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Thank you TBone for the information about the NASB biblical version. In writing my biblical articles I also quote from scriptures, while teaching or writing comments about the scriptures. I have not used the NASB version, however I will at least consider using this version now for scriptural quotes. From what you wrote and the following it looks like I should quote a few of the scriptures for at least a few of my articles. My goal is to write a complete biblical teaching book. Here is copy right information for the NASB that I looked up on the internet. Permission to Quote the NASB® The text of the New American Standard Bible® may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of one thousand (1,000) verses without express written permission of The Lockman Foundation, providing the verses do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for more than 50% of the total work in which they are quoted. http://www.lockman.org/tlf/copyright.php Here is a link to the biblical study software that I use when writing articles, which does include NASB along with many other biblical versions. This software saves times and helps with research. http://www.biblesoft.com/

Hi Mark, for study purposes I often use the NASB…as A User’s Guide to Bible Translations by David Dewey states on page 156, “The NASB is a literal translation, far more than the AV/KJV to the point of being wooden. It is considerably more form-driven than even the RSV, and in the Old Testament far more firmly rejects any conjectural readings or deviations from the traditionally accepted Hebrew text.” …and on page 34 & 36, “A form-driven translation is molded by the structure and style of the original language. Its aim is to come as close to the original as can be achieved in an English rendering. Where possible (depending on just how rigidly this translation philosophy is applied) a form-driven version will keep to the simple dictionary definitions of the Hebrew and Greek words being translated as well as the word order and grammatical structures of the original…Often a form-driven rendering is all that is needed to produce a perfectly sensible and natural translation.” Dewey talks about the Bible coming from a distant past and remote culture – and unless you are prepared to learn these ancient languages and culture, you must use a translation to access the Word of God. I am a bit of a study-bug though not as much as I was a few years ago. I have something like 27 translations, a couple of interlinears and a Greek New Testament on my bookshelf. For just plain reading enjoyment I use the NIV (which strives for a balance between form-driven and meaning-driven). I do like some of the newer translations and I’m waiting for The Passion to come out with a complete Old and New Testament version. Whenever I get down to the nitty gritty in a doctrinal study – my go-to translation is often the NASB just because of the good cross-reference system featured in some editions - like the NASB reference edition .

