ADDED TO THE LORD - YEHOVAH

Acts 2:47 (KJV): "And the LORD [Yehovh] added 'to the church' daily such as should be saved." The phrase "to the church" is not in the original text. It has been added. There are hardly any reputable translations which say "to the church" in this passage. It is an incorrect and false rendering.

The original Greek literally says: "And the LORD [Yehovah] added together daily the ones being saved." The passage does not tell us specifically to what or to whom those being saved were added. It merely states that all those being saved were "added together" or "numbered together."

Note: “The Lord [Yehovah] added to their number day by day those who were being saved." [ESV] That is exactly what the passage says in the original Greek. Again, the phrase "to the church" was an addition to the text of the Bible.

Some might argue that if God [Yehovah] is taking all the saved ones and collecting them together into a common group, then this seemingly suggests the addition of the saved ones is to the group itself. If there was no other teaching on this matter, this might well be a logical conclusion. However, there is further teaching which suggests that the saved are added to something else entirely, and that all those who are thus added to this "something else" are "numbered together”.

However, such is nevertheless not stated in the text, and for translators to impose their own interpretation upon the original text (however true that interpretation might be) goes beyond the work of a translator. The result, therefore, becomes more a commentary than a translation.

Acts 2:41, in the KJV, reads: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added ‘unto them’ about three thousand souls." At least in this passage the phrase "unto them" is placed in italics in the KJV. It is thereby acknowledged that this phrase has been added by the translators to the text of the Bible.

In the original Greek the latter part of the verse literally reads "And there were added in that day, about three thousand souls." The verse does not tell us to what these 3000 were added. It only says they were added. So, we see that the KJV translators did some assuming and interpreting, and then they added to the text. It is assumed by some that it was to the other saints they were added [i.e.: the church - the called - out Assembly].

However, this is merely an assumption. There is no question but what they were "numbered together” with the other saints, but is it possible there was something else to which or to whom these saved ones were added? If so, what or who was it?

The answer is found in Acts 5:14. Again, notice the KJV (which in this passage gives the correct translation of the original): "And believers were the more added to the Lord [Yehovah], multitudes both of men and women."

Some translations continue with the concept that it was "to the church - the called-out Assembly" that the believers were added. The NIV, for example, reads, "more and more men and women believed in the LORD [Yehovah] and were added to their number." This is not a correct translation of the original.

However, the KJV, ASV, RSV, and even the LB (and other translations as well) all correctly translate the original here - "added to the LORD [Yehovah]."

This concept has been largely overlooked in our preaching and teaching. We tend to proclaim that when one "obeys the gospel – the good news message about the coming kingdom of God" they are then added to the church [called-out Assembly]. Brethren, such preaching and misses the mark. People are not added to the called-out Assembly, they are added to the LORD [Yehovah]! And all who are added to the LORD [Yehovah] are then "numbered together" with the universal called-out Assembly. It is Yehovah who does the adding of people to the church [called – out Assembly] and He adds them to Himself. All those who are being saved; who are being added to the LORD; are then numbered among the family of God: His one universal body; the called – out Assembly of God. God does not add anyone to a particular group; Baptist, Methodist, etc., rather He collects them all together into one universal body – the called-out Assembly, and the common bond which they all share is: they are new creations "in the Messiah Jesus".

So, we should concentrate and focus our energy upon seeking to bring people to believe and trust in the only true God – Yehovah and to believe in the one whom He has sent, the Messiah Jesus.

Those who are added to the LORD – Yehovah are those who are worshiping Him as new creations in the Messiah Jesus, in the Spirit.

John learned this lesson about assuming that your group of believers are the only ones acting on behalf of the lord Jesus: Mark 9:38-40: John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone  casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us [not a part of our group]." But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us.

All who believe and obey the one true God – Yehovah and believe and obey the one whom He has sent are members of the universal called-out Assembly of God, which is the body of the Messiah Jesus, that God has appointed to be the head of His Assembly of called-out ones!

Members of the universal called-out Assembly are scattered throughout the world, and some attend churches in Christendom today. God knows the hearts of all those who believe and trust in Him!

2 Chronicles 16:9a. For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.