Bibles, Bibles, Everywhere!
How many bibles do you own? Don't know? I bet there's at least one King James Version bible around your house. Right? Maybe even a "Red Letter Edition" KJV bible. Maybe you have the bible you were given at your confirmation, or your first holy communion. Confession here - how many times since then have you opened it up to read it? OK, just checking.
At last count, using my "go to" online bible source, biblegateway.com lists upwards of 60 bible translations. From, get this, the "Complete Jewish Bible", to the 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV), to the Jubilee Bible (Jub), and so many more. One that's listed there that I particularly love is the "Mounce Reverse Interlinear Bible" (Mounce.) William Mounce is a Greek New Testament scholar, and I used his book/s to help get me through Greek in the seminary. I use this edition a lot from week to week.
So what, Pastor? What's your point? My point is that each of these translations has something a little different to convey about Scripture, and how we read and interpret it. I find the King James Version a little too stuffy for me. It's language that is often archaic and it uses words and phrases that we don't use today. When was the last time you said the word, "restoreth", or leadeth? But that's just me. Any good biblical scholar will tell you that the KJV is the closest and truest interpretation of the New Testament from the original Greek. So it's got that going for it.
So this week, we'll take a quick dive into a couple of different translations, and YOU decide which you might like best. I'm going to use part of the gospel for this week, from the 6th Chapter of John. Just for fun, I'm going to use two versions, both of which are familiar to me, and which I use all the time. The first is the NRSV translation, (New Revised Standard Version) the one we typically use on Sundays. And the second translation I'm going to use is "The Message". I know some of you are familiar with this translation. It makes much of Scripture more "accessible" to us regular folks. Uses language that we all use every day. No "thee's and thou's", and such. So, here we go.
John 6:56-69 (NRSV) - the version we use most Sundays
[Jesus said,] 56“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” 59He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
Got that? Now, here's the same text using "The Message". Ready?
John 6:56-6953-58
The Message translation
"But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
59 He said these things while teaching in the meeting place in Capernaum.
60 Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
61-65 Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this rattle you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
66-67 After this, many of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?”
68-69 Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.”'
We'll try one more quickly. Let's try the 23rd Psalm. WE all know that one. First the NRSV (New Revised Standard Edition)
Psalm 23 (NRSV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff
— they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.
And now, the 23rd Psalm in the KJV (King James Version)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
So, what do you think? I encourage you to use www.biblegateway.com as you're able. Compare translations and see if you don't see Scripture you choose from a different perspective. I know I do. And, happy reading, and may you be blessed in your time with your bible.
Amen