Today, there is a smorgasbord of Bible variations wherein the Word of God has been changed to suit the theology or understanding of Greek or Hebrew origins by the authors. With such a wide variation in "Bibles" it is impossible for there to be unity of beliefs in the Church for there is no single, common reference to fall back on. The resulting confusion and strife are NOT of God.

To illustrate how far apart these translations or interpretations are, a simple statement is compared:

Progression of Deviation

1. Shall, Will, If

2. Take up, Pick up, Handle

3. Serpents, Snakes

Word Study

The mood of the Greek verb that is translated "take up" suggests a command or strong request. Take up is used to describe an action performed to exercise control. For example: to take up the slack in a rope, or to take up the reins of a horse implies control of the subject.

The word translated "serpents" is the same word that is used in Mt 10:16 and Mt 23:33 where Jesus is calling men serpents. It is like someone referring to a person as a "snake in the grass" or perhaps as a "crafty hypocrite" because the person is considered a source of deception.

Conclusion

While preaching the Gospel to the world, one of the signs that shall follow the believer is that they shall exercise control, through the Name of Jesus, over crafty hypocrites that try to disrupt or make of no effect the Gospel that is being preached.

Lyle C. Hildebrand