The King James Version vs. Modern Bible Translations: Pros and Cons If you want a formally equivalent translation that is similar to the KJV but easier to understand, use the, If you want a more optimally equivalent translation for easier reading, use the, If you want a translation that provides in-depth textual information and explanatory notes, use the, If you want a dynamically equivalent translation of the New Testament by a BYU scholar with notes and cross references to the JST and other standard works, I highly recommend. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. Canada Poverty Line 2020 Single Person. Turning the gem, as our Jewish friends would say. Logos is deep and rich with valuable insight and information to help any pastor better prepare for sermons, bible studies and small groups. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This article is part of the 10 Things You Should Know series. Study Bibles: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints, Data: Use of Modern (Non-KJV) Bible Translations among Latter-day Saints - Precepts of Power, Why the SEC/Ensign Peak Advisors Settlement Doesnt Trouble Me (or, Why I Dont Mind that Christs Church Has Money), Esau Ended Up with the Birthright (Kind Of), Uruk: A Possible Historical Setting for the Tower of Babel, The King James Version vs. Modern Bible Translations: Pros and Cons. Thus it seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and exact force of the original. Kings will be like fathers to you; queens will be like mothers. Second, Eugene Peterson also served as a pastor for almost three decades. Open your New King James Version to Luke 9:56 and you will read: Some examples include the NKJV, the NASB, the HCSB, the NET and even the NIV, which has its detractors. I take issue with you. The purpose of the dams is to reserve water for the time of need and to . At the end of the day, a pastor / teachers responsibility is to deliver the Word of God in a way that connects. Brian Simmons is a brother in the Lord with an evangelistic heart. Invite others to have input. the word suffer as in suffer the little children), One of the very few genuine paraphrases, based on the American Standard Version translation, One of the earliest accessible versions of the Bible, Careful to communicate the meaning of each passage, The language is not designed to beelegant. Although it appears that Eugene Petersons bible The Message is endorsed by many prominent people this does not mean we accept what they promote without testing it against Scripture. Box 702107 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 210.319.5055 Pros. Bible verses related to Massages from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance. The exact pronunciation of YHWH is uncertain, because the Jewish people considered the personal name of God to be so holy that it should never be spoken aloud. He goes on to say that people should get a study Bible to help with further study. THE PROS AND CONS OF 'INTELLIGENT DESIGN' 185 This clarification helpfully distinguishes between evolution and natu- ral selection, the latter of which, he argues, is the explanatory mechanism proposed by Darwinian evolutionists for the phenomenon of common de- scent. The most popular verses from the Book of John. The use of these different ways to translate the Hebrew words for God is especially beneficial to English readers, enabling them to see and understand the different ways that the personal name and the general name for God are both used to refer to the One True God of the Old Testament. From time to time, the execution of a convicted killer touches off a flurry of protests, editorials in various print media, and TV and radio talk shows in which the pros and cons (mostly the "cons") of capital punishment are discussed. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Thank you! Pros. I think your pros are right on, though I disagree with 2-4 of your cons. For the student of the Bible, the Bible itself warns most severely that its words are not to be tampered with: Some websites that may be useful (The author does not vouch for their truthfulness or otherwise always read there statement of faith and content dealing with salvation): Just try and Google 'errors in the "message bible"'. Let's look first at the structure of The Message 100, then at the pros and cons. Global Bible Commentary - Response Is the King James Version the only Bible we should use? 5. Fifth (but not last) officially authorized English Bible. This changes the meaning entirely especially the theological intent. Besides all the data on the MAN network has been managed very efficiently in a centralized way. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Each reading briefly introduced by Eugene Peterson. With their faces to the ground they will bow down to you, and they will lick the dirt on your feet. The words and phrases themselves grow out of the TyndaleKing James legacy, and most recently out of the RSV, with the 1971 RSV text providing the starting point for the translation work. There are numerous advantages to supplementing your personal or family study of the KJV with a modern translation such as the NRSV, NIV, or NET, especially if you select a study Bible edition with formatting, notes, and guides to aid understanding. A highly literal translation made by a team of Protestant scholars and theologians. In reality, the Lord doesn't need men to make His words more "readable." The Spirit is more than capable of bringing an understanding to anyone as the Lord wills and as we devote ourselves to study of it. I dont mind saying Im often intimidated by Read-the-Bible-in-a-Year plans. One site is:< http://www.biblegateway.com/> (Accessed 6th December 2008), David & Judith SimonEdited 5 December 2008Corrections\Why the Messege bible should be used, Copyright David L Simon 2007 - 2023 This material may be freely distributed provided acknowledgement of the author is made www.life-everlasting.net, This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The methodology of translation also can affect doctrinal meaning. 