Theological errors of "Predestination to Eternal Life" and "The Preservation of the Saints" cause mistranslation

A clear case of mistranslation due to a theological error is how modern English bibles translate 1 Thessalonians 5:9. 

Although there is very scant evidence to support them, translators allow theological errors like "Predestination to Eternal Life" and "The Preservation of the Saints" to cause them to read the Greek verb títhemi in the middle voice to mean "to appoint" (King James Version) or "to destine" (New Revised Standard Version). 

But look at the lengthy analysis by the best Ancient Greek dictionary available in English, Liddell Scott Jones: no such sense for this verb is mentioned. 

Here is how the Christ Family Bible translates the verse:

9  because the God did not set us unto wrath, but unto safe-keeping of salvation through the Lord of ours, Jesus Christ. (CFB)

Note that this translation is consistent with the Exodus example of God's salvation of His people: the Israelites were set in safe-keeping of salvation through God's providence, when God ransomed them from Egypt and led them through the wilderness to test them. This safe-keeping was not for the rebellious, who did not pass the test and did not enter the promised land.

The phrase "safe-keeping of salvation through the Lord of ours, Jesus Christ" also has clear support in existing knowledge of Ancient Greek, and avoids misleading formulations. 


_____________
CFB: Scripture quoted from the Christ Family Bible. Copyright © 2017 by J.J. Thomas. Used by permission. All rights reserved.