Nov 4, 2009
It’s OK to prefer your Bible over others; just don’t blame its superiority on God.
Being emotionally connected to one particular version of the Bible is natural.
But remember that this connection is sentimentality, not the Spirit.
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Related:
A!
MEN!
So we can’t burn ESVs and your dad’s books on Halloween any more?
What would your dad say to that? I’ve heard sermons where he wishes that the NIV would cease to exist because he believes that it doesn’t clearly interpret the scriptures.
In that sense, there is some room for the Spirit to guide us in our choice of translation, right?
Yes but…Read carefully.
The emotional connection is sentimentality.
Not to say that the one I use is definitely the only correctly interpreted, but there are some out there that are definitely incorrectly interpreted! The Spirit is definitely involved in discerning between the two.
[...] Abraham Piper that is: Being emotionally connected to one particular version of the Bible is [...]
So you’re saying that God didn’t inspire the translation of the 1611 KJV? But it’s in the universal language of (middle) English!
The KJV is a world and a half away from being Middle English.
This is Middle English:
Syððan wæs geworden þæt he ferde þurh þa ceastre and þæt castel: godes rice prediciende and bodiende. and hi twelfe mid. And sume wif þe wæron gehælede of awyrgdum gastum: and untrumnessum: seo magdalenisce maria ofþære seofan deoflu uteodon: and iohanna chuzan wif herodes gerefan: and susanna and manega oðre þe him of hyra spedum þenedon.
Well said. You nailed it.
I’ve been a die hard KJV since I was a kid. My younger sister has introduced me to the New American Bible, and a friend also introduced me to the ESV. I have to say I’ve gained a greater respect and appreciation for other translations. I know the Lord speaks to a man in a very personal way that he/she might understand clearly. Then through the Spirit we glean personal meaning and application from the doctrines.
I wonder if the same should be said about computer platforms (PC vs Mac) ;o)
I’m still convinced that Steve Jobs is the Antichrist and Apple the Beast. ;-)
Preach it!
I remember when the NAS was the smart guys Bible. Now it’s the ESV. The NIV(especially the TNIV) are the bible whipping boys.
I do have a soft spot for the NKJV but want everyone to think I’m real smart so I use the ESV.
No, the “Smart Guys’ Bible” is NRSV” In many “smart places”, you’re seen as a regular hic if you use anything else.
Chad means smart Evangelical Reformed guys :-)
What are your thoughts about the easy to understand New Living Translation?
I’ve been using the NASB primarily for a while now, but would like to use a translation that is easier to understand.
I wish the ESV capitalized words like, He and Him, when they were referring to God. I’m not saying it’s wrong for not doing that. It’s just a personal preference. It makes it easier to read and understand.