position taken represents the thinking or conviction of the
committee as a group."
What are the results of such shenanigans? One example will suffice.
Let us examine the footnote found in Acts 8:12 of the New Scofield Bible
concerning baptism.
"Baptism has, since the apostolic age, been practiced by every major
group in the Christian church and, in Protestant communions, is recognized
as one of two sacraments - the other being the Lord's Supper. Since early
in the Church's history three different modes of baptism have been used:
aspersion (sprinkling); affusion (pouring); and immersion (dipping)."
Here we see that the nine revisors (NOT Dr. Scofield)
believe that there is a difference between the true Christian church and
Protestant "communion". Might I ask? When one group is defined as
"Protestant" what is the other group called?
Secondly, the nine apostate revisors (NOT Dr.
Scofield) claim, without scriptural proof that Christians
baptize by pouring and sprinkling as well as immersion.
Remember, the footnote is found in a S-C-O-F-I-E-L-D of 1967. A book
which claims on its title page that a dead man (Dr. Scofield) is one of
its editors.
What does the footnote for Acts 8:12 in the REAL Scofield Bible of
1917 which had a living Dr. Scofield as its editor say?
Nothing. There IS no such footnote!
That's right! The New "Scofield" bible has a "Scofield" note added
after the death of "Scofield" the editor which the REAL
Dr. Scofield never approved of and never had in a text anytime in his life
time!
I ask you, is this honest?
Proof that the New Scofield Bible isn't a King James Bible is found on
almost every page where the margin notes the twin Bible reading as "KJV".
The text of the New Scofield Bible is NOT a King James
Bible and it is NOT a Scofield Bible.
It might be noted that in recent years the size and shape of the New
Scofield Bible has been changed to more resemble the Scofield Reference
Bible. Many Christians who desire a true Scofield Reference Bible have
purchased a New Scofield Bible by mistake.
The "Bible" business is lucrative. Isn't it?
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