August 23, 2005

Subject: shameful misleading

Name: Mark Norek

Message: on your show on sat 8/20/05 you taught that paul participated in animal sacrifice. your text was acts 24. according to strong's, the word "offerings" in this context means "oblations", not animal sacrifice. hey, i love israel as much as you do, but let's not perver scripture to suit our own theologies! i was considering enrolling in your institute, but now i will not even consider entering your church. all it takes is one statement to destroy a whole ministry. i used to recommend your show to my friends, even though i am pre-trib, but now i will go out of my way to let them know that you will resort to blatant lies to get your point across. you should be ashamed of yourselves and i expect you to apologize and/or clarify your teachings asap. remember, not all of your viewers are ignorant babes in Messiah. thanks.

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Mark,

Thank you for your feedback. The text is Acts 21:26. The NASB translates it "sacrifice". From Strong's:

[4376] prosphora

Meaning: an offering

Origin: from 4374

You can make it say something other than the clear meaning (see translations below -- only one uses "oblation" which in its classical meaning of bread and wine would account for only a portion of the sacrifice at the Temple (see Numbers 6.13)) or you can allow your theology to be shaped by the clear meaning of the Scriptures.

Out of curiosity, what is it in your beliefs that you find threatened in Paul's actions?

May the Lord bless and keep you as you seek Him!

John Hellein

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NIV Acts 21:26 "The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them."

NIB Acts 21:26 "The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them."

NAS Acts 21:26 "Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple, giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them."

NAU Acts 21:26 "Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them."

RSV Acts 21:26 "Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself with them and went into the temple, to give notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for every one of them."

NRS Acts 21:26 "Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having purified himself, he entered the temple with them, making public the completion of the days of purification when the sacrifice would be made for each of them."

NKJ Acts 21:26 "Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them."

WEB Acts 21:26 "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them, entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until an offering should be offered for every one of them."

DRA Acts 21:26 "Then Paul took the men and, the next day being purified with them, entered into the temple, giving notice of the accomplishment of the days of purification, until an oblation should be offered for every one of them."

RWB Acts 21:26 "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until an offering should be offered for every one of them."

DBY Acts 21:26 "Then Paul, taking the men, on the next day, having been purified, entered with them into the temple, signifying the time the days of the purification would be fulfilled, until the offering was offered for every one of them."

BBE Acts 21:26 "Then Paul took the men, and on the day after, making himself clean with them, he went into the Temple, giving out the statement that the days necessary for making them clean were complete, till the offering was made for every one of them."

YLT Acts 21:26 "Then Paul, having taken the men, on the following day, with them having purified himself, was entering into the temple, announcing the fulfilment of the days of the purification, till the offering was offered for each one of them."

NAB Acts 21:26 "So Paul took the men, and on the next day after purifying himself together with them entered the temple to give notice of the day when the purification would be completed and the offering made for each of them.

NLT Acts 21:26 "So Paul agreed to their request, and the next day he went through the purification ritual with the men and went to the Temple. Then he publicly announced the date when their vows would end and sacrifices would be offered for each of them."

NJB Acts 21:26 "So the next day Paul took the men along and was purified with them, and he visited the Temple to give notice of the time when the period of purification would be over and the offering would have to be presented on behalf of each of them.