Preface to the Bond-Slave Version of
the Bible
The Bond Slave Version of the Bible is an "open source" Bible project.
More specifically, the version itself is not copyrighted, so it may be
freely used by the Lord's bondslaves. The "modification" file is also
not copyrighted so that it can be modified to incorporate suggestions
for changes. Indeed, this is a "work in progress" and will need lots
more changes before it is complete! The translation program itself is
not "open source", but that may change depending on future needs and
requests.
The Bond Slave Version is not a "new" translation of the original
Hebrew/Greek as I don't have the knowledge or time for that. It is a
computer update to the original King James Version. The original KJV
text file came from http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/kjv12.txt. The original
preface is here. The format is similar
to the original for simplicity in computer processing of the text.
"Why another bible version?", someone may ask. Well, some friends and I
began a study of end times prophecy because of a desire to know what
our role might be in the obviously approaching season. We quickly
encountered difficulty because modern translations are not accurate on
these topics and the KJV is difficult to read because of the antiquated
language. Granted, others have done similar projects before, such as
the "Updated King James Bible". However, the King James Version itself
has translation errors, such as translating the Greek word "doulos"
as "servant" rather than "slave" or the more correct in context
"bondslave" (see next paragraph for more info). Also, we would like to
freely quote the Bible in modern english in
our studies and writings without worrying about copyright issues
because we believe that God's inspired scriptures should not be
copyrighted by men.
"Why is it called the Bond Slave Version?", another might ask. One could well be a bondslave of the Lord without knowing
what the term means so here follows a brief explanation.
Exodus
021:002 If you buy an Hebrew servant, six years he will serve: and in
the seventh he will go out free for nothing.
...
021:005 And if the servant will plainly say, I love my master, my wife,
and my children; I will not go out free:
021:006 Then his master will bring him to the judges; he will also
bring him to the door, or to the door post; and his master will bore
his ear through with an aul; and he will serve him for ever.
Notice that the KJV as well as modern translations use "servant" in
these verses, yet the "servant" is bought and his "master" is trying to
set him free. Clearly this is a translation problem such as we need to
deal with, however, the ordinance establishes a "permanent slave by
choice" category under God's law. This is the position the apostles
refer
to in the new testament when they call themselves the "doulos" (Greek
for slave, usually translated servant or bondservant rather than the
correct in context "bondslave") of the Lord. Likewise Mary uses it to
describe
herself when submitting to God by saying:
Luke 1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me
according to your word.
The Greek word "doule" is the feminine version of "doulos" meaning
slave and is usually
translated "handmaid" or handmaiden. This class of God's people is
separately addressed in the well known Spirit Baptism prophecy quoted
in Acts:
002:016 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
002:017 And it will come to pass in the last days, says God, I will
pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters
will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men
will dream dreams:
002:018 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in
those days of my Spirit; and they will prophesy:
The writer of Acts used the greek words "doulos" and "doule" for slave
when translating the Hebrew(?) words from Joel which are the same as
those translated "servant" in the Exodus passage above. Ignoring
the obvious translation problems here, it should be clear that there
is a special relationship to God reflected here. To those
who think that all "Christians" are exactly alike in God's eyes,
Pauls
request in Romans probably makes no sense:
006:013 Neither yield you your members as instruments of
unrighteousness to sin: but yield yourselves to God, as those that are
alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness
to God.
006:019 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of
your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to
uncleanness and to iniquity to iniquity; even so now yield your members
servants to righteousness to holiness.
Again KJV translates "doulos" as servants, but the question
is why does Paul tell "Christians" to "yield" if it is all the same
anyway? Is there no free will to submit? This Bible version is
dedicated to those who freely choose to go all the way with God, not
stopping at "fire insurance" but proceeding to holiness!