Scofield Reference Bible

Dr. Couch, which Bible do you recommend, the old Scofield Reference Bible or the newer one?

ANSWER: Both are great helps for understanding the Scriptures. I lean toward the newer version because I personally knew almost all on the revision committee. They were friends of mine, and/or I worked with them at various Christian colleges and Bible schools. Get the newer version—you'll really find yourself using it a lot.

God bless. --Dr. Mal Couch (10/11)

The New American Bible (NAB)

Dr. Couch, there is a new edition of the New American Bible (NAB) that was co-edited by Catholics. Should we be afraid of this version?

ANSWER: I don't think so, but remember, that is why men of the “old school” like myself, took years and years of Hebrew and Greek so that we could be the “watchers” of the translations and call out an alarm if we see the translators messing with the text. This has rarely happened because translators know that there are language scholars looking over their shoulders.

Two changes are mentioned in the report about the new edition of this Bible. One is that they changed the word “holocaust” in Leviticus 6:23 to “burnt offering.” They did this because of the association of the word holocaust with the killing of the 6 million Jews in World War II. That terrible event is called “the holocaust.” But actually, the word “holocaust” is the better word.

The NAS Bible properly translates the Hebrew “burned entirely” which is the best translation of the word. The Rabbis in the Greek translation of the OT, in the Septuagint (LXX), used the word “holocaustosai” or “holocaust.” Or, “burnt entirely” thus “burnt offering.” To leave the word in the English “holocaust” would have been fine.

Then in Isaiah 7:14 they translated the Hebrew word Almah “young woman” instead of virgin as it is in most versions. Actually, “young woman” is the better translation. Technically speaking, the word Bethulah is the closest word for virgin in Hebrew. However, the Rabbis who translated the Greek Septuagint (written about 300+ BC) felt that the word had a strong connotation for “virgin” and translated the word from the Greek “parthenos” or “virgin.”

In other words, the Rabbis felt that this was the intention of Isaiah in this verse, to flag the fact that the Messiah's mother would be a virgin and by a miracle give birth to the Son of God. The word Almah has many connotations to it. It implies (1) a young woman of marriageable age, (2) a teenager, (3) a veiled one unmarried girl, who indeed (4) was technically a virgin.

Dr. Luke also pointed out in his Gospel that Mary was a virgin. He writes that the angel Gabriel came to a “virgin (parthenos) engaged to Joseph” (Luke 1:27). And Mary confessed that she “knew not a man” (v. 34). The English says that she uttered the words “since I am a virgin.” But this is a free translation from the Greek text that actually reads “since a man I know not.” [For a complete treatment on this see my commentary on Luke in the 21st Century Commentary Set.]

We don't want to be paranoid but we do want to be cautious. Error can slip into your churches very easily. This is why we need men who can check these changes out and give an okay on what is happening to us theologically.

—Dr. Mal Couch (3/11)

Truth Today

Dr. Couch, what has happened to truth in today's world?

ANSWER: The core of all truth is spiritual and it comes from the Bible. God's Word is truth itself and the Lord says He is the Way and the Truth and that men must come to God through Him (John 14:6). He is also the Light of the world, and without Him, as clearly revealed in Scripture, the world gropes in spiritual darkness (9:5). The Way and the Light are being further erased from our culture. The Bible is being rapidly buried from sight, and thus Christ is being forgotten! There is no return in my view; and, we are sinking further into the apostasy of the church. This is impacting every aspect of life: political, social, domestic, educationally, and of course morally and spiritually!

The Lord has made Himself available to the lost but they must come to Him by way of Truth (Psa. 145:18). Truth comes only through the Lord (146:6). He keeps or maintains the standard of Truth personally. His truth is reflected only in Scripture!

Human beings cannot claim glory nor do they know what truth is apart from revelation! Glory belongs to Him and His name. He alone reflects true mercy and truth (115:1). A good synonym for truth is reality. We cannot know reality, what is true and right, apart from divine knowledge given only in the Bible.

We human beings will fade away because we are like grass (Isa. 40:8). "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever."

We are seeing the death of truth in the American culture. We are seeing it in choice of our elected officials by people who do not understand reality. Few are able to discern today. The judges and leaders are blind and the people do not know the difference.

