[T Minus Four]

Oh for Pete’s sake, you’re digging here. Explain how then are we supposed to know which things we are commanded to do, and which we endure if they happen if Paul “mixes” them? Should we choose to be whipped instead of eating a McDonald’s McFish sandwich with large fries and a Coke? (not such a bad tradeoff, actually) And wait, what do you mean “things we do voluntarily” such as fasting? Earlier you said it was a commandment, and a mortal sin if we didn’t. That sounds obligatory, not voluntary.

That’s a pretty harsh judgement you have there annalex. “Protestant” translations were created for the purpose of lying? Well then. You’ve been indoctrinated well, I see. I am very sorry and sad for you.

I guess we are done here then. The Word of God does not lie, although I agree that there are groups who twist it to control people and suit their own purposes. My only agenda is Jesus and the salvation he offers. For free.

[annalex]

We are commanded to do all of this:

4 But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in prisons, in seditions, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, 6 In chastity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned

Point by point:

1. we should be ministers of God
2. we should have muich patience in tribulations, need, and distress
3. When we underfgo punishment, are jailed or in political struggle (all that is something done to us)
4. We are also to be patient when we work (what follows is the list of things we do ourselves)
5. patient when we celebrate vigils (in other word, spend long time praying)
6. patient when we fast (you see how that "hunger" translation doesn't fit the context, beside being linguistically incorrect, -- St. Paul already mentioned various privations such as hunger and would have no need to repeat it between vigils and chastity)
7. patient when we lead a chaste life (and devil tempts us to sexual activity)
8. patient when we study to gain knowledge
9. patient as we endure for a long time, maintaining sweet disposition under the leadership of the Holy Ghost
10. patient as we extend charity

A fast is something you do yourself. When the Church says to abstain from meat (a form of fast), the Church is not going to raid your refrigerator and remove meat products. If she did so, that would no longer be fast, but hunger: enduring the lack of food. It is nevertheless a commandment. You fast because you want to participate in the suffering of Christ.

***

I have a long list of mistranslations in various Protestant Bibles, similar to this one. If you are interested, I can point to quite a few. They all have one thing in common: the original meaning is too Catholic, so it is changed to better suit Protestant theological fantasies. A Protestant, especially given the professed interest in the scripture above all else, should ask himself: Why do they lie to me?