Dear Fellow Bible Student and Believer,
Words matter. Words reveal ideas. Words reveal intent. Words reveal purpose.
And of course, God’s word matters.
And… If God’s word is not translated correctly, how are we to know the mind of God?
What if there was a translation of the Bible that strips away “the middle man”? A translation that gives you the exact words that you’ll find in the oldest Bible manuscripts? Not a translation that is made with pre-conceived notions about religion, theology, or man’s ideas? Not a “loosely” translated bible? But what if there was a Bible translation that stuck to “just the facts”.
What if the word was plural vs. singular?
What if the sentence was missing a verb or a preposition or a comma?
What if the verb tense was present tense vs. past tense?
What if a given noun was understood to mean one thing in the first century, but now, 2,000 years later, we’ve totally gotten away from that understanding and “forced” our own ideas on that word?
For all these reasons and more you need to check out the Concordant Literal New Testament.
The big idea behind this translation is this:
Each Greek word in the New Testament, “should” be translated by only ONE English word… as near as possible. Of course sometimes you must account for some weird idiom in Greek, or some weird English idiom. For example, in English, we don’t use “double negatives”… But that may not be true in the 1st century Greek language.
But apart from idioms, what would happen if you made a “literal” translation where ONE Greek word in the Bible, is translated by ONE word in English?
Might this clear up any confusion and misunderstanding about God’s purpose, God’s plan, and salvation itself? You bet it would.
If God actually had a meaning behind each word used in the bible, it would be extremely helpful to know the exact word used, right? You bet.
Here are two examples:
But not in the Concordant Literal New Testament. (CLNT) There, you’ll find the Greek word “gehenna” is translated “gehenna” in English.
And “Hades” is translated “Hades” in in English.
And “Tartarus” is translated “Tartarus”… three Greek words get three English word in the CLNT.
Is this an important distinction? We think so, since there is so much discussion in Christian circles about what exactly is “hell”. If God’s word used three different words, they may or may not be referring to the same thing, but shouldn’t we know that it’s a different word under discussion? It might help us understand the mind of God. And that’s the goal of reading the bible, after all.
Consider another example:
The English word “eternal” is just one English word use to represent some of the occurrences of the Greek word “Aion”. However, many popular English Bible translations also use “forever, “world” “age” and “never” etc. to also characterize this Greek word (Aion). Can you see how the confusion might begin?
So, you’ll be glad to know that the Concordant Literal New Testament picked the ONE English word “Eon” to represent EVERY occurrence of the Greek word “Aion”. And guess what? It grammatically works.
And… It actually clears up a lot of confusion regarding TIME, prophecies, past, present and future…
By consistently following this principle (one English word representing only one Greek word of the New Testament) you will come away with a different understanding of the Bible’s teachings.
CLNT VS KJV
Consider John 3:16. It’s a very popular verse. Here’s how the CLNT handles the verse compared to the King James Version:
KJV: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
CLNT: For thus God loves the world, so that He gives His only-begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him should not be perishing, but may be having life eonian.
The verb tense is striking in the CLNT. In the Greek language of the time, you’ll see it’s more of a TIMELESS verb tense than a past tense or even a present tense.
“For thus God loves the world”… timeless fact.
“…that he gives His only-begotten Son”… timeless fact.
“…believing in Him” … timeless fact.
“…not be perishing…” timeless fact.
“…may be having…” timeless.
The serious Bible student needs to grab a copy of the Concordant Literal New Testament. It opens up a new understanding of God, His purpose and plan.
And get this… by following this “concordant principle” of making a translation of ONE English word representing only ONE Greek word (as near as possible)… almost anyone can make this version of the Bible and it would be relatively the same translation. In other words, this principle does not rely on “an expert”. In other words, it eliminates the need for a “middle man”.
It actually puts God’s word in your hands.
The work to create the Concordant Literal New Testament started in about 1900. So, for over 100 years, serious students of God’s word have gone over every word in the New Testament. In fact, long before computers, the Concordant Publishing Concern (the publishers of the CLNT) the researchers created a huge 3X5 index card file of every New Testament word and EVERY PLACE where that word showed up in the New Testament. 
It was a complete concordance of all these words. Finally, after every Greek word was cataloged, an English word was chosen to represent each of those words (unless some grammatical idiom demanded an alternative).
