Big Bible Words

Performed at Victoria Avenue Baptist Church on September 28th, 2008
Inspired by the King James version of the bible. Also 1 John 2:2, 1 Corinthians 14:3 and Matthew 19:14

Martha:

Joey, what does propitiation mean?

Joey:

What? I don’t know.

Martha:

Oh. What does edification mean?

Joey:

I don’t know…

Martha:

Hmmm…. well, what about exhortation?

Joey:

Nope – what are you talking about anyway? Where did you hear these words?

Martha:

From the memory verses we learned for Sunday school today – - didn’t you memorize them!?

Joey:

I did memorize them, but I didn’t see any of those words!

Martha:

Did you memorize 1 John 2:2?

Joey:

I sure did!!

Martha:

“And he is the propitiation of our sins???” What is that supposed to mean?

Joey:

I think it means, “Jesus is the way our sins are taken away.” That’s what my bible says.

Martha:

What? But what about 1 Corinthians 14:3? “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” Is that different for you too?

Joey:

It is! It’s “One who prophesies speaks to people. He gives people strength encouragement and comfort.”

Martha:

What about Matthew 19:14? That’s the one that really bugs me, “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

This one doesn’t even use big words, I know what suffer means! So what’s going on here? Jesus said that in heaven little children get to SUFFER? That doesn’t sound like the kind of heaven I imagined!!!

Joey:

My bible said this, “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’”

Martha:

What?! That’s not even CLOSE to the same! One of our bibles is TOTALLY WRONG! Someone is going to get in BIG trouble for making a false copy of the bible! What do we do? Should we tell Pastor Miriam?

Joey:

No no! They are the same. Don’t worry.

Martha:

What do you mean they’re the same, you heard it! My version said children suffer, yours said let them come and see Jesus. How is that not a problem?

Joey:

Well, you’re reading the King James Version – it was written like 400 years ago. Not all the words mean the same thing anymore. Like suffer used to mean ‘let’ but now it means – - – well, suffer. Think of Shakespeare. Have you read anything by him?

Martha:

No way! He’s way too hard! That’s why you don’t have to read Shakespeare until high school!

Joey:

Exactly! It’s too hard to understand what it means! And that’s from the same time that the King James Version was written. That’s why I have a children’s bible. Because God wants us to be able to understand what we’re reading, so we should be careful to use a bible that we can understand! Otherwise it’s hard to understand what God is saying to us.

Martha:

A Children’s version? That’s why you didn’t have any of those crazy words to memorize? Why didn’t my mom tell me about this! I’ll have to ask her about it when I get home today. Maybe I’ll memorize verses from King James when I can read Shakespeare!

Joey:

That’s what I was thinking too! Expediently, let’s away, and impart our verses unto our schoolmaster, and offer us for further edification.

Martha:

…whah????

Joey:

Just kidding! Let’s go to Sunday school!
**Exuent**

Martha:

But what did you say?

- zoe