Taking another look at the verses that Waxit mentioned – I have a different take – our faith in Christ enables us to go far and above what any feeble attempts at just abiding by the law will hope to accomplish. 10 Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”…Romans 10: 1-13 NASB It seems rather obvious to me that Paul is saying the aim of what Christ did was to put an end to a person’s futile attempts at righteousness by vain efforts to obey the law – instead a much easier solution is presented – simply a belief in Christ as Lord and Savior (verses 8-13). == == == == 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. 31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law……Romans 3: 21-31 NASB Paul is not disparaging or belittling the law here – but rather underscores the purpose of the law and how faith fulfills that purpose. Paul develops this further in chapters 6 & 7. If one thinks about the impetus of the law – to provide a means to pay for the penalty of infractions and to show our inability to obey God’s righteous demands - and ultimately to drive us to Christ - ( see But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Gal. 3: 23-25 NASB). By our faith in Christ (accepting him who paid the price for our sins and consequently we've been given the capacity to obey God from the heart – see Romans 8:3, 4) we “establish” - histémi in the Greek – establish, uphold, set in balance, initiate, institute – the law. When I think of “set in balance” I picture the different elements of the law are in correct proportions – think of Jesus' words in Matthew 23: 23, 24 NASB: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. ..And if you remember back in Matthew 22: 34-40 Jesus revealed the fulcrum – the pivot point – that upon which the whole law rests – it’s love for God and neighbor. Our faith in Christ enables us to act with genuine love – which I think is the guiding principle in Romans 14, showing Christ’s power to bring together dissimilar people ( some with concern for certain details of the law and others who have no such concern for the details or the ceremony of the law, or may not even have any knowledge of the law) into genuine unity. == == == == 8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment…James 2:8- 13 NASB It doesn’t seem to me James is saying if you violate one commandment, you violate them all. James refers to the “royal law” in v.8. Perhaps a better translation might be the supreme law – i.e. the law above all other laws – which James clarifies in the same verse – when he is says “the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”. That command along with the first command to love God summarizes all the law and the prophets (Matt. 22:36-40; Rom. 13:8-10). It seems to me what James means by saying you violate one command then you violate them all – is that you are in effect actually breaking the linchpin that holds the whole law together – love for God and neighbor. Or perhaps James is suggesting a domino effect - a cumulative effect produced when one event initiates a succession of similar events. Imagine if the law was a beautiful stained glass window, breaking even one piece of the window compromises the structure and can cause additional issues. Or if the lead that holds the pieces together begins to fatigue more pressure is placed on the glass and could cause breaks in the glass. I don’t think the law of God is a bunch of disjointed directives but a unified code of conduct that requires love for God and neighbor in order to be in full compliance . James is saying you fulfill the supreme law by loving your neighbor as yourself - as he says in verse 8 "you are doing well". Note verse 12 "the law of liberty"... James 1:25 also mentions the law of liberty and equates it with the perfect law. Maybe I’m a little off base here – but I tend to look at the entire Bible as God’s law – rules for living – - and for convenience sake they've been condensed it's just two big ones now, love God and neighbor - and with faith in Christ, abiding by those rules is liberating – as in freedom from the bondage of sin (see Rom. 7 & 8). == == = == To round off my post – I'm switching gears from what Paul said about fulfilling the law of love by faith and now taking a look at I Timothy where Paul gets into dealing with those who want to be teachers of the law and eclipse the Christian life based on faith in what Christ has accomplished for us. 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. 5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions…I Timothy 1: 3- 7 NASB Verse 5 says “the goal of our instruction” – the word “our” is absent from the interlinear text – but I believe it is well supplied – for it seems tied to verse 3 where Paul said to Timothy to remain at Ephesus and instruct certain men. “Instruct” and “instruction” in both verses is from a form of the same Greek word – paraggello – and basically means to give an authorized command. Paul says that the goal of his instruction (his directives as authorized by God warning of erroneous doctrines, myths, speculation, fruitless discussions and to keep preaching of Christ the Savior, holding onto faith and a good conscience - see verses 8 - 20) is to engender love, help one keep a clear conscience, and develop genuine faith.

I'm following this thread now. To prevent a "dogpiling" situation, I'll let Rocky ask all the obvious questions so Waxit has one person to answer, instead of having to chase questions all over the thread from different people. In the interest of being nice, I'm posting mainly to post a request. Waxit? Please be careful when hitting " reply" on a post. I much prefer if you don't reply INSIDE THE BOX where their post is quoted. If you do, there's 2 problems for the rest of us. 1) We can't see a difference between what HE posted and what YOU posted. This means we can't tell who posted what, nor who to reply to. That makes discussion more difficult, and it makes it harder to follow your points (since we can't distinguish them from HIS points.) 2) When everything you post ends up in that box, none of us can use the same function to reply to you! The reply function would quote an empty post- since the software thinks everything inside a quotebox is part of the quote and none of it is added. Please make good-faith attempts to make it clear who is posting what. There's several things you can do to make that happen. A) Under the quotebox, post your reply. You might add numbers to the quote, and number your replies so we can see what addressed what. B) Use the quotebox, but then cut-and-paste their reply below the box, and reply to each point. Use quotation marks so we can see it's a quote, and mark what was said by you and what was said by him. That's what I think of first, others may think other things work better. Please, please do something to address this. Thank you.

Right. The goal of the law is to get to know Jesus, the Christ. Get to know the Man, the King, the Shepherd, the Redeemer. The goal of the law IS NOT to get to observe any specific day, or time, or season. We are to do as Jesus did, in heart, soul, mind, and strength. That means: loving and obeying God. And then, loving our neighbours (=those around us, those we come into contact with). It doesn't mean: following all the ritual that Jesus followed, and much of which he poo-poo'd.