Bishop Bill Hamon

Christian International

PO Box 9000

Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

March 25, 2004

Rev. William J. Morford

301 Creek Side Lane

Lexington, SC 29072

Dear Bill,

What the early translations gave to the first Church, The Power New Testament has given to the Third Millennial Church - a clear mandate that the gifts and empowerment of the Holy Spirit are necessary for the Church today.  I believe The Power New Testament will help believers demonstrate His Kingdom in every nation as a witness that Jesus is the True God of Heaven and earth.

With the Apostolic Reformation underway, The Power New Testament will transform and enlarge our vision to enable us to see with greater insight, wisdom and urgency the majesty and magnificence of God's ultimate destiny for the overcoming Church, and His faithfulness to Israel.
Rev. Wm. J. Morford, with his flow in the spiritual gifts, including the prophetic, and his excellent scholarship in Hebrew and Greek - he was on CI Staff and taught several courses, including introductory Hebrew and Greek - brings the highest credentials to his translation. Deeper meanings of many biblical teachings in the exhaustive 70 page Glossary are indispensable to anyone who desires a closer walk with Jesus.

While most translations suggest that prophecy, tongues and knowledge will cease, The Power New Testament correctly translates the text in I Corinthians 13:8 to give a stronger intent by the Lord that the gifts continue.

As we move into the fullness of God's revelatory Word, The Power New Testament is a superior translation that will release great faith in our Creator God. I believe it provides a firm foundation of Biblical truth for the prophetic and apostolic move of God.

In His name,

Bishop Bill Hamon

Note by the translator:  

UBS is The United Bible Society, a group of Greek scholars whose life work is studying the ancient Greek manuscripts to determine which texts are closest to the original first century manuscripts. This takes considerable detective work since our oldest manuscripts date from the second century.

Regarding 1 Corinthians 13:8:

"And whether prophecies will be abolished; or tongues will cease, or knowledge will be abolished: love never perishes." I Corinthians 13:8. The Power New Testament

In almost all other translations, the Greek ‘eite’ (which means ‘whether) has been either ignored or mis-translated, resulting in a weaker emphasis regarding this important teaching on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The word eite, in the Greek, is before each noun: ie. prophecy, tongues, and knowledge.

In his fluent, aggressive, first-order Greek style, Paul is saying, no matter what – Love – the Agape or God-given Love – is essential forever. However, in keeping to our English rendering, The PNT has "love never perishes’ at the end of this verse.

Why is this small Greek word ‘eite’ so important? Eite is used, not only in the 4^th Edition UBS (?), but in every Greek text, including the Vatican text #1209. (Vatican Library). My interlinear copy of The Diagolott, although translating closely to The Power New Testament beneath the Greek words, ignores eite in its parallel English translation.

In the NASB, the word "If’ is used in the context of these gifts, suggesting… if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away, which places doubt on the validity, authenticity and duration of these gifts.

The words in bold were added by the translators.

Certainly, Paul was not questioning these gifts, but clarifying for every believer, that Divine Love is the underlying motivation and lasting foundation that transcends time itself.

May every believer, not only move in these gifts of the Holy Spirit, but walk daily in His Divine, Imperishable Love.