Plain talk

Back in Kentucky, we used to have a pastor and evangelist that was never fearful to say very difficult things, (yet biblical), from the pulpit. One of his favorite “catchphrases” as he was preaching was “plain talk is easy understood.” Amen! – We need more “plain talk” today.

 The two Bible versions below were translated almost 400 years apart, (although the current King James Version was revised in 1769 to update spelling changes). The Word of God does not change – but many of the words that translators use must change, (the New Testament was written in Greek) if its “plain talk message” from the Lord is to be properly understood today. I must admit, one sounds much more appropriate for a “church crowd” than the other – yet, the other leaves no doubt about what God’s Holy Spirit penned thru the Apostle Paul for us to understand. In a world of such confusion about God’s standard – we should appreciate the “plain talk” that is so easy to understand!

 Teachings on Marriage as translated by the King James Version

I Corinthians 7:1-5 – Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

 Instruction on Marriage on translated in The New Living Translation

I Corinthians 7:1-5 – Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations. But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.