Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition

Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition
Photograph of a Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition (front)
AbbreviationSSBE
OT published1981
NT published1981
Derived fromEnglish Revised Version 1881–1885
Textual basisNT: Westcott and Hort 1881 and Tregelles 1857, (Reproduced in a single, continuous, form in Palmer 1881). OT: Masoretic Text with some Septuagint influence).
Translation typeFormal equivalence
Reading levelHigh school
Copyright1981
Religious affiliationAssemblies of Yahweh
Genesis 1:1–3
In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth. And the earth had become waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of Elohim moved upon the face of the waters. And Elohim said, Let there be light: and there was light.
John 3:16
For Yahweh so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life.

The Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition (SSBE) is an English-language Sacred Name Bible translation that consistently restores the personal names Yahweh and Yahshua throughout both the Old and New Testaments. It was produced under the direction of Jacob O. Meyer, founding and directing Elder of the Assemblies of Yahweh, and first published in 1981.

The translation is based primarily upon the American Standard Version of 1901, a version frequently cited by scholars for its textual precision and adherence to the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. The Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition contains approximately 977 pages and was initially printed in an edition of 5,500 copies. It has since been used as the standard Bible text in all Assemblies of Yahweh worship services, educational programs, and publications, and has also been adopted by other groups within the Sacred Name Movement.[citation needed]

History

Early use and motivation

In the early years of his ministry, Jacob O. Meyer commonly preached from the King James Version, verbally restoring the Sacred Names by substituting “Yahweh” for “Lord” and “Yahshua” for “Jesus.” Over time, Meyer expressed concern that widely used English translations obscured essential elements of the original Hebrew and Greek texts, particularly the personal Name of the Heavenly Father and the authentic name of the Messiah.

Throughout this time, Elder Meyer longed for the opportunity to produce a scholarly version of the Bible, with correct use of the Sacred Names and with translation errors corrected to give a good representation of the historically accepted Hebrew and Greek base texts.

— Sacred Name Broadcaster, January 2012, p.14

Textual foundation

As Meyer studied Hebrew, Greek, and the original manuscripts, he came to conclude that many doctrinal misunderstandings originated not from the inspired texts themselves, but from later translation traditions and theological conventions. For this reason, he selected the American Standard Version as the primary English base text, citing its reputation among scholars as one of the most literal and textually faithful English translations available.

In the SSBE, terms considered inconsistent with the underlying Hebrew and Greek were changed. For example, references to the Messiah’s execution avoid the term “cross,” instead using “stake” or “pole,” reflecting the Greek terms stauros and xylon.

Collaborative effort

In order to promote unity of belief and practice, Meyer proposed that all members of the Assemblies of Yahweh read from a single, standardized Bible text. In an annual report delivered during the Feast of Tabernacles in 1980, he outlined the vision for producing a unified Sacred Name translation.

When the assembled brethren would read from the Bible, in unison, there was anything but a unified sound.

— Sacred Name Broadcaster, January 2012, p.15

Funding was raised through international donations, supplemented by a bank loan. Editing and review were conducted manually throughout 1981, prior to the widespread use of personal computers, with assistance from Assemblies of Yahweh staff and students of the Obadiah School of the Bible. The Sacred Names Yahweh and Yahshua were restored throughout the text, along with Hebrew titles such as Elohim, Eloah, and El. Obsolete Shakespearean English forms were updated to reflect twentieth-century usage.

Indeed this was an ambitious undertaking for a small organization with limited resources, but Elder Meyer assured all that were present that Yahweh would provide and the work would press forward in faith.

— Sacred Name Broadcaster, January 2012, p.16

Publication and use

Photograph of the spine view of two Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition Bible's, a Sacred Name Bible translation published by the Assemblies of Yahweh.

The manuscripts were completed in 1981, and the Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition went to press later that year. Copies were delivered to the International Headquarters between December 1981 and January 1982. Since its release, the SSBE has remained the official Bible of the Assemblies of Yahweh and is displayed at the Bethel Meeting Hall altar table, traditionally opened to Psalms 101–103.

The Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition has been the standard and accepted Bible used in all Assemblies of Yahweh worship services and publications since its release.

— Sacred Name Broadcaster, January 2012, p.16

Notable aspects

Preface

The SSBE includes an extensive preface outlining the historical, linguistic, and theological basis for restoring the Sacred Names. It documents scholarly objections to the rendering “Jehovah,” frequently described in academic literature as a mispronunciation or artificial hybrid form.

Meyer wrote in the Sacred Name Broadcaster "the best transliteration of this name into English is spelled Yahweh, and is so pronounced". They therefore reject the English titles for God's name, claiming to trace such titles etymologically to the worship of other deities.[citation needed]

Glossary

A “Pure Religious Vocabulary” section addresses the etymology of commonly used theological terms, encouraging readers to examine their origins critically and to verify claims through independent study, following the example of the Bereans.

The glossary of terms briefly traces and presents the etymology of words used frequently by Christian theologians that Meyer claims are pagan in origin.

Editions

As of 2016, the Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition had undergone seven printings: 1981, 1986, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001, and 2008. Copies are held in libraries in both the United States and England,[non-primary source needed] and the SSBE is used at the Dalet School and Obadiah School of the Bible in Bethel, Pennsylvania. The translation is also available in digital formats.

See also

Notes

References

  1. 1 2 Paul (2003), pp. 162–163.
  2. ↑ Meyer (2012), p. 14.
  3. ↑ Meyer (2012), p. 15.
  4. 1 2 Meyer (2012), p. 16.
  5. ↑ Job introduction". Anchor Bible, Volume 15, page XIV
  6. ↑ "Jehovah". Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, p 311.
  7. ↑ "Jehovah" Jewish Encyclopedia Vol. 7. p 87.
  8. ↑ "Names of God, YHWH" Jewish Encyclopedia Vol.9. pp 160–165.
  9. ↑ Meyer, Jacob. Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition, A Pure Religious Vocabulary. Assemblies of Yahweh. p. 1.
  10. ↑ Meyer, Jacob (February 2012). "A Pure Religious Vocabulary" (PDF). The Sacred Name Broadcaster: 13–16.
  11. ↑ "Ramseyer Bibliography - Bible in English". D.umn.edu. 1 March 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Yahweh Yehōs︠h︡uaʻ : the sacred scriptures : Bethel edition | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org. Retrieved 4 April 2023.

Bibliography

  • Chamberlin, William J., Catalogue of English Bible Translations: A Classified Bibliography of Versions and Editions Including Books, Parts, and Old and New Testament Apocrypha ... and Indexes in Religious Studies
  • Meyer, Jacob O., The Memorial Name Yahweh, U.S.A, Bethel PA: Assemblies of Yahweh
  • Meyer, Solomon E. (January 2012). "The Sacred Scriptures, Bethel Edition, 1981-2011" (PDF). Sacred Name Broadcaster.
  • Paul, William (2003). "Jacob O. Meyer". English Language Bible Translators. McFarland, NC: Jefferson & Co.