Do you find it difficult to read your Bible?
If you are a “normal” Christian you probably do. Probably all of us at some point have found it difficult to read the Bible. You may have found certain portions of scripture more difficult than others. I know many people who have started to read their Bibles in a year plan and get stuck in the Levitical offerings or never seem to come out of the Israelite wilderness wanderings. Some find it difficult to just read on a consistent basis. I spoke to my Sunday school class on this issue several weeks ago and have jotted down some thoughts from that morning. Since there are so many thoughts, I will have to post it in several portions.
No, you do not have to be a scholar to learn your Bible. You do not have to go to seminary and get a Master’s degree to find out what God’s will is for your life. Isn’t that reassuring? God has provided His Word in a fairly simple, logical format so that anyone can come to it and not only get saved by it, but grow by it daily.
As we read we encounter what I like to call “speed bumps” in our “subdivision” of God’s Word. There are different streets and different houses to view, but at times we can get lost and even discouraged. As you drive across the pages of the Bible I want to give you some directions.
What problems do you face when reading your Bible?
Here are some typical problems:
· What version is best to read from?
· Where do I start my reading?
· How long do I read and how many verses or chapters do I read at a time?
· If I am dealing with an issue in my life, where do I go? Especially if I am in Leviticus!
· Or simply, what do I do when I hit a difficult passage? How do I discover what it is talking about?
For this first post, here are some quick thoughts on translations…
The Living Bible.
This is very popular version. But please understand this is not a real translation. It is a paraphrase. This version is good for beginning readers, young readers, or possibly as a help in your study. I like to use it occasionally to get a different perspective on a verse (using it like a commentary).
The New International Version
This is a real translation and is also one of the more popular versions. I used the NIV through junior high and high school and loved it. However, this is translated with a “thought for thought” approach. This means that the translaters took the overall idea in a verse or passage and translated that idea. It flows nicely and is easy to read. It is also a great translation to read aloud.
The verions that I use the most, and recommend the most are the following:
The King James Version or the New King James Version.
These two are word for word translations (not thought for thought like the NIV). The King James has old English which thy reader will thus find thou to be much more difficult for thy reading. The New King James has the modern spin on the English language and is much easier to read, but still captures the KJV translation. You avoid all the “thou’s” and “thy’s.” Wouldn’t thou be nice?
…by the way, just to get it out there, nowhere in the Bible itself or church history do we have a heavenly confirmation that the 1600 Old English translation was the only inspired English translation.
The two I use the most and recommend the most are the New American Standard Version and the English Standard Version.
Both are translated from Greek and Hebrew texts which were more accurate than other original texts used by versions such as the KJV’s.
The NASB is a word for word translation and is extremely accurate to the text. However it is so accurate to the original languages that in the English it can be a bit choppy and confusing. Its a fantastic translation with rough edges!
I personally use the ESV because it is also a word for word translation. It flows smoother and is easier to read and understand – still keeping the accuracy of the translation method (word for word).
Overall I personally think the ESV is the best translation we have. And it is completely fine to disagree with me! I have not listed all versions and translations, but these are the most widely used.
My advice? Pick a version that is word for word (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV) and use that for most of your reading and memorizing, and from those four – pick the one that you enjoy reading the most and stick to it!
