Speaking of Translations part 3

Back to translations for a moment.

This is what I said when I first began talking about translations

“I’ve studied the Bible long enough that reading the more “modern” translations seems, I dunno, sort of “disrespectful” and “un-studying” to me. I do tell people, however, if you’re new to the Bible, read one of the more “flowing” translations, such as “The New Living Translation” or even “The Message.” I personally don’t like “The Message” but some Bible teachers that I greatly admire use it, so that tells me that it is ok, but I just don’t like it.”

I have since actually read from “The New Living Translation” - WOW! Am I ever impressed! I’d heard it was good, but man, it is very good! There are no feelings of “disrespect” or “un-studying” at all! Not only do the story lines flow, but even the most poetic of writings are beautiful.

We used verse 1 from the 23rd Psalm as an example before - this is how it reads in The New Living Translation, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”

I just couldn’t resist printing it all. And you know what? As I was reading that (even now) I noticed, maybe for the first time, that the Psalm changes from talking about the Lord in the third person (He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me…) to talking to the Lord, personally (Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. emphasis added.)

Now, see what “really reading, what we’re reading” can do?

Next time - back to another “idea” to try…

Speaking of Translations - continued

As I said last time, “The main key isn’t which translation one uses, it’s getting into the Bible on a regular and consistent basis. I’m convinced that the major block to knowing what the Bible is saying is that we just don’t really read what we’re reading.”

This is especially true of those of us who’ve grown up in the Church. We’ve heard and read these stories so often that our minds automatically jump to the conclusion of the scripture without actually hearing what it is saying.

For instance, I don’t know how many “thousands” of times I’d heard and read the Creation story in Genesis but didn’t realize that man (and beasts) were to be “vegetarian” until after the flood! Wild, huh? (Genesis 1:29 and Genesis 9:3 - check it out!)

I came to this conclusion (that we're not really reading what we read) one day after reading passage after passage in a commentary and thinking, “I knew that. Why didn’t I realize it?”

When we sit down and really read what we’re reading, we can grasp so much more of what God is saying to us. Now, don’t get me wrong, commentaries are great things, and I use several different “brands.” But we truly need to let God Himself speak to us through the Scriptures, themselves as well.

This is what I do every time I begin to read the Bible (or try to do every time - sometimes I have to stop and remind myself…) I pray, “Lord, open these words to my understanding. May Your Spirit speak to my spirit, so that I might know Your Word.”

Now, this is not a “hocus-pocus” or an “abracadabra” of Biblical understanding. Just like praying “In Jesus’ name” at the end of a prayer isn’t “the magic words” that makes it all happen. It’s an attitude of being open to hearing God and then praying as Jesus would have prayed - “in His name.”

Get it? In His name - in His stead, in His place, as He would have done… we have to “pay attention” to what we’re really saying and reading.

Perhaps that’s one advantage of reading a translation that is not entirely comfortable to us. Think about it. When we read from a translation that is different than we’re used to, we have to pay close attention to what it is saying, because it oftentimes doesn’t say what we’ve come to expect it to say. (I couldn’t tell you the number of times I’ve “stumbled” over a passage when I knew it in one translation, but was reading from another!)

For example - Everyone knows how the 23rd Psalm starts in the KJV, right? “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want”. Now, read how it sounds from, say, The Message “GOD, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.” Isn’t that really different?

For more ways to “really read what we’re reading” try these ideas:

· Read one verse and “digest” what it really says.

For instance (as my SS lesson book is open beside me) 1 Timothy 2:1 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men…” Ask yourself, “What is Paul really saying here? Why did he say ‘entreaties’ and ‘prayers’ and ‘petitions’ and ‘thanksgivings’ - don’t all 4 of these words mean basically the same?” Think about how these words are different.

Then Paul said to pray this for “all men” or “everyone.” Did he really mean “everyone”? Could I pray these things for “everyone” - every single person, even my enemies…?

Now, you might say, “Man! I’d never get through the Bible like that!” Maybe not, but you’d really know what you’ve read, wouldn’t you? I have a personal “peeve” with the “reading the Bible through in a year” plans. Yeah, one might “read” it, but would you “know” it?

Next time - another “idea” to try…