I've had a few good discussions with people over the last year or so about the pros and cons of various Bible translations. Some people are passionately sold on only a single translation, while others feel that just about anything that has "Bible" written on it's cover is sufficient. One guy I know is a "King James Only" believer, rejecting all other renditions of the Bible. Somebody else I know uses at least eight different translations to pick and choose their favorite way of wording a particular verse in order to best prove their point. As with most things, I don't think either extreme is helpful. My personal opinion is that any Bible translation can be useful for spiritual growth when a person reads it in the context from which it was written, so have a good Bible. God could communicate with us through a cereal box if He so desires, let alone through a modern paraphrase of the Bible (Just so we're clear, I don't think you should trade in your Bible for a box of Corn Flakes. My point is, it's insulting to the power of God when we say that He is unable to speak to us if our Bible uses "Whither" instead of "Where").
So, I decided to write this little article discussing some of the features of a few of the major versions floating around today.
First, let's start with the big head honcho, the New International Version (NIV). Over the past couple decades, the NIV has become the most used English translation of the Bible. It's easy to read, straightforward, and very accurate. The NIV is the product of the Committee on Bible Translation, a team of 15 PhD's who specialize in ancient languages. So you can be fairly confident that what the NIV says is incredibly close to what the original Hebrew of Greek was talking about. The big drawback that I've found with the NIV is that it tries to appeal to too many people. It wants to be proper and polite, careful not to offend anybody. This might sound good, but there are some passages (especially in the Old Testament) that are meant to be offensive. When God speaks harshly to Israel, it should come across as harsh. Likewise, when He speaks gently and lovingly, it should come across as such. The NIV tends to blur this distinction, which can sometimes change the tone, and thus the interpretation, of a particular passage. Overall, it's a great translation for reading and studying. For new believers or children who need something straightforward and easy to understand, the NIV is terrific.
Shop for a NIV Bible
Next up, the English Standard Version (ESV). If you take the pros and cons of the NIV and reverse them, you'll essentially end up with the ESV. It is incredibly accurate, calling itself an "essentially literal Bible translation". This means that the translators worked word-for-word and didn't change or excessively reword passages to make them sound nicer. This makes it terrific for in depth study because you can see the meaning an intent of the original languages. However the tradeoff for such accuracy is in its readability. Because it is a word-for-word translation, sometimes the sentence structure is awkward and you may have to backup and read a passage a couple times. Something else to note is that the ESV is a much more blunt translation, in the sense that it doesn't rephrase things to make it sound more polite. You can really feel the raw emotion of the original writers when you read the honest (and sometimes shocking) language used in the dialog.
Shop for an ESV Bible
The final translation I'll look at isn't really a translation, but a paraphrase. The Message is an ultra-modern rendition of the Bible written by Eugene Peterson. It has almost no word-for-word accuracy to the original language. This is because it wasn't translated from the original languages. Instead, it was translated from existing English translations into a casually spoken English version. The Message actually is more a collection of slang and cliches that fit together to tell the story of God. It really is a fun Bible to read and would be ideal for children or new believers who just want to see what the Bible is all about. It's the most straightforward and to-the-point of any Bible version I've read yet. It gives the Bible the feel of an adventure novel. Another great thing about The Message is that has somehow managed to translate the ancient culture into modern application. One of the most difficult things about applying scripture is to ask "how does this relate to today?" In some cases, The Message does all that work for you because of its modern phrasing! However, all this easy reading does have its downside. The Message is not great for in-depth study. Since it doesn't translate back to the original languages very well, it would be dangerous to base any substantial theological arguments from it. It's also sometimes difficult to extract the deeper treasures of scripture from The Message because of it's modern language. For example, in the Lord's prayer, instead of "Give us this day our daily bread" (ESV), The Message says "Keep us alive with three square meals." While on the surface, these two verses seem similar in meaning, the deeper implications of the ESV rendition is completely lost in The Message version. Despite all this, however, The Message does still have a place for the more mature believer and Bible student. I use it often as a commentary to use alongside another translations. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes the ESV can be a little confusing. So I will sometimes read a passage in The Message first to get the general surface-level idea, and then dig deeper with the ESV or NIV.
Get The Message Bible
I hope this helps in your search to find which translation best suits your needs. Just remember always (regardless of which translation you use) to put scripture in the proper cultural context from which it was written. God bless, and I hope that you find the mystery of scripture to be as enriching as it has for me.
Killing Death
I noticed the other day that the Church talks so much (especially around Easter) about the idea of Jesus "defeating death", that it almost makes it lose its meaning. Overcoming death is a concept more complex and massive than I think we're even capable of understanding.
Some psychologists theorized that every fear or phobia can be traced back in some way to a fear of death. It's this big inescapable monster that will eventually consume us all.
But the Good News of Christ is that death, though imminent, is nothing to be feared nor is it the end.
Here is a great video put out by LifeChurch.tv featuring the poetry of David Bowden, who beautifully describes the impact of death and the victory of Christ over the grave.
Some psychologists theorized that every fear or phobia can be traced back in some way to a fear of death. It's this big inescapable monster that will eventually consume us all.
