Got a Minute extra for God?
Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
You’re Cordially Invited to Step into the F.O.G
What you’re about to read, is the moment Christianity left my head and pierced my heart. It was and still is the most profound experience of my life, and my prayer is that as you read this letter, you’ll experience it too.
The grass dries up,
The flower withers,
But the Word of our Elohim (God)
Stands forever!
Isaiah 40:8 (The F.O.G)
From: The desk of Jean Paul Joseph,
To: My fellow believers in King Jesus and His Kingdom come, and all my friends, skeptical at His ‘seeming’ delay.
I am writing to you today, after a dramatic and personal encounter when the One True God, יהוה (Yahweh) ישוע (Yeshua) visited me during the early morning hours over coffee. Sounds dramatic, maybe even a little strange or unexpected, but here’s exactly what happened.
I was enjoying a cup of coffee very early, probably around 4AM and watching a video called the Father’s blessing when suddenly, I felt something bubbling up from deep within. Within seconds I was absolutely hit by the presence of God, not just filling the room, but the very core of my being, causing me to overflow with messy, messy tears.
I write a little bit more about the experience here, but one of the most tangible things that happened—aside from falling flat on my face in worship and thanks—was an insatiable appetite for His Word, the Bible.
To be honest, it was a completely unnatural appetite. I wasn’t just reading one Bible, but seven, for hours on end! I just couldn’t get enough of His Word and the almost ‘too good to be true’ good news, which I thought I already knew. But man was I wrong!
I had been a Christian since age seven, but looking back, I realize that for the most part, it was just religious ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t do’s,’ with no personal, “I know you” type of relationship. But that all changed when meeting Him afresh.
Now I could read the King James Bible and be touched, then immediately pick up another translation and be touched all over again in a completely different way. This process would repeat with each subsequent Bible translation. His beautiful loving touch grew stronger and stronger as He spoke directly and personally to my heart about our glorious hope and future together.
And this kept happening daily! So much so, it became abundantly clear to me that the whole “Which Bible is best?” debate – for the most part is unimportant. From my personal experience, the more you read from the work of thousands of faithful scribes who created our trusted Bibles, the more He, reveals Himself to you. He does this through the Sacred Holy Spirit who searches the deep and hidden things of our Heavenly Father to reveal layer upon layer of truth to bless your heart. And here’s the thing: He does this in a beautifully unique way for each of His children, using language and words you fully understand.
Are you telling me I have to also read 7 Bibles?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you have to read multiple Bibles, like I do, but as you start reading a second version you will be amazed at what happens. Especially if all you’ve read so far is the King James. It truly will change your life for the good!
To this day, my insatiable appetite for His Word continues. It’s not uncommon for me to be thinking about, reading, or translating the Bible for up to 18 hours a day! To say this is a supernatural gift of favor and hunger seems perfectly appropriate to me, because before my encounter, I had hardly touched my “dust-ridden” Bible for 18 years! The pressures of life had choked the Word of God in my life, as Jesus so wisely spoke of once.
But thank God! The 18-year famine for the Word of God in my life has now become regular 18-hour daily feasts, and man alive, was I hungry and thirsty, and still am! Bible rainbows like this suddenly started appearing all over my Bibles! #BibleRainbows
After so many years, the core message of the Bible—and how it all points to King Jesus—became incredibly real, tangible, and far more astonishing to me.
This revelation was even more profound because nine months before my coffee with Jesus encounter, He came to me in a dream and made it very clear, He’s returning soon! To be honest, I wasn’t ready for His return when I had that dream. Even though I prayed the “Sinner’s Prayer,” almost weekly! I knew deep down that my heart had grown hard and disillusioned towards Him.
But He is Love Personified!
In His mercy and grace, God chose to reach out and touch me and welcome me into the fold again! Almost like Peter, and I believe it was because He saw how religion and the faithless traditions of man had stained my heart and clouded my spirit.
In His compassion, God seemed to declare, “Enough is enough!”