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Ive found The Message can shed new light on familiar passages, just by tweaking a turn of phrase. A translation that focuses on formal equivalence* will be most helpful. Im not sure if youre a pastor / teacher, but based on how your thoughts and implicit question are arranged, I would guess you are. Deuteronomy 18:18 - I will raise them up a Prophet from among their . Bible Verses About Massages - King James Bible Online Islamic Center of Cleveland serves the largest Muslim community in Northeast Ohio. Ideas and interpretations in this blog are strictly my own and do not represent the official doctrines or teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or any other entity. During his intense study of the Bible, however, Luther felt there was an inconsistency in the papacy's version of worship (more specifically, repentance and . The King James Version is the official English translation used by the restored Church of Jesus Christ because it provides continuity with the language of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, JST, and our theological terminology. A reading Bible in contemporary language, The Message//REMIX also has a unique verse-numbering system, charts and maps, and a topical guide for students. As we approach the topic of Bible reading and study, the first question that arises is which version of the Bible to use. They may want to talk about things they feel unwilling . Data: Use of Modern (Non-KJV) Bible Translations among Latter-day Saints, First Presidency Statement on the King James Version of the Bible. The phrase "as above, so below" embraces the "entire system of traditional and modern magic" and claims that "that which is above is the same as that which is below." pros and cons of the message bible. The results of a (very ad hoc) study I conducted on how often Latter-day Saints use non-KJV translations of the Bible, and the main reasons they do or do not. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. BUT youre curious and trying to figure out if its safe to read, if youll go to hell for touching it. To degrade and denounce him or his work is a travesty and tragedy. So, if youve been studying a passage to prepare for teaching, and youve been struggling to get the heart of it or struggling with understanding the fuller context, The Message can help you get to the heart of it. During his intense study of the Bible, however, Luther felt there was an inconsistency in the papacy's version of worship (more specifically, repentance and . "Hallowed be Your name" (NKJV) becomes "Reveal who you are" in, "On earth as it is in heaven (NKJV) becomes "As above, so below" in, "forgive us our debts (NKJV) is changed to "keep us forgiven" in, "do not lead us into temptation" (NKJV) is changed to "keep us safe" in. A non-profit, non-denominational resource of free in-depth Bible teachings. Sometimes the verses or passages are given unusual interpretations. 2. The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. Genesis 2:25-3:1. Here are 4 pros I found: To see what I mean, read these two sentences: The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame. Its funny looking at The Message now, and you realize Eugene Peterson was made or prepared for this exact work. What is the Christian Standard Bible (CSB)? Text Only vs. Reference Bibles - Thomas Nelson Bibles The prayers, fellowship and encouragement of an older saint means a lot to a younger worker perhaps struggling with difficulties, isolated for long periods from home or the company of others in his missionary group. As for cons, the only two I've found are if you're looking for a specific verse, most versions I've seen only have clusters or groups of verses, so you need to read whole paragraphs to find the single verse you're looking for. Learn more or donate today at. The Pros and Cons of Digital Bible Engagement The Spirit is more than capable of bringing an understanding to anyone as the Lord wills and as we devote ourselves to study ofit. Day and night become "Madame Day" and "Professor Night" in Psalm 19:1. Avolume containing The Old Testament Wisdom Books was published in 1998,followed by The Old Testament Prophets in 2000, the Pentateuch in 2001, the Books ofHistory in 2002, and an edition of the complete Bible in 2002. People go to schools looking for knowledge, yet all knowledge is hidden in this book. Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. The search feature is very good and creates a lot of options for reading and research. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. May you dive in, enjoy, and be reinvigorated yourself! What is the Contemporary English Version (CEV). Day and night become "Madame Day" and "Professor Night" in Psalm 19:1. The ESV is also used extensively by a host of major denominations, churches, and church networks, including the Southern Baptist Convention, the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod, the Evangelical Free Church, the Anglican Church in North America, the Presbyterian Church in America, and Acts 29. This is a very thorough post! On a related note, some have asked about the pros and cons of using a study Bible. The translation was motivated by a belief that Scripture is sacred and that the words of the Bible are the very words of God. Designed to be accessible to (and is very popular among) non-native English speakers, especially in Africa and the Far East. (Read More.) Conclusion. There is plenty of resources here that everyday pastors' will find incredibly useful. Writing straight from the original text, I began to attempt to bring into English the rhythms and idioms of the original language. Text-only Bibles have fewer distractions in and around the text, allowing for smoother reading, preaching, and teaching. In our view the book The Message is not a valid translation of the Bible. Strong's Number: 4314. (You can see why I, with my consuming passion for Living the Story of the gospel, love this, right?). Ultimately, he saw that using the current vernacular helped people better understand and more appropriately apply the Scriptures. Similarly, in a few difficult cases in the New Testament, the ESV has followed a Greek text different from the text given preference in the UBS/Nestle-Aland 28th edition. 