But the Good News of Christ is that death, though imminent, is nothing to be feared nor is it the end.
Here is a great video put out by LifeChurch.tv featuring the poetry of David Bowden, who beautifully describes the impact of death and the victory of Christ over the grave.
He Is Still Risen!
I decided not to post anything on Easter. On Easter Sunday, everyone is already bombarded with the amazing news that our Lord has risen, through church services, YouTube videos, and Facebook updates.
So instead, I'll tell you today, the day after Easter, that Christ is still alive and well! After the holiday is over and the excitement has died down, don't forget about the amazing demonstration of God's power that took place on that day.
Worship Him today, and every day, for His death and resurrection and what the means for us.
Have a blessed day! He is risen!
So instead, I'll tell you today, the day after Easter, that Christ is still alive and well! After the holiday is over and the excitement has died down, don't forget about the amazing demonstration of God's power that took place on that day.
Worship Him today, and every day, for His death and resurrection and what the means for us.
Have a blessed day! He is risen!
I'm His Son
My dad owns a few rental properties in St. John's. He's out of town on vacation now, so he put me in charge of them. Yesterday I received a call telling me that the furnace at one of the rentals wasn't working properly. When the superintendent tried to call the company to get someone to come in and fix it, he was told that they weren't able to send a repair man because only the owner of the account (my dad) was authorized to make that request. So, I called the company myself and explained that I was the owner's son. Right away, they sent somebody in to fix the furnace.
I thought about the situation a bit afterwards. Things happened, not because of who I am, but because of who my father is. I had no authority over the account myself, but because I am the son of the owner, I am given authority.
In the same way, as a child of God we are incredibly blessed. If our earthly fathers can give us authority over earthly things, how much more can God give us spiritual authority and power! I encourage you today to take hold of the promises and blessings that God has given to you. All because you are His child.
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
And that is what we are!"
- 1 John 3:1
Hosea
For me personally, the book of Hosea is the most convicting in all of scripture. When you compare the relationship between humans and God to the relationship between a man and a woman, we can really see the weight of our sins. It also helps me grasp the concept that all sins are equal in God's eyes. When a spouse betrays their significant other, the specific act that takes place means very little. It's the intention behind it. It could be a "big" act or a "small" act, but in the heart of the betrayed, all they feel is that their beloved has given their attention, focus and affection towards somebody else when it was meant to be directed at them.
When God sees our sin, I think He feels the same way. It's not necessarily the action that bothers Him, but the condition of our heart. Whether we tell a "simple lie" or commit a murder, in God's eyes, we're giving our affection and focus to sin instead of directing it at Him.
It also helps us understand why we shouldn't sin. It's not to win brownie points with God or to impress our Christian friends. It's because our sin breaks the heart of God. If we claim to love God, why would we want to put Him in the situation where He feels "she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot." (Hosea 2:13)
But God, in His mercy, is eager to forgive us and take us back.
Below in a great retelling of the story of Hosea by Reggie Dabbs, an incredible youth speaker:
When God sees our sin, I think He feels the same way. It's not necessarily the action that bothers Him, but the condition of our heart. Whether we tell a "simple lie" or commit a murder, in God's eyes, we're giving our affection and focus to sin instead of directing it at Him.
It also helps us understand why we shouldn't sin. It's not to win brownie points with God or to impress our Christian friends. It's because our sin breaks the heart of God. If we claim to love God, why would we want to put Him in the situation where He feels "she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot." (Hosea 2:13)
But God, in His mercy, is eager to forgive us and take us back.
Below in a great retelling of the story of Hosea by Reggie Dabbs, an incredible youth speaker:
The Long Way
Like most people, I've sometimes wondered why God does things that way He does. I'm not necessarily upset by His ways or disagreeing with His plan, but I'm just curios as to why He chose to do things in a certain way.
A passage in Exodus 13 shed some light on this for me:
So in His mercy, God leads us around by taking the long route. He isn't disappointed or forceful with us by saying "suck it up and just plow through the short cut". He's gentle, leading us around the long path, saying "I know your fears and your struggles, and it's okay. We'll take the long way."
A passage in Exodus 13 shed some light on this for me:
"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." - Exodus 13:17There have been things happen in my life where I've wondered "wasn't there an easier way to get the same result?" Sometimes I wish I could go back in time a little bit and save myself a lot of trouble by doing things differently. But as this passage points out, God knows our hearts and our fears and He sees the obstacles that we would run into if we take short cuts. Something might seem easier at first, but there could be a piece of the picture that we're missing, and when we run into it, it would be more than we could bear. Like Israel being led out of slavery, we could run into a trial that we can't overcome and decide to turn back, giving up on God's plan for us. Instead, if we follow God, we'll find a path that isn't "beyond what we can bear" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
So in His mercy, God leads us around by taking the long route. He isn't disappointed or forceful with us by saying "suck it up and just plow through the short cut". He's gentle, leading us around the long path, saying "I know your fears and your struggles, and it's okay. We'll take the long way."
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