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
#292

Adding Words to Verses

Dr. Couch, is there not confusion when words are added to verses, even to make those verses more clear? Does this not confuse people who are trying to figure out what the Bible is saying? They may think that someone is tampering with the Bible. ANSWER:  This points to the fact that pastors, and all Bible teachers, are teachers of the Word when they truly know the Bible from the Hebrew and Greek text. It must be remembered that when we read a Bible translation that it has limitations. The Greek (or Hebrew) grammar expands the meaning. There are tenses, moods, cases, grammar, voices, persons, and number. And if the teacher does not expand these elements and show to the reader how they work in translation, the student is short-changed and does not get precisely what the Bible is saying. That is why when I was coming up in the ranks no one who was going to be a pastor, or a Bible teacher, failed to study Hebrew and Greek in order to fully understand what the Bible verses were saying.    To expand Bible verses according to the grammar is important. No one would dare enter the pulpit unless he had those skills. Those skills are now dying and being forgotten. The layman has to be told that he must trust the scholar to some degree or he will not get the full picture of what a passage is teaching and saying by the Holy Spirit.    Laymen can get pretty far down the road by purchasing good commentaries and Bible reference material.    We really do the same thing when it comes to science. Behind the working of your car are the engineers and scientists who designed and put the car together on the basis of science, otherwise, you don't have a car! You trust that scientist when you turn the key on. Science has made the car work. The same with Bible study, in fact, theology used to be called "the Queen of the Sciences" because so much scientific study goes into Bible study: History, geography, word origins, grammar, sociology, etc.    Here is an illustration that may get the point across: the translation of John 3:16: "For thus, loved the God the world (culture), for this reason, the Son, the only born One, He gave, in order that whoever, the one who is believing into Him, should himself not be destroyed, but that he might possess life eternal."    When I decided to go into the ministry I was told that my bachelors degree should be Social Science because it would give me these disciplines as a background for Bible study. And this was right. Those disciplines helped me immensely.    I hope this helps.    Thank you, Dr. Mal Couch (1/11)

Scofield Bible

Dr. Couch, do you recommend the old Scofield Bible or the new Scofield Bible? And, why? ANSWER:  The new Scofield Reference Bible is what I use in the NAS translation. The reason is that it is a good update and also I knew almost all of the men on the revision committee. They were either teachers of mine or friends, such as: Teacher – Dr. Frank Gaebelein, Dr. Charles Feinberg, Dr. John F. Walvoord. I worked with and had as teachers (and friends) – Dr. Walvoord, Dr. Wilbur Smith, Dr. Clarence Mason, Dr. William Culbertson. The only one on the revision committee I did not know was Dr. Allan MacRae.     I also knew the editor Dr. Glenn Goss. Many of these men were at Philadelphia College of Bible where I taught, also at Moody Bible Institute, and at Dallas Seminary, again all of the institutions at which I was a professor.    I also was raised as a youngster in Scofield Memorial Church in Dallas. As you can see my connections are thick and close with the Scofield tradition. However, I am not a dispensationalist because of these connections, I wrote one of the most important hermeneutic book now out, and I know for a fact that the Bible is indeed dispensational! (Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics, published by Kregel)    The Scofield Reference Bible which was first published in about 1910 changed America. The denominational leaders hated it but it changed the people in the pews, of all denominations. For the first time the Bible started to make sense for the average believer. And too, it was so clear and supportive of Israel. And it set forth Bible prophecy in such clear terms. This is why American Christianity had and still has such a strong support for the Jewish people. The Scofield Bible is the main cause.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch  (12/10)

To Breath In or to Breath Out?

Dr. Couch, the Latin word "inspire" with the "in" means "to breath in." But the Greek word "theopnustos" means to "breath out" as in 2 Timothy 3:16. What does this mean? ANSWER:  "Theopnustos" does not mean "to breath out." It simply means in the Greek "God-breathed." It is used only one time and that is here, in 2 Timothy 3:16.    It is Scripture that is "God-breathed" not the apostles. When they wrote, they were superintended by the Holy Spirit to record exactly what God the Spirit instructed them to write. No more and no less. This subject was my thesis for my Th.M. Degree. I learned a ton by studying this doctrine out. The evidence is seen throughout the Bible—it is inspired and it is inerrant and can be trusted. What a blessed revelation we have to guide us from the mind of our Lord!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch  (10/10)

Is Theology Used in the Bible?

