Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 3/26/2009

Question
I use both the KJV and recently the Orthodox Study Bible (OSB) and I notice that while the OSB has many books that are removed from the KJV, there seems to be whole passages missing from the OSB. One passage in particular is Jer. 29:11...., as well as other passages in Jer. Can you tell me why this is?

Answer
Dear Euritta,

12-24-2010
DEAR EURITTA,
STEPHEN _____ WROTE ME TODAY AND GAVE ME FURTHER INFORMATION ON YOUR QUESTION:

"Dear Pastor Petty:
  "I noticed this morning an answer you gave a lady regarding why Jeremiah 29:11 was not in the Orthodox Study Bible.  The short answer is the verse is in the Orthodox Study Bible, it is Jeremiah 36:11.   The difference in this case is just how the chapters and verses are numbered.  The numbering differences appear only to apply to Psalms, Jeremiah and Malachi.  This is also stated on page Roman numeral XI in the Orthodox Study Bible."

FURTHER INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE WHEN YOU FIRST WROTE:

Sources of Bible study aids and answers for your questions:
Mail order Bible lessons: Amazing Facts Bible Lessons, PO Box 1058, Roseville, CA 95678
Telephone questions answered: 3ABN 1-800-752-3226 (pastoral dept., ext. 1)
On-line: Bibleinfo.com; Itiswritten.com (Bible studies/Discover Bible Guides)
Television networks: HOPE Channel (Direct TV #368); 3ABN (Dish Network #9710)

I HOPE THIS HELPS.
Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
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3-26-2009
Thank you for your questions.

I’m not familiar with the OSB. There seem to be so many translations (usually by one man) and versions (usually by a committee made up of scholars from many religious persuasions) it’s hard for me to keep up.

Many translations include the Apocrypha, a group of books of good or worse value. These were not accepted by the Jews in their canon (accepted books of the Bible) because they differed in doctrine on some points from the accepted books. Protestants generally accepted the Jewish canon,  and so you won’t find the Apocrypha in most Protestant Bibles. However the Catholic hierarchy in the Council of Trent (16th century) included it in their canon, for it backed some of the non-Biblical traditions of the church. So the OSB may be seeking to be accepted by that communion.

Jer. 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Why did the OSB leave it out? I wish I knew, for this is a passage that brings peace to all who trust in the LORD. However, the message of the text is stated many times in Scripture, so its exclusion would not change the doctrine of God’s hopes and plans for His people.

It may be that there was somewhat weak evidence for the inclusion of this verse. Scholars have rules that help them determine which is the best text. There are so many manuscripts—particularly of the New Testament, and many vary from each other. Which one to use? So scholars have these rules to help them decide which is the best text.

One rule is: which is the shortest text? It is easier for scribes to add information than to leave it out. Also, which is the oldest text? The closer you get to the original—in time—the more likely you’ll have the original meaning of the author.

The Dead Sea scrolls have brought many manuscripts of the Old Testament to light, and it may be that the translators of the OSB felt that one of these, which left out Jer. 29.11, was more likely to be Jeremiah’s intent.

These are just guesses from the training I’ve received through the years. The only way to really know is to find out the objectives and biases of the translators, the manuscripts they used, and the audience they wished to reach.

More important than all of this, as good as it is, is our relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord. We need to spend time in Bible study and prayer, seeking wisdom from the Holy Spirit to come closer and closer to our Maker and Savior. Jesus is coming back to rescue us from the power of the devil (Matt. 24:30, 31; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17) and take us to the home He has prepared for us (Matt. 14:1-3). From the signs He gave to indicate the nearness of His coming, we can conclude that He will come in the very near future. So take time to become and remain a child of God. Make sure you are ready for Him to come.

Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
pettypress@gmail.com
www.PettyPress.com (a veritable e-library of 18 books I’ve written; 40 Bible study guides; much more.)