4 Months of No Posts... Here's a Gursha
What I am about to say is not a new concept, as nothing is new under the sun (Ecclesiastes), but it may be new to you. The way American Christians typically look at the inspiration of Scripture is sadly more representative of what the prophets called worshipping human hands than the glorification of the one true God. If the shoe fits elsewhere in the world, please put it on. We don't realize that there is variance amongst manuscripts. We don't realize that diaspora Jews thousands of years ago had weak Hebrew skills and so had to rely on Greek translations of the Holy Writings. A terse study of Acts of the Apostles Chapter 7 and Amos 5 reveals some differences that have come about over time. The Masoretic text, which the notable KJV and many other versions used by the Western churches are based upon, has differences from the Septuagints. If I am not mistaken, all of the NT authors quote from one of the Septuagints. This should bring you shalom (all-encompassing and perfect peace). God has permitted this. The Holy Spirit still works, and He works through flawed, fallible, and sinful human beings.
I will use the RSV, which claims to most faithfully translate the Hebrew of the OT and the Greek of the NT, for this terse study. Note the differences within the same version of the Bible.
'Did you offer to me slain beasts and sacrifices, forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? and you took up the tent of Moloch, and the star of the god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.' (Acts 7)
Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You shall take up Sakkuth your king, and Kaiwan your star-god, your images, which you made for yourselves; therefore I will take you into exile beyond Damascus... (Amos 5:25-27)
Is the Proto-Martyr and Proto-Deacon Stephan (Istteefanos) an apostate for quoting a text that differs from the Hebrew given to us by Jews of the so-called Common Era? Indeed, the earliest their codification of the Holy Writings could be is 70 A.D., and the latest 1000 A.D. Is this what we should boast in, or should we who boast be boasters in the Lord?
No matter the textual origin, the word is clear. We should only obey the commandments of one God. Thankfully, the Lord Jesus taught us how. Love God fully. Love everyone fully.
Furthermore, we must love each other.