It was then that I felt His touch, and the beautiful, awe-inspiring Fear of God and Favor of God (F.O.G) entered me! I fell face down in worship and thanks, and through my grateful sobbing, it became crystal clear that I was back on His side again, the best place in the world. Being in His presence now, I realized that all I knew of Him before was mere rumors and riddles of His power and Shekinah glory, which fills His Temple (you and I). His glory is so overwhelming that one cannot stand in His all encompassing presence with a mere mortal body—it’s why He promises us new glorified bodies! But even then, we will cast our crowns before His glorious presence, acknowledging that He alone is worthy.
Reflecting on my life before this encounter, I believe I was like one of the five foolish virgins or bridesmaids (half-hearted believers) Jesus spoke of. It’s my heartfelt prayer that your lamp, dear reader, is full of Holy Spirit oil and burning brightly for Him when He returns to gather His Bride—the Unified Church Assembly—for the marriage supper of the Lamb.
After meeting my Maker and experiencing His loving and merciful heart, I am now filled with a desire for everyone to taste and see this freedom from religion, found in Jesus, the one and only Anointed One (a.k.a the Christ or the Messiah).
The King’s Commission to Me
Whenever there is a visitation from the King, there comes a divine commission. The first and most important is the Great Commission, but there is also a personal calling—a unique purpose that God has created only for you. For me, it became clear that part of my commission was tied to my academic mind, which has always loved to learn.
As a child, I devoured encyclopedias, and all the kids wanted my help with their homework, and as an adult I taught myself to build online businesses. But now my focus was to be on His Word—the Bible. What followed was, and continues to be, a supernatural ability to dive deeply into Scripture, using the best in class Biblical software called Logos to cross-check over 10 Bible translations and dictionaries. But Logos is not just for academics, I recommend it for all who want to see what the original languages reveal to us about God. You will be stunned at times.
Now when you study Bibles in such depth, for an extended period of time, you naturally begin to notice strengths and “areas of improvement” for each translation into modern English. After identifying these “areas”, Yeshua directed me to write a Bible commentary and answer Biblical Questions from a holistic bible point of view, and not the all too common ‘cherry picking’ of Scripture.
I thought, “Okay, great—this is what I was born for!” But as I began the task, I realized I needed a literal, ancient context Bible—what many call a “Word-for-Word Bible,” which by the way is a misnomer as no language perfectly translates word for word. Especially ancient languages! So during one of my early morning coffee devotions, He surprised me with the unthinkable:
“You do it!
Write My Words.”
My immediate reaction was naturally, disbelief:
Then a tentative, “The whole Bible…?”
Now I can’t remember if He answered that directly, but the message to me was abundantly clear.
After my initial astoundment and a lot of internal debate, I am excited to share that He has guided me in creating two accurate and unique Bibles. One will be a literal ‘word-for-word’ translation called the F.O.G Bible, and the other will be a paraphrase known as the F.O.G Paraphrase, which blends ancient and modern-day language. Both versions will faithfully preserve the Jewish context and retain the original names and titles of the Elohim, Yahweh. The One True God who reigns over all others who call themselves gods, including mere men.
This is undoubtedly a God-sized task, and I greatly appreciate your prayers and support to bring this vision to life! Many Christians who receive a calling like this often joke, “If you think you can do it, God didn’t tell you to do it!” I find comfort in that thought as I continually seek His strength and wisdom each day.
What am I working on now?
Work on the F.O.G Bible officially began September 2023—marking the one-year anniversary of my encounter with Him over coffee. The first book drafted was Ruth, and the entire New Testament was drafted February 10th, 2024. Just four days later, on Valentine’s Day, I launched this brand-new social learning and community website—fittingly, because God is Love. ❤️
I am now working on the new F.O.G Greek and Hebrew Lexicon so as to refine my draft translation of the Greek New Testament. I invite you to join me in this journey, exploring His Words more deeply in the beauty and richness of their ancient context.