Dr. Couch, is the word "Theology" in the Bible? ANSWER:  No, it is not. But that's okay. It is two Greek words put together. Theos=God, and Logos=word, or study of.  Thus, "The study about God." Ultimately, everything in the Bible relates and points to Him. We cannot have a self-made theology. Theology is about God and we must receive information about Him from the source that is outside of ourselves. The source is the Word of God, not our own mind.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

Progressive Dispensationalism Destroying the Bible

Dr. Couch, does not Progressive Dispensationalism (PD) put interpretation in dangerous territory? Is it not destroying a clear meaning of the understanding of the Bible? ANSWER:  Yes, indeed, it is. The founders of this view of interpretation said when they revealed their system that they wanted to have a compromise system with covenant theology. They admitted they wanted the covenant guys to like them and not look down on traditional dispensationalism.    I am not a dispensationist as one who simply follows a system. The Bible IS dispensational. That is the nature of Scripture. I do not have to foist a view on the Bible. I just take it at face value and the Word of God "interprets" itself. I read the Bible with a literal approach, and with a historical, grammatical interpretation. This is what the orthodox Godly Jews did with the Old Testament. What they come up with, I come up with. Christ did not chide the Jews for their belief in prophecy or in their literal understanding of Scripture. He chided the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and their legalism. The PD guys, Blaising and Bock, added biblical theology to interpretation, along with their approach to understanding Scripture. They say the interpreter adds theology in his interpretive mix. This is dead wrong. We develop our theology from our observation of what Scripture is saying.    I know for a fact that PD at one of the "big" seminaries in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area has blunted an understanding of the Bible. The students come out not fully knowing the prophetic Word. They come out confused as to what the Bible is teaching. I remember some years ago talking to the class president of that school and asking him what he was going to do when he graduated. He said he was going to Westminster Seminary in order to understand what the Bible said. He was tugged by Covenant Theology because of his confusion as a graduate from that big (supposedly) dispensational school. All he had to do was read the theologies of Berkhof and Charles Hodge to find out about Covenant theology. In their books he will find that the Covenant guys admit that Covenant theology is not in the Bible, that the covenants of grace and works are simply "implied" in the Bible, they are not "explicit." They were made with Adam, and Christ, in eternity past but that you can't find them in Scripture. What a dumb system! You need to read my quotes of Berkhof and Hodge in my Classical Evangelical Hermeneutical textbook on pages 158-59. You will be shocked at what they say!    Dispensationalists can "prove" the dispensational nature of the Bible.    PD and Covenant theology are just plain nutty!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

Understanding the Dispensational Controversy

Dr. Couch, are you familiar with the book "Understanding the Dispensational Controversy" by Kerry Trahan? ANSWER:  No, I am not. But I am not sure I would be interested because "there is no controversy!" Now I know how that sounds—rather dumb on my part! But what most do not realize is that the Bible IS dispensational. There is no such thing as a dispensational theology that is distinct from other theologies. Since the Bible is dispensational that is the way it must be studied! Those who do not see the various divisions of Scripture and the dispensational flow of the Word of God are just not reading their Bible properly. "It Is Dispensational!"    To approach the Bible as the Covenant guys do, they have to allegorize passages of Scripture at some point along the way. To let the Word speak for itself means that you will come out with a dispensational framework.    But thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (7/10)

The Second Coming

Dr. Couch, I heard you say that the idea of Christ's Second Coming was in the Bible. Can you give me again that passage? ANSWER:  The passage is Hebrews 9:28. There the author of Hebrews writes "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."    His first coming was in reference to sin. He went to the cross for sinners. "Shall appear a second time" is almost the same wording as "Second Coming!" Christ's second coming is a salvation but it has to do with being rescued from the persecution of the world. We find this idea in Luke 1:68-72. The idea there is about Christ bringing a salvation, a redemption "for His people" that is a salvation "from our enemies." The second coming is Christ redeeming Israel from her enemies in the world. But His first coming is: "To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins" (Luke 1:77). The two comings are clearly shown here in Luke and prophesied by the father of John the Baptist, Zacharias.    The Amil guys need to weep and cry. Boy, talking about the Amil guys having bad theology! Part of their problem is they just don't study their Bible!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (6-10)

Inalienable Rights

Dr. Couch, is the idea of inalienable rights found in the Bible? ANSWER:  Good question, and I would answer yes. By Webster, the word "inalienable" means rights that cannot be transferred. Or, rights that each person has because he has been created in the image of God, and all are equal before God, whether this is the king or the subject to the king. This was the great struggle when democracy was being born in America. "Is anyone less than the king?"     Since all are created in the image of God (though now polluted by sin) He sees all equally. God so loves the world equally (John 3:16). Does any believer in Christ want to be seen as unequal in America? I think not.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Dec., 09)