Can you trust the Concordant Literal New Testament? That question would be better applied to all over versions of the Bible. Why? Because all other versions of the Bible rely on the “smarts” of the translators. “Middle men” so to speak. But this version (the CLNT) does not rely on “middle men” to be “smart”… instead, it just gives you the facts of what was said and it does not try to overwhelm you with an interpretation that’s pre-conceived, or hidden behind some theological agenda.
Even though the CLNT has been around for 100+ years, it has never been wildly popular, as you might expect. Why? Well, truthfully, most Christians are not serious Bible students. Nor are they even aware that a more honest, reliable translation of the Bible exists. But if you’re the kind of person who wants to get at the truth of what’s revealed in the Word Of God, the Concordant Literal New Testament should be your handy study Bible.
Go back, for a moment to John 3:16. The language of the CLNT is so much more moving than what you’ll find in the KJV. “God loves the world.” “He gives his Son.” There is something there to draw you in closer to God. Something you might miss if you’re only using the popular translations of the Bible.
Stop what you’re doing and order a copy of The Concordant Literal New Testament. You can get one for as little as $10 bucks. And it just might be the best $10 bucks you’ve ever spent.
And as Paul was fond of saying in his letters, “Grace to you.”
Sincerely
Linwood Austin
Judas is most famous for betraying our Savior. He (Judas) snitched Him out for 30 silver coins.
They had spent years together. Judas sat at his feet. Listened to his messages.
Judas knew Jesus’ love. Yet, he sold him out.
Some might say that Judas is proof that salvation will not come to all, as revealed in Colossians 1:20. To suggest this, is saying that Jesus, who died for sinners (I TIM 2:4 and I TIM 1:15) did not die for Judas.
Just keep in mind, it wasn’t just Judas’ sin and offences that sent Christ to the cross, it was all our sins and offences that sent him there. (See Romans 5:15-21).
So, the question is, does God have any right to deny Judas’ salvation, if he saves YOU?
What, pray tell, is so different between your sins and offences and those of Judas?
Didn’t He die FOR YOUR SINS? Didn’t he also die for Judas’ sins?
Isn’t Christ’s death and resurrection efficacious? Isn’t that what saves all?
If you insist on repentance, didn’t Judas’ repent? (See Matt. 27:3). Not only did he “repent” he put his repentance into action. It was an awful action, but it was action.
However, we don’t hold that our repentance is what saves us. It is actually the work of God in Christ’s cross.
Christ died for sinners. Christ died for his enemies. Christ died for betrayers. Nothing can hinder God’s work of Salvation.
Maybe we don’t see salvation yet. But salvation is both an event and a process. Salvation won’t be complete until Death, the last enemy, is abolished, and all are made alive in Christ (I COR 15:20-28) – Including the abolition of the last enemy (death) for Judas.
Yes, Judas’ sins sent Christ to the cross, but so did our sins.
The death and resurrection of Christ GUARANTEES the salvation of Judas.
When were YOU saved? Maybe you first believed just a few years ago, but in truth, you were saved 2,000 years ago, when Jesus was on the cross and said “IT IS FINISHED”. You were saved long before you believed you were. You were saved by Christ’s work on the cross. And you “must” believe it because it is true. It’s not that you “must” believe to make it true, it’s true whether or not you believe it. What proof: “Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess”… and it won’t be “too late” for those who come in late… no… the words “too late” are never in the Bible.
See Phil 2:10-11… all this happens “TO THE GLORY OF GOD”… salvation happens to the Glory of God. It would bring no “glory to God” to see every knee bow, and then to punish them eternally. That, actually would shame God. How? For God to lose the vast majority of His creation to an endless “hell” shows he did not plan things out very well. Like the builder in one of Jesus’ parables. The builder became a laughing stock as he did not calculate the cost of building.
Will Judas be saved? Yes. Because Christ, our loving Savior, died for all, including Judas. And His death, will result in that which He died for… the salvation of all.
“For even as in Adam, all die, so in Christ, shall all be vivified.” (I Cor 15:20-28)
God bless Judas. It was a dirty, rotten trick, he pulled on the Savior. But one day, we’ll all go up to Judas and say “You were a stinker, but ya know, if not for you we wouldn’t have a risen Savior. So, thank you for your part, and I’m glad to see you here.”