But let me be clear now
Every reputable English Bible translation agrees on the core truths of the glory and majesty of the risen Lord Jesus, the Messiah, or as I like to call Him, יהוה (Yahweh) ישוע Yeshua. He is the King of kings, and will soon return to establish a literal “on earth as it is in Heaven” Kingdom. That day will be the best day of our lives, and I can’t wait! Come Lord Jesus!
However, the only truly perfect “word-for-word” Bible, free from any scribal “issues” or biases, is found in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts in which His words are recorded. This is simply a fact, as any translator or native speaker will confirm.
So let’s talk about what the F.O.G Bible is based on and the translation process.
INTRODUCING THE 7 BIBLES:
The F.O.G Bible is Based On
The New American Standard Bible 1995
If you’re looking for a “Word-for-Word” Bible translation that makes more sense to modern readers, the NASB 95 is the current gold standard and the main Bible being used for this project. It is excellent for maintaining consistency in translation throughout the Bible. I have very few criticisms of it; however, one thing I do miss compared to the NLT is the use of modern-day measurements and dates. For example, the NASB will simply write “ephah,” a term unfamiliar to most of us, when it means 22 liters or 5.81 gallons. For the F.O.G Study Bible, I want such measurements to be readily available in the text itself—not just in the footnotes—to reduce “brain fatigue” and make understanding easier.
The King James Version
You could say this project began when He instructed me to write down all His “red-letter” words, which I did using the King James Version (KJV). The KJV Bible is known for its regal poetic rhythm and is considered one of the most accurate “word-for-word” translations for English speakers. It is also the most widely sold Bible version and, as a result, one of the most frequently quoted. I love the King James Bible, but the 412-year-old English can make it challenging for modern readers to grasp important theological nuances. That’s why I turned to another Bible translation, the NASB, which was created and first published in 1971 during the height of the Jesus People movement.
Young’s Literal Translation
The Young’s Literal Translation (YLT), first published in 1862 by Robert Young, is a Bible version celebrated for its strict adherence to the original Hebrew and Greek texts. Known for its commitment to a word-for-word translation philosophy, it seeks to render the Scriptures as faithfully as possible to the original manuscripts, preserving verb tenses, sentence structure, and idiomatic expressions. Unlike dynamic equivalence translations, which prioritize readability in modern languages, YLT remains unapologetically literal, sometimes at the expense of natural English fluency.
Now that you understand the foundation of the F.O.G Study Bible, let’s dive into its specific aims and purpose.
The New Living Translation
I highly recommend the NLT for anyone looking to experience the Word of God in a fresh and engaging way. Its use of modern-day English, along with specific dates like “August 13th, 586 BC,” helps transport readers back in time, making the Bible’s stories and lessons feel vivid and alive. While the NLT is excellent for readability, it isn’t a traditional study Bible, as it doesn’t strictly maintain the original wording and phrasing; instead, it uses contemporary language to convey the core message of the text. That said, it remains one of my top choices for those looking to read it alongside the F.O.G Study Bible.
The Amplified Classic
The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC), is a favorite among many devoted Christians who want to uncover the deeper layers of meaning found in the ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. It excels in providing expanded definitions and alternative renderings of key words and phrases, which helps readers grasp the full range of meanings in the original languages. This makes it a valuable tool for in-depth study and for those who want more than just a surface-level understanding of Scripture. However, like the NASB 1995, the AMPC does not provide modern measurements and dates, which can sometimes require extra effort for contemporary readers to fully understand. Additionally, while the “wordy amplifications” can enrich study, they can also make the text less readable and more challenging to quote. Despite these points, the Amplified Classic is an excellent choice for those looking to dive deeper into God’s Word, offering a unique blend of translation and commentary that enriches personal study.
The Complete Jewish Bible
The Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) has been a revelation! Published by Messianic Jews who love ישוע (Yeshua), this translation allows readers to experience the deeply Jewish roots of our faith by presenting people, places, and key terms transliterated from Hebrew. Every time I read it, I am reminded of Jesus’ words: “Salvation is of the Jews,” which ultimately points back to Him. The modern church owes a great debt of gratitude to the Jewish scribes who faithfully preserved the mysterious truths of Yahweh Elohim for millennia, and then wrote about ישוע (Yeshua) HaMaschiach (the Messiah). I highly recommend the CJB for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and the Jewish context of the Bible. However, like the NLT, it is not designed to be a study Bible, but rather to broaden your perspective on Scripture.