Bible Translation Recommendation

Dr. Couch, what Bible translation do you recommend? ANSWER:   I'm often asked about the NIV. It is more of a freewheeling or almost a paraphrase, and therefore I do not recommend it. I prefer the NAS because, as I translate from the Hebrew and Greek, I find it the closest to the original languages, and therefore the best and the most reliable. For Christmas gifts one may consider an NAS version with the Scofield Notes. This really can be helpful for new, young Bible students.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (September 2009)

Verses regarding Apostasy and the Nation of Israel

Dr. Couch, we all get the sense that we're there! We are now deep into the apostasy. You mentioned the other day a great verse that speaks to such issues in regard to the failure of the nation of Israel. Could you please refer to that again? Yes, I was referring to 2 Chronicles 36:14-21. The passage tells us that the leadership of Israel, and the people, "were very unfaithful following all the abominations of the nations; and they defiled the house of the Lord which He had sanctified in Jerusalem" (v. 14). God then "sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people … but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words ands scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy left" (vv. 15-16).    The Lord then sent judgment (by the Chaldeans) who slew the people and destroyed the temple (v. 17).    The Lord then "fulfilled [His word] by the mouth of Jeremiah …" (v. 21).    A Scofield Ministries website reader sent an excellent email that we can all believe, if we are truly alert as to what is happening in our world! I think America as we know it is gone for good. The Constitution is out the window and we have a congress that is totally captured by special interests. Voting no longer makes a difference because the only ones running are those who tow the line and are sponsored by big money. The economy is in dire straits and is not going to turn around anytime soon. The majority of manufacturing jobs are permanently gone. Debt is spiraling out of control. Government is going wild. It is only a matter of time before the dollar is devalued and we move toward a regional or global currency. The swine flu situation has many suspect and troubling aspects. Things seem to be getting set up for martial law. – A Reader    This is really about the apostasy. And it is not just what is happening in America. Things are crumbling worldwide, not simply here in our country. For example, in Australia things are also falling apart. One of the largest denominational groups – the Uniting Church Australia – is rapidly turning liberal. It will soon support gay ministers.    A concerned Christian in that country keeps me informed about what is happening. He says: "This group is turning toward apostasy, and buying into the Emerging Church idea. They don't care about how Scripture is interpreted. And they are destroying any thought of proclaiming sound doctrine."    "We will have to move from the Uniting Church Australia (UCA) quickly. The people in the church who wanted to learn true doctrine are now in harms way spiritually. The days are evil and we are in dangerous times. Apostasy is well within all the areas of the churches these days.  I don't know where to go from here. It's hard to trust any church around here anymore. May the Lord come soon!"    All that the Word of God has prophesied is coming about before our very eyes!    Dr. Mal Couch

Dispensationalism to Reformed Thinking

Dr. Couch, I'm sending you some info from a man I know what says that he jumped ship from dispensationalism to reformed thinking. What do you think of what he said? ANSWER:  I find it interesting that all he did in the letter was to say how impressed he was with the piety of many of the reformed scholars. He quotes man after man but what I noticed he does not deal with any of their exegesis issues. He could not do battle doctrinally or biblically.    It does not matter how impressed we are with personalities. What counts is, what does the Bible say? And I found that this is not where your friend is coming from. For some reason, many are "impressed" with the "classical" sound some of the reformed guys put forth. This means that those reading them are not dealing with issues of exegesis and hermeneutics. They are impressed with the packaging and not the substance!    I find also that the reformed guys are not reading us, yet I have all of their theology books just three feet from my desk. I often read them, check them out on certain subjects, and appreciate them—when they are biblical. But too often they interpret by their indigestion or by the chili they ate the night before! And, they hold views that they cannot substantiate from the biblical text.    As I have debated with many of the reformed folks I have found they cannot "debate" back. They do not know how to exegete or handle passages. They just say that they are against dispensationalism but they have no ability to really handle the differences in the two views.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Calendar and the Flood

Dr. Couch, the 360 days calendar seems to be used in Genesis, Daniel, and Revelation. How does this fit in the length of days in the story of the Flood? ANSWER: Yes, you pointed out that the Bible (and the ancients) used the lunar calendar rather than the solar year calculations. I'm not sure what problem you are having with this. In adding up the days for the length of the Flood we come up with the following for the length of the time period: 371 days. I do not see any conflicts or problems concerning the Flood days in Genesis. Maybe I'm missing something!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