“… (for, for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers.”
I Timothy 4:10
The word of the day: “Especially”.
“When you come to the party on Saturday, bring the cokes, especially the diet cokes.”
Overheard at a party planner’s house.
(Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy): “When you come, bring the traveling cloak which I left in Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the vellums.”
II Timothy 4:13
(Vellums are unused scrolls, like blank paper.)
Now keep in mind, our favorite passage from Paul’s letters (I TIM 4:10) tells us, that God is the Saviour of all mankind… not “exclusively” of believers, but “especially” of believers.
The word “especially” is a superlative, it puts a temporary emphasis of one thing above another. Temporary.
Yes, God is the Savior of all, but temporarily God puts an emphasis on believers.
The believers are brought in first… then when the “end” comes, “all” are to be made alive in Christ.
PROOF: I Corinthians 15:20-28 reveals the ultimate prophecy and timing of God’s eonian purpose.
It is the passage that promised that one day, all will be made alive in Christ.
But… Verse 23 promises “Yet each in his own order”.
It tells of Christ’s resurrection beyond the grip of death. The first order of those made alive.
NEXT, it tells of those who belong to Christ being made alive beyond the reach of death. The second order.
Finally it tells of the last group, the last order of who are made alive beyond the reach of death…
It says “then comes the end.” Or as the Concordant Literal New Testament says “Thereafter the consummation.”
The “consummation” is everyone not found in the first two groups.
Group one: Christ “the Firstfruit” of those who are “made alive”
Group two: “Thereupon those who are Christ’s in His presence…” are “made alive”.
Group three: “Then comes the end”… the end of what? (CLNT: “the consummation”) That’s easy… it’s the “end” of the process of vivification… the process of “making all alive in Christ”.
23 Yet each in his own class: the Firstfruit, Christ; thereupon those who are Christ’s in His presence;
24 thereafter the consummation, whenever He may be giving up the kingdom to His God and Father, whenever He should be nullifying all sovereignty and all authority and power.
The point is… God is the saviour of believers before He is the saviour of all.
Believers get a “special” salvation. And it’s not because they deserve salvation, it’s not because they earned salvation, it’s not because they somehow merit it, it’s just that God has a plan and purpose.
God has to start somewhere. So, he starts by saving Christ in His resurrection. Then, he saves those who are Christ’s in His presence. Then comes the end, the consummation, when God totally abolished the wages of sin (death) and becomes All in All.
God has to start somewhere, so creation begins with Christ, the firstborn of every creature. (See Colossians 1:15.) But creation will not be complete until God is all in all. (I Cor 15:28).
It’s a mistake that “creation” is somehow complete now. And each one’s destiny depends on how you use your “freewill.” No. Creation has begun but has not even near completion.
Salvation is God’s redemptive work. And Christ resurrection is the first proof of salvation. The believers are the second proof of God’s redemptive work .
“Then comes the end” is a powerful concept. Yes, Christ is the firstfruit. But that’s just the beginning. Then, in the process of “making all alive in Christ”, those who belong to Christ will be “made alive” at his presence, but it’s not done yet. It will only completed when Death, the wages of sin, is abolished and all are made alive in Christ and God becomes All in All.
The word “especially” is meant to give believers hope for the future. Not just their future, but the future of all. Hope that God will indeed show himself as the Saviour of all. One proof, is that He is the Saviour of Believers first. Or, He is especially their Saviour.
If you have family members and loved ones who don’t believe, no worries. God is the Saviour of all.
They must one day believe for it is true that God is the Saviour of all.
It’s not they “must” believe to make it true. It is already true. If you “must” believe to make it true, then it’s not true at all.
If you “must” believe that the moon is made of cheese, and it’s not really made of cheese, your belief is useless. The moon must really be made of cheese in order for your “belief” to mean anything.
Faith is a gift. The vast majority, at the moment, do not believe because God has not given them faith yet. But one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. (Phil 2:10-11).
The word “especially” is a time-related word. The eons of God’s purpose have to run its course. (Eph 3:11).
Not everything happens all at once. We would do well to trust God’s purpose.
Human destiny is determined by God’s purpose.
And God’s purpose is the be All in All.
Grace to you.
Linwood
The Ace Theological Company 