The World English & Messianic Bible
This translation is based on the Majority Text and public domain “American Standard Version.” Thus it is copyright-free, with no verse sharing limits, whilst also preserving some of the Jewish context—an essential aspect of this project. I am genuinely grateful for the effort that went into this version, completed in 2020, as it enables me to work freely without worrying about copyright issues. This allows me to store the full manuscript and let people compare my edits directly against it.
INTRODUCING THE NINE AIMS OF:
The F.O.G Study Bible & Commentary
1. To Embrace the Revealed Names of the Elohim (God) called יהוה (Yahweh)
The sacred name יהוה (YHWH) appears 6,720 times in the Hebrew Bible, almost three times more often than the word אֱלֹהִים (Elohim, God). In English, it is written as YHWH, which is a transliteration of the Hebrew יהוה (Yahweh).
According to rabbinic tradition, this name is pronounced in a soft, breathy way. In Hebrew, this conveys the profound meaning of “the Breath of Life Himself.”
Most English Bibles translate this name as “THE LORD.” However, I prefer to use “יהוה (Yahweh)” because our אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) is a loving Father who wants His children to know Him by all His names.
What greater proof of this love could there be than Him sending Himself in the flesh and blood of ישוע (Yeshua) to die for our sins? So that all who believe in Him will be saved! No questions asked.
To honor these New Covenant marriage vows between God and a purified humanity, I will use Hebrew-to-English transliteration to help readers pronounce the original names of God. These names and titles include El-Shaddai (God Almighty or The All-Sustaining One) and יהוה (Yahweh) Tsidqenu (Yahweh our Righteousness). Praise God!
2. To Embrace the Jewish Roots of our Salvation and the Mystery of ישוע (Yeshua)
My heart deeply longs for the Jewish people to believe in their Messiah, ישוע (Yeshua)! This desire must be supernatural because, after all, I’m a British English-speaking Frenchman, born in South Africa, and now living in New Zealand—I’m not Jewish! Quite a story, I know!
The Fear of God (F.O.G) Bible is designed to speak directly to my Jewish friends, showing them that God is indeed their loving Abba who wants to be known personally through ישוע (Yeshua) and His רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ (Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit) within them. Yes, the rabbis were right in saying the Messiah was expected 2,000 years ago. But no, you didn’t miss Him because of any unworthiness. He did come, but His own people didn’t recognize Him as the Messiah because they were expecting a political leader to overthrow Rome. His first mission, however, was spiritual—to overthrow the Adversary. Rest assured, His second coming will bring the political rule you desire, with His iron scepter guiding the nations. What an incredible day it will be when the King governs the world!
With this in mind, the F.O.G Bible incorporates Hebrew terms and sometimes even script to communicate these truths to my Jewish friends while also revealing the fascinating mysteries of Jewish context to non-Jews.
3. To Simplify Religious ‘Lingo’
Our modern Bibles have gone through many layers of translation—from the original Hebrew and Aramaic to Greek, then Latin, and finally to English. While the essential message of salvation has been wonderfully preserved, some of the deeper mysteries concerning spiritual authority and closeness to God’s throne have become clouded. This is especially true with the introduction of Latin religious terms that made sense over a millennium ago but can be confusing today. A classic example of this is ‘Repent or repentance‘ which is from the Latin translation of the Greek word metanoia, which itself is based on the Hebrew concept of teshuvah, which simply means ‘Return or turn back!’ As in return to God! If you know what’s good for you. The concept of a return is so much simpler and beautiful, by echoing the Prodigal Son story, and does not have the connotations of ‘Repent you filthy scum!’ that so many people associate with, “Repent!”