No Bible because Christ is Sufficient

Dr. Couch, some folks say we do not have to study the Scriptures because after all, Jesus fulfilled the OT, so we do not have to go back and study the Bible passages because Christ has fulfilled many of the prophecies of the Word of God! We just look at Him, because this is sufficient for us today. How do you answer? ANSWER:  We are still commanded, as the Greek text states: "Be zealous, take pains, to stand yourself, approved by testing [with] God as an artisan, a craftsman, who does not need to be ashamed, to cut apart accurately the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). The reference to "the word of truth" is mainly referring to the OT prophecies!    Wuest has some great notes: "Study means 'to make haste, to exert one's self, endeavor. Paul is saying—I wish to know that you are hurrying on the making of it.' "Put to the test for the purpose of approving, and finding that the person or thing meets the specifications laid down, to put one's approval upon that person or thing." "Rightly dividing  or cutting straight, to hold a straight course, to make straight, to handle rightly," the word of truth.    Note these verses: John 5:46; Luke 22:37; 24:26-35; Acts 10:43; 28:23; 26:22-23. Yes, it is true He fulfills the OT prophecies, but so what? We are still commanded to glean from the Word of God all that it says about Him, and about so many other great doctrines that are laid out for us.    What are the elders supposed to do? Note Titus 1:9 and 2:11-15. Also, 2 Timothy 2:1-2. Too: 1 Timothy 5:17.    Believers are not to be kept uninformed or kept in the dark about Bible prophecy and the plan of God. Paul tells the Romans: "I do not want you, brothers, to be 'ignorant' of the mystery of the hardening of the heart of the Jews, because from Israel (from Zion) will come the Deliverer" (Rom. 11:25-32). "Ignorant" means in Greek "to be unknowing" (agnoein). It is a Present Infinitive. "I don't want you to be right now unknowing!" Paul then reminds his readers of the prophecy of Isaiah 59:20-21. He wants his audience to know what that great prophecy is saying.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Borrowing Money

Dr. Couch, should churches borrow money for building during these tight times? And should they ever borrow for various projects? ANSWER:  The Bible is not against borrowing but it can be risky and must be done carefully. The Bible is against usury, that is, it is against excessive charging of interest. I would certainly be against borrowing large sums, especially with what is now happening in our nation.    I believe many churches are on an ego trip. They feel they have to build new buildings in order to be viable. I do not believe that! Churches should operate within their means and not go beyond what they are capable of handling. To have a huge mortgage in today's climate would be foolish!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Not Supposed to Interpret the Bible

Dr. Couch, I have a man in my Bible class who believes one is not supposed to take the time to interpret the Bible, all one has to do is "renew" the mind and it'll all come to you in understanding. How do you answer this? ANSWER:  You really need my Classical Evangelical Hermeneutic book that spells out all the steps of interpretation, and that explains the important words that shed light on Bible study. The man you are referring to is wooden-headed and down right ignorant. I don't know what to do with these kinds of folks. Sometimes such as these are not worth trying to help because they have made up their minds! He is not attending your class in order to learn but to teach. He wants to hear himself expound what he thinks he knows. He wants to put you down and wow the class with his smarts! He is immature as a baby! He wants all the attention and thinks you are ignorant!    Below is a list of passages that spell out what we are to do in our search to understand the Word of God. We don't simply sit on our ignorance. We have to sweat in order to pursue what the Lord is saying in His Word. We could have no comprehension if the Spirit was not aiding us in fathoming the depth of the Bible, but there is still the human element and the process that we must go through in order to, from the conscious level, grasp what the Scriptures are telling us.    The Greek word "hermeneuo" is used in many of these verses. It is from this word that we get "hermeneutics."        Luke 24:27    John 1:38, 41; 9:7     Acts 9:36; 17:11    1 Timothy 4:13    2 Timothy 2:15; 3:10    Hebrews 7:2        Be careful of what I call those who have a "purest" mentality. They are really very foolish and do not know the Bible as they may claim. They have some kind of legalistic agenda. They bury their heads in the sand and ignore all that the Word of God is saying. I have very little patience with this kind of personality. Do not let him control your class. Make it clear to him by telephone that you do not want him to interrupt the study, and if he plans to do just that, you will ask him to not attend.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Which Study Bible Is Better?

Dr. Couch, which is better, the Old Scofield Reference Bible or the Revised Scofield Reference Bible? Is there any difference?

   

   The Revised has some additional thoughts and clarifications but overall there is no difference. The Revised is just updated. The revisionists maintained the integrity and purpose of the original. 

    Dr. Scofield received an award from the Academy of Literature of France for his original Reference Bible. It profoundly influenced fundamentalism in the U. S. when it came out in 1910. It helped stave off liberalism to a degree in this country. And it made clear God’s future plans and promises to the Jewish people as to their Land and the coming messianic, Davidic Kingdom. 

    Thanks for asking,

    Dr. Mal Couch