Kyle Stephens and Kent Settlemyer
In the King James Bible the words “ensample” & “example” do not have the same meaning. The corrupt modern versions have replaced the word “ensample” with “example” and state that they have the same meaning. But if God had anything to do with the King James Bible and His guidance of the 47 translators then do you not think He put the word “ensample” there for a reason? If the two words have the exact same meaning then God possibly allowed the 47 translators to make a mistake.
I knew there must be a reason for every comma, period, and word in the King James Bible but I just was not smart enough to figure it out myself. In Kyle Stephens book “The Certainty of the Words” I was given the explanation from Scripture and was amazed. Even the staunchest AV 1611 KJB defenders state that the two words are synonyms and have the same meaning.
Stephens states, “’Examples’ in the scriptures are loosely fitted lessons, warnings and applications. They cannot be copied or emulated precisely due to certain boundaries or constraints of circumstance. ‘Ensamples’ are to be followed as precisely and as exactingly as possible. They are literally the samples of how we should live, respond or act.” The apostle Paul would be an “Ensample”.
He gives a broader explanation stating that, “In the King James Bible, an ‘example’ serves as a warning or a pattern for those who are not in the exact same predicament or scenario. An ‘example’ is a pattern of behavior that is not necessarily intended to be exactly mimicked or emulated or precisely repeated, but a lesson to be drawn from and even extended to apply to other unrelated exercises. An ‘example’ is a pattern behavior or occurrence that is to be learned from, and lessons drawn from, but not necessarily identically copied or reproduced. Lessons are to be drawn and applied to one’s individual situations, though the situation does not match the ‘example’ exactly…An ‘ensample’, defined by biblical precept, is a person that one can pattern oneself after in every way, if possible, because he is precisely what one is supposed to be.”
The problem is going to the Greek and letting it be our final authority. Stephens explains, “The Greek does not make the distinction of meanings between the two words that the King James Bible makes plain.” Obviously many will have major issues with that statement but Stephens’ book makes it crystal clear from the scriptures and the exact words God directed the 47 Translators to use.
Stephens gives an excellent explanation, “There is a profound and genuinely substantial difference between ‘example(s)’ and ‘ensample(s)’ in the AV 1611 King James Bible. Though the words are similar, they are not identical. Though they are plainly akin one to the other, they are not the same. There are distinct and discernible characteristics between them that are manifest in the King James Bible. Nobody is going to Hell because they confuse, or do not discern the differences between the two words, but let the saint take warning: the Lord is more exacting and precise in His verbiage and wording than is one’s favorite scholar! A mortal scholar, who may be saved and sincere, will chase grammatical butterflies into left field somewhere along the way. He will become so preoccupied by tenses and obscure declensions that he forgets that he is dealing with the living words of the Living God. It is the Lord that preserves and delivers his word. Sometimes God uses a route or mode of delivery that men do not appreciate or acknowledge.”
Before you totally discount this evidence, “study” the usage of the two words for yourself in the King James Bible and how each word is used or easier yet, get his book. I guarantee it is worth it. Kent S. Settlemyer
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In my opinion the problem with the examples you are giving Will is that the King James Bible is the final purification of God's perfect and infallible words and comparing the other Bibles in that same line is just showing where God was still purifying His words.
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Actually Stephens addresses each scripture you have questioned Will. I was just not able to adequately put all of that in my original post. He takes 40 pages to show each time the two words are used in the scriptures. If you get his book you can read his explanations and I believe all will be clear.
‘Ensample’ and ‘example’ are both used in 2 Peter 2:6 as you pointed out and Sodom and Gomorrha are also mentioned again in Jude 1:7 with the word ‘example’. Stephens states, “Peter says, ‘And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly. Jude 7 uses the other term: ‘Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.’ …It is consistent to say that the two sodomite cities are both examples and ensamples, for they are examples in the respect that it is unlikely that all sodomite cities will be destroyed in the exact same way (brimstone). If a sodomite city today is destroyed by earthquake, Sodom and Gomorrha would still serve as examples, for they will suffer the vengeance of God, though by earth, not fire; and their inhabitants, despite the method of mortal destruction, will suffer ‘eternal fire’. In that very way, the two cities are ‘ensamples unto those that after should live ungodly’, as well. The ‘ungodly’ of 2 Pet. 2:6 will be condemned… with an overthrow just as Sodom and Gomorrha, and they will also go off into ‘eternal fire’.”
There is more of an explanation and he also adequately addresses each of the other verses you mentioned. I strongly suggest you read his book. These two words are not the only ones that he shows how the modern versions have changed the preserved words in the KJB. i.e. ‘Charity’ & ‘Love’
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Daniel C. Hurdle
Great article brother Kent. I have heard another similar discourse, and to put in a very simple way... (ex)ample has to do with that which is "without", and (en)sample has to do with that which is "within", "ex" and "en", like unto "exit, and enter".
