Lost in Translation
A story is told about four preachers who were debating
concerning the best Bible translation. The first argued that
the King James Version (KJV) is the best. It shows that
God's word will endure from generation to generation, and
the poetry and Old English are beautiful to read. The KJV
teaches us to revere the Scriptures and study them
diligently.
The second minister argued that the New American Standard
Bible (NASB) was better because it provides us with the most
accurate translation. He explained that the NASB is the
closest word for word translation from the original Hebrew
and Greek texts.
The third minister argued that the New International Version
(NIV) was the best translation. He said that it was much
easier to read than the other translations and while it did
not have the word for word meaning like the NASB, the NIV
captured the original meaning of the text and communicated
it in modern language.
Each of the ministers then looked to the fourth minister to
see which version of the Bible he thought was the best.
After a few moments he said, "I guess I believe the ' living
Bible' is the best translation." Each of the other ministers
responded, "The Living Bible is NOT a translation; it's only
a paraphrase and too wordy to be trusted."
The fourth minister smiled and said, "No, I don't mean the
BOOK; I'm referring to the ' living Bible' I saw lived out
in the LIFE of my father every day. He lived the Scriptures
in such a way that I was convinced the Bible was indeed the
Word of God. Dad's LIVING Bible changed my life."
Truly, the BEST translation of the Bible is the one that is
lived out in one's life!
The Apostle Paul wrote to a group of Christians telling them
the reason he was so thankful for them: "For this reason we
also thank God without ceasing, because when you received
the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it NOT
as the word of MEN, but as it is IN TRUTH, the Word of GOD,
which also effectively works in you who believe"
(1Thessalonians 2:13).
Will YOU receive the Word of God, and welcome it into your
life for what it is: THE WORD OF GOD? Will you believe His
Word enough to OBEY it?
In Acts 2, we read of a large group of people who accepted
the Gospel message that the apostles' preached as the Word
of God..... Believing that Jesus is the Son of God and that
their sin was responsible for His death, they cried out,
"What shall we do?" The Apostle Peter responded, "Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized (immersed) in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). The Bible
records their response: "Then those who gladly received his
word were baptized; and THAT day about three thousand souls
were added to them" (Acts 2:41).
Will YOU respond in like manner - TRUSTING and OBEYING the
Word of God - NOW and for the rest of your life?
Please, don't let the Bible be lost in translation in YOUR
life.
God bless you!
David A. Sargent
creekwood@comcast.net