Accurate Bible quotations

The article “How Dead Are the Dead?” by Atilio Dupertuis (November 2005) quotes Genesis 2:7 as saying that when God created Adam, he “became a living being.” My Bible reads that “man became a living soul.” These two are quite different. I believe my Bible is correct. Please be sure that all your Bible quotations are accurate.

Bertha Robinson, Saratoga, California

Editor’s response: We use primarily the New International Version in Signs, whereas you are using the King James Version. The Hebrew word for “soul” in Genesis 2:7 is nephesh, which most modern versions translate as “living being.”

Sabbath articles in Signs

I do not agree with Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi’s article “From Saturday to Sunday” in the October 2005 Signs. Jesus did keep the Sabbath before His resurrection. However, He met with certain followers on resurrection Sunday. Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended, was a Sunday. And the book of Revelation to John was given “on the Lord’s day.” It would seem that it was routine for saints to gather on Sunday.

William T. Jewell, Glasgow, Kentucky

Editor’s response: You are correct that Jesus met with His followers on the day of His resurrection, which was a Sunday, and the Holy Spirit descended on a Sunday. But neither text suggests that Jesus wanted His followers to keep the day. You are also correct that John received the book of Revelation on “the Lord’s day,” but the only day known as “the Lord’s day” in the Bible is the seventh day of the week, not the first (see Mark 2:28; Isaiah 58:13).

I found the articles on the Sabbath in the October Signs interesting. It seems to me, though, that you put an unjust amount of weight on worshiping on the seventh day. I understand that the fourth commandment speaks about it, but it says to “keep it holy,” not that it is the only holy day.

Richard Plate, Salem, Oregon

Editor’s response: Are Christians who object to the sexual immorality in our culture putting an unjust amount of weight on the seventh commandment, which says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”?

Mr. Bacchiocchi’s article is a “right on” summary of what the Holy Spirit and Scripture have been showing me about the importance of Sabbath. However, Sabbath is only the first and most frequent holy observance. What of the seven feasts of the Lord (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles)? Each of these feast days is of the Lord and commanded as a sabbath rest.

Name withheld by request

Editor’s response: The only one of these feast days that is called a “sabbath” is the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:32). All of them were instituted by God at Sinai as a part of the Jewish temple ritual, which ceased at the cross. The seventh-day Sabbath, on the other hand, originated at Creation and is part of the Ten Commandments, which state moral principles that are eternal.

Article about unemployment

I read your interesting article by Preethi Burkholder, “Finding a Job Through Total Surrender” (October 2005). I was working at a corporate job but was laid off suddenly and have been unemployed for several months. It was as though the author wrote this article keeping me in mind. Reading the article told me that I am not alone.

Houston Rodell, email

I enjoy reading your magazine. I especially enjoyed Preethi Burkholder’s article about finding a job. Perseverance pays. With our country’s unemployment rate increasing by the day, I’m sure lots of people can relate to that topic.

Fremont Nantelle, Worcester, Massachusetts

Your Thoughts by Readers	From the March 2006 Signs