1. Indeed the doctrine of salvation is rendered void by The Message simply in this statement. Although the Bible says that after the flood the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat, located in . Why is the King James Version (KJV) the official English version of the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, even though it was created back in 1611? First, Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message, was a linguist of the top order. The advantages of the King James Version of the Bible The intended meaning is often changed, for example, "righteousness" has been exchanged for "goodness" in Proverbs 12:28. Youve heard it can be a good paraphrase and youre curious what makes it different, fresh, etc. Archaic language was brought into line with current usage and significant corrections were made in the translation of key texts. Translations fall on a spectrum from being formally equivalent (trying to render the literal word-to-word meaning as faithfully as possible) to dynamically equivalent (trying to render the overall sense as coherently as possible). From there, if you want to do specific word studies on Greek and Hebrew, you can use another translation and concordance to dive into the nuances. Thanks for sharing this! being in sorrow rather than beating their breasts), Its emphasis on accessibility sometimes makes it feel a long way from the original, The change of metaphors into more modern language often changes their meaning more than what was intended, Not one of the strongest among the accessible translations, Usesup-to-date language (in particular it usesless archaic language for God), The Old Testament reflects Jewish interpretations of the text, Used more up-to-date versions of the Hebrew and Greek text, The Old Testament was translated to reflect Jewish interpretations of the text. Limiting the effort to only two authors advocating each position requires reading forty books that mostly contradict one another. Bill Underwood. Moreover combining both MAN and WAN network is less expensive. First, some background. The Message - Pros and Cons The original version of The Message was printed without the traditional numbered verses, making it read more like a novel. Here is Wisdom; this is the royal Law; these are the lively Oracles of God. With these words the Moderator of the Church of Scotland hands a Bible to the new monarch in Britains coronation service. King James Version (KJV) - 1611. Clichd symbols are the ones that we all associate the same message with. 10 Things You Should Know about the ESV Translation At best, it is a commentary on the Bible, yet unfortunately one masquerading as scripture itself, and no commentary is a suitable substitute for scripture. opportunities with others If no one was able to come into the United States there would basically be no America What message are we sending if we had no immigration? gospel-centered, Bible-centered content. The page doesn't have to be designed to accommodate a referencing system. Some words used in the KJV now have very different meanings(e.g. A recurring note is included to indicate that the term brothers (adelphoi) was often used in Greek to refer to both men and women, and to indicate the specific instances in the text where this is the case. But I think I could read The Message 100 in less than a year, if I add it to my stack of currently-reading books (I usually have 3 going at a time, plus one fiction for bedtimeJ). This means that God is the same as man on earth, and man is the same as God in Heaven. Based on the Hebrew and Greek texts available in the 16th century. Its in plain English, which is easyfor me to read. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! So, on myhandy-dandy Bible App that I use, I discovered The Message, so I tried it out, andreally liked it, and have used it ever since. Another advantage of the King James Version is the distinction between the singular and plural - compare Lk 22:31-32 where v31 is plural 'you', but v32 is singular 'thee, thy and thou'. Love books? I received my reviewers copy in mid-September, so I have not had time to read the entire book. The Message can help you capture the tone, the emotion, the thrust of it. Modern Controversies #2 . From that deep desire to see people live more closely to God and from the proof he saw in his congregation, not only did he translate the entire Bible, he also wrote 30+ books to help. Accountability- you can read plans with online friends. It needs to be avoided. John 3:16 is completely changed and becomes meaningless by saying "This is how much God loved the world: anyone can have a whole and lasting life". Its comforting and very beautiful. The ESV is the preferred Bible translation for many international ministries, including the Gideons International, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Awana, and others. Each reading took me about 30 minutes. (LogOut/ Bible Misconceptions: Diminishing the Work of Messiah- Part 1. Trim size: 5 3/16 x 7 1/8 Show more Honestly, that could be a pro though . Jimmy does this bit periodically called "Pros and Cons" where he weighs the good with the bad of current events. Soli Deo Gloria!To God alone be the glory! All three websites also have mobile app versions. From the very beginning, Eden was not meant to be static; it was headed somewhere. Kings will be your childrens guardians; their princesses will nurse your children. The ESV is an essentially literal translation that seeks, as far as possible, to reproduce the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. Now, The Message 100 Devotional Bible, The Message structured in 100 Bible readings makes it easy to read the whole Story. The Illustrated Faith pens were made for Bible journaling and we are excited they come in many different sized nibs as well as now coming in several fun colors too. What does it mean that God condescended in Christ and dwells with us through His Spirit? Ritual. We avoid or even shy away from the word, yet nearly all our acts of worship involve ritual. From Creation through the Fall to Redemption and ultimate Restoration, we read the wonders of the God we serve, worship in deeper awe and gratitude, and live the Story as the Holy Spirit has worked it into us. The Message can be very useful for a variety of reasons. In addition, the English word sons (translating the Greek word huioi) is retained in specific instances because the underlying Greek term usually includes a male meaning component and it was used as a legal term in the adoption and inheritance laws of first-century Rome. Before I get into the heart of my review of The Message, I want to offer an important comment regarding Eugene Peterson the man.Despite my concerns about the theology he inserted into The Message under the pretense of "translation", I have no reason to doubt Peterson is a brother in Christ Jesus. 