Gehenna and the Land Promise

Gehenna in Mark 9:43-48

The New World Translation of Mark 9:43-48 by the Watch Tower Society has:

Mark 9:43-48
43 "And if ever your hand makes you stumble, cut it off; it is finer for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go off into Ge·hen´na, into the fire that cannot be put out. 44 --- 45 And if your foot makes you stumble, cut it off; it is finer for you to enter into life lame than with two feet to be pitched into Ge·hen´na. 46 --- 47 And if your eye makes you stumble, throw it away; it is finer for you to enter one-eyed into the kingdom of God than with two eyes to be pitched into Ge·hen´na, 48 where their maggot does not die and the fire is not put out.

In every case where most English versions have "hell," they use the word Ge·hen´na, which is a place name, so ought not to have been translated "hell," which is an interpretation rather than a translation. Also, as indicted in the NWT version above, the insertion of verses 44 & 46 is suspect; they are omitted in the following versions:

New American Bible; 1881 Revised Version; 1901 American Standard Version; Bible in Basic English; English Revised Version; GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995); English Standard Version (©2001); New International Version (©1984); Weymouth New Testament; New Living Translation (©2007); RSV; AMP; CEV.

NASV Footnote:
Vv 44 and 46, which are identical to v 48, are not found in the early mss.

NKJV Footnote:
9:44 NU-Text omits this verse.
9:46 NU-Text omits the last clause of verse 45 and all of verse 46.

1901 American Standard Version Footnote:
Verses 44 & 46 (which are identical with ver. 48) are omitted by the best ancient authorities.

New American Bible Footnote:
44, 46 Not found in many manuscripts.

This is evidence for suspicious activity by the Bible translators over the centuries. They were apparenly trying to support their doctrine of unending infernal torment.

One would think, that if translating the word "Gehenna" as "hell" were valid, then when translating the New Testament to Latin, wouldn't Jerome have translated "Gehenna" to its Latin equivalent? What word would that be?

But, the Latin Bible, called the Vulgate, does not show that; instead the word is "gehennam."

Mark 9:42
et si scandalizaverit te manus tua abscide illam bonum est tibi debilem introire in vitam quam duas manus habentem ire in gehennam in ignem inextinguibilem

Mark 9:43
ubi vermis eorum non moritur et ignis non extinguitur

Mark 9:44
et si pes tuus te scandalizat amputa illum bonum est tibi claudum introire in vitam aeternam quam duos pedes habentem mitti in gehennam ignis inextinguibilis

Mark 9:45
ubi vermis eorum non moritur et ignis non extinguitur

Mark 9:46
quod si oculus tuus scandalizat te eice eum bonum est tibi luscum introire in regnum Dei quam duos oculos habentem mitti in gehennam ignis

Mark 9:47
ubi vermis eorum non moritur et ignis non extinguitur

The word "gehennam" is shown in bold type. It was left as a place name, and not translated. This is similar to Bibles in many other languages.

English Bible translators, wishing to support their traditions, changed it to "hell." But their traditions are contrary to the Gospel! They resort to unethical and unscholarly practices. The NIV is an example; they put on a "show" of scholarship, by omitting verses 44 and 48, (which the KJV includes, probably following the Vulgate above) but they change "Gehenna" to "hell." Jesus did not say hell!

Gehenna was a valley on the south and southwest of Jerusalem. It has a figurative and symbolic significance, as being located outside the walls of Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem represents the kingdom of Christ, and to be thrown into "Gehenna" represents being cast out of Christ's kingdom!

It is a place associated with shame, and with fire. Jesus warned at all costs, even if it costs an eye, a hand, or a foot, avoid being cast into Gehenna, and get into his kingdom!