Let me begin by saying that I’ve been studying the bible for over twelve years. I won’t go into details of what led me to begin my studies, because that would take pages to write and for the sake of the subject matter, I’ll stick with the basics for the purpose of edification on the subject of the bible and the, Mandela Effect.”
Over the years I’ve read through the bible, cover to cover more than ten times. I’ve done numerous personal studies, and I even ran a chat-room for several years where the focus was sola-scripture. One thing that I learned in the process of doing these things is that the majority of Christians I spoke with during that time had never read the bible completely through for themselves. That amazed me actually, and I made it a point to ask every Christian that I’ve met over the years if they have actually read through the bible for themselves. After asking at least a hundred people this question, I’ve only had two tell me that they have actually read it, and one of those two individuals was involved in deeper studies of the word.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not pointing a finger at Christians. I’m simply stating that for whatever reason, many believers are content with hearing someone else speak about the scriptures, and never dig into the word for themselves.
I’ve read several different bible versions and I reference different versions within my own studies for clarification. I know that many preachers and teachers will use different versions occasionally. The different versions, many times will use a word that isn't contained in another version, but when the meaning is looked into, the word holds the same meaning.
When I first heard the claim that the conspiracy theory, “the Mandela effect,” had somehow altered the word of God, I brushed it off as a passing, “theory.” However, as the months went on I began hearing about it more and more, and people were bringing in more and more passages that they claimed had changed.
As a person who studies the bible regularly, I can read a chapter today, and then read the same chapter tomorrow and I will find things within that chapter that I completely missed the day before. The bible is an amazing book, and no matter how often it’s read there’s always something new that stands out to the reader. It’s not that something changed over night, but the wording suddenly becomes more clear to the reader. I know that other’s who study the scriptures can attest to this.
I started looking into the different passages that people referenced when they made the claim that a scripture had changed due to the, “Mandela Effect.” One day I was reading the passage where Jesus was in the wilderness and the enemy tried to tempt him. With each response that Jesus gave, He began by saying, “It is written,” confirming that that which is written stands. The very first response that Jesus gave to this temptation is, “Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” That statement established the complete authority that God set in place a mandate that His word would by no means pass away.
Jesus Himself said that, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall never pass away.”
This caused me to consider Adam and Eve in the garden temptation. When God told them that they can eat of every green herb and every tree in the garden, but they shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God spoke it, and when God speaks, the mandate stands.
So when the enemy came in to tempt Eve with the fruit of the tree that she and Adam were commanded to not eat of, Eve responded by telling the enemy that God said that she should not eat of that specific tree. The enemy then used the weapon of doubt and asked Eve, “Did God really say that if you eat from the tree you will die?” “You shall not surely die.” (Paraphrased.)
The doubt was planted, and Eve looked at the fruit of the tree and it suddenly appealed to her and she ate of it, and also gave it to Adam to eat of it.
When Jesus spoke of leaven, He plainly said that, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” That is precisely the moral of the story of the first sin.
For those who are believers in the bible, it is important to remember that God tests our faith, just as Adam and Eve were tested.
There are several Christian sayings that many, if not most Christians, believe are contained within the scriptures, but they actually are not part of the written word, nor have they ever been.
Here are some examples:
- "God helps those who help themselves.”
- "This, too, shall pass.”
- “Yea, verily, God wants you to be happy.”
- “If you work hard enough, you’ll be successful.”
- “Follow your heart and believe, and you can do anything.”
- “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
Some of the above saying may be based on a few biblical principles, but the sayings themselves are not, nor have they ever been part of the scriptures themselves.
One of the most widely claimed, “Mandela Effect,” scriptural changes that I’ve personally heard referenced comes from the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Many claim that the verse has changed. In all the years that I’ve studied the bible, the passage has been the same. I took notice years ago that people reference the, “the Lion and the Lamb,” when speaking about that verse, and it’s not anything new, it’s just a reference or a saying that has been widely used in old paintings and shortened in sermons.
If you look at the passage, both the, lion,” and the, “calf,” is used. Some of the different versions use the word, “lamb,” rather than, “calf.” Both mean the same thing when looked up in Strong’s Concordance.
It’s easy to become confused when certain well known sayings are actually different than what is actually written.
The Apostle Paul made this statement to the Corinths.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
We can think that we know that bible contains a specific word or saying and believe it so much that we are no-longer standing on God’s word, we falter, His word never falters.
My advice to those believers who hear about the so-called bible, “Mandela Effect,” is to pray diligently and continue to trust God above all men.