So when a simpler and more accurate word or phrase exists that better conveys the meaning of a “religious word,” it will either replace the original term or have an explanatory note (in brackets) next to it. Another example, the term “saints” is often misunderstood. To maintain the original Jewish understanding—where “holy ones” are those declared holy by the Holy One—we replace “saints” with “holy ones.” You will find many such adjustments throughout the F.O.G Bible to bring clarity and understanding to readers.
4. To Remove and Condense English Words added to our Bibles.
When translating ancient texts into English, certain words need to be added to make the text understandable to our modern ears. If you compare the KJV or even the ‘gold standard’ NASB with the original Hebrew and Greek texts, including their word order, you might be surprised by the differences! For example, the word translated ‘pregnant’ is actually – ‘having in the belly!’
This is true to such an extent, that you might even be tempted to view highly accurate “Word-for-Word” translations like the NASB as paraphrases at times. This is not an error, but simply the nature of translation, even between modern languages—let alone translating an ancient text that lacks punctuation!
Rest assured, this does not change the core message of truth in our Bibles. However, the Fear of God (F.O.G) Bible will sometimes use a more “ancient” style by reducing the number of added English words. Unnecessary words will also be removed; for example, the KJV’s “an hundred and forty-four thousand” becomes simply “144,000.” The goal is to create a text that feels both authentic in its ancient style and easy to read.
5. To use Modern Dates and Measurements
By using modern dates and measurements, readers can better visualize and follow what is happening in the text. For example, when Ruth receives a generous provision from Boaz while gleaning in his field, it is described as an “ephah.” In the F.O.G Bible, this will be presented as “ephah (22L)” using UK measurements to clearly illustrate how abundant her provision was.
In the F.O.G. Paraphrase, the same will be shown using US measurements, such as “ephah (5.81 gallons),” to cater to different readers. This dual approach ensures the Bible is accessible and understandable to both UK and US audiences.
6. To Reduce the Need for More than three Versions of the Bible
To be completely honest, this is a personal goal of mine. I understand that regularly reading more than seven versions of the Bible isn’t practical in the long run. My aim, יהוה (Yahweh) willing, is to create one of the most accurate, contextually faithful “Word-for-Word” study Bibles.
This would allow me to compare it with just one or two other versions, making Bible study more manageable. While this is a personal goal, I believe it will also resonate with many of you who enjoy exploring multiple versions of His Word.
7. To Embrace Transparency
One morning, I was overwhelmed with a deep reverence for Yahweh, which made me realize the immense responsibility I carry as His “reborn scribe.” In response to this calling, every verse in this Bible translation is open for your comments—a feature that is likely a first in Bible translations. Whether you’re an expert in ancient languages or simply someone who loves Jesus and wants to share how a verse impacted you, all your thoughts are valued and appreciated.
8. To Embrace Ancient Poetic Metaphor
Did you know that biblical scholars estimate that up to 40% of the Bible is poetry? And it’s not just any poetry—it’s יהוה (Yahweh)-inspired, ancient poetry that is both unique and, at times, quite mysterious. This translation seeks to preserve some of these distinctive expressions, especially in the wisdom and prophetic books, while offering explanations in brackets or footnotes when needed.
However, not every phrase will be explained. The King James Version has shown us that lines like “The Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters” can still resonate deeply with us today without additional clarification.
To Embrace ‘Echoes’ of Agape! (True Sacrificial Love.
I conclude with this key aim because it honors יהוה (Yahweh’s) ❤️ heart of love for you. Understanding this will open the doors and floodgates of revelation in your Bible reading.
In the Hebrew Bible, certain keywords and phrases are deliberately repeated to make you recall other parts of Scripture. When you notice these recurring phrases, you’ve found a golden nugget or gemstone that can lead to a deeper understanding of יהוה (Yahweh)’s righteousness and justice.
Our goal is to preserve these consistent words and phrases as much as possible, not only in the Hebrew texts but also in the ‘Greek-westernized’ New Testament (Covenant). This approach will serve as a powerful study tool for comparing the ‘old’ and ‘new’ covenant vows that God has made with humanity through Jesus.