When people ask me about my area of legal practice, I often mention estate planning. A common response I get is, “So, you focus on real estate law?” While estate planning does involve some aspects of real estate, it is not primarily about real estate. It’s understandable that there are misconceptions about estate planning. Given the low level of personal financial planning awareness in this country, it's not surprising that understanding of estate planning is even lower. Many Filipinos lack a personal financial plan or even a basic retirement plan, so it's expected that most don’t have a comprehensive estate plan. An estate plan is simply a plan for how an estate owner's assets will be handled after they pass away. It considers several factors, such as the owner’s goals, payment of estate taxes, and proper distribution to heirs according to the owner's wishes and legal requirements. Lack of estate planning can lead to several problems: strained family relations, reduced estate … [Read more...]
Has the Vatican corrupted modern Bible translations?
In the complex landscape of biblical scholarship and translation, the N0vum Testamentum Graece (New Testament in Greek) otherwise popularly known as the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament (After its after its most influential editors, Eberhard Nestle and Kurt Aland), stands out as a cornerstone for contemporary biblical research and translation. This revered text, now in its 28th edition (released in 2012), represents a collaboration between the New Testament Textual Research (INTF), the Vatican and the United Bible Societies (UBS) that aims to provide an accurate and reliable Greek text of the New Testament. This scholarly cooperation started in the early 1960s in the 25th edition of the Novum Testamentum Graece and underscores a shared commitment to textual integrity across Christian denominations and has been widely adopted by Bible Societies globally. However, this edition has not been without controversy. It finds itself at the center of heated debates, particularly from the … [Read more...]
Debunking KJV Onlyism: Stephen full of grace or full of faith?
Question: In the KJV Acts 6:8 describes Stephen as being "full of faith and power" while modern Bible translations describe him as being "full of grace and power." KJV Onlyist insist that modern translations are wrong and some extremist even go as far as saying that modern translation translate it this way because they support the perpetual virginity of Mary as modern translations uses "full of grace" in describing Stephen in the same way as Mary is being described as "full of grace" Roman Catholics. In this particular text, Acts 6:8, the Majority Texts which is the basis of the KJV, uses "pisteos" (faith), whereas several older manuscripts, the underlying Greek text used by most modern translations employs "charitos" (which means conveying grace or favor). image from youth.rcdow.org.uk (Acts 6:5) And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and … [Read more...]
Debunking KJV Only myths: On 1 Cor 13:3 and Wescott & Hort
Question - "Why should we accept modern Bible translations that follow Westcott and Hort's manuscripts, especially in verses like 1 Corinthians 13:3, when KJV Onlyists claim these scholars are heretics whose work is unreliable?" The criticism of modern Bible translations and their alleged reliance on the work of Westcott and Hort especially by those in the KJV Onlyist camp often stems from a misunderstanding of textual criticism and a flawed logical framework. It is essential to evaluate these translations based on scholarly rigor, historical evidence, and the broader context of biblical scholarship, rather than on ad hominem attacks or conspiracy theories. In light of 1 Cor. 13:3, consider the following arguments: 1.) The major errors and logical fallacies associated with the KJV Only position, particularly concerning Wescott and Hort, are as follows: a.) The major error of KJV Onlyists is their insistence that scholars and textual critics today completely and … [Read more...]