1Cor. Every translation is at many points a trade-off between literal precision and readability, between formal equivalence in expression and functional equivalence in communication, and the ESV is no exception. He was a great man with a great heart, who fully invested his talents and skills to help millions of people re-access their Bibles and be reinvigorated in their faith. Likewise, the word man has been retained where the original text intends to convey a clear contrast between God on the one hand and man on the other hand, with man being used in the collective sense of the whole human race (see Luke 2:52). He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. 10 Things You Should Know about the Presence of God. 10 Things You Should Know about the Garden of Eden. It records the life and teachings of Jesus -Christ and his disciples. With her vast knowledge of Scripture, story, and the human soul, she helps people live passionately and intentionally the unique callings God has given them. The pastor is happy with the small group pastor knowing he or she is working in tandem to establish the principles and practices that were unearthed during the sermon. First, some background. If youve grown up reading traditional translations like King James or New American Standard, or even some of the newer ones like the New International Version or New Living Translation, The Message can come in like a breath of fresh air. " [The Bible] is the most valuable thing that this world affords. Your email address will not be published. This issue will be discussing why I use itversus the NIV, as well as some pros and cons. Heres the link: Jesus came into the world as the incarnate Son of God to accomplish more than one thing and defeating the devil by tasting death was among them. In that stream, faithfulness to the text and vigorous pursuit of precision were combined with simplicity, beauty, and dignity of expression. You can enlarge font as needed. Its so unique because Peterson started at the ground level. Whether due to scribal errors, editorial changes, or deliberate tampering, thousands of tiny (or large) variations exist in the corpus of manuscripts for any given biblical book. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. It aims to make the text as readable for a modern audience as possible. On a related note, some have asked about the pros and cons of using a study Bible. The ESV lets the stylistic variety of the biblical writers fully express itselffrom the exalted prose that opens Genesis, to the flowing narratives of the historical books, to the rich metaphors and dramatic imagery of the poetic books, to the ringing rhetoric in the prophetic books, to the smooth elegance of Luke, to the profound simplicities of John, and the closely reasoned logic of Paul. I might break this into a couple articles eventually, or expand upon it later, but for now, I think there are three main points worth you knowing. One could rightly say he understood the mechanics, the ins and outs, the nuances of these ancient languages, especially Hebrew and Greek. Compact and lightweight; Easy to Carry; Fits in Bag or Purse; You can carry supporting study tools such as a Strongs Concordance and other Reference guides; You can enlarge font as needed ; You can keep track of your daily reading within the app; Accountability- you can read plans with online friends; Read anytime and . If so, which should you use? (Many chronological Bibles divide . We all need to be vigilant in testing against Scripture what we come across in our daily life. These facts are important because he wasnt just some random dude making up a new paraphrase of the Bible with his own thoughts. Many people found this refreshing at first, but also found it inconvenient for cross-referencing, comparison with other versions, and group Bible studies. John 3:17 " For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (KJV) becomes "God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. What I have had time to do is read all of Genesis and most of Job the first two books, parts of Isaiah, Joel and Malachi, the first 8 chapters of Matthew, and parts of Revelation. Mixed Media Bible Journaling Supplies | Mediums - Pros and Cons Each decade, more ancient manuscripts are discovered, analyzed, and published (most notably the Dead Sea Scrolls in the late 1940s), meaning that the newer an English translation is, the more textual criticism it can draw upon, and therefore the more accurately it can present the original form of the text. These translations best preserve the words as God delivered them, so then the Holy Spirit may explain the meaning as God intended. The problem for some here is prophecies that were later seen to be about Christ. For personal study, werecommend usingthe New American Standard Bible or the New English Translation (www.bible.org) or any other accurate translation of the original texts. Hi Cindy, thank you for the kind words and for sharing your thoughts. We see His names and attributes in many passages throughout the Scripture. If a student relies exclusively onThe Messageas if it were a Bible, that student will not experience the light of God's word in an accurate and unfiltered way. For example, was Goliath six cubits and a span (99 feet) tall, as the medieval Hebrew Masoretic manuscripts read? Each reading took me about 30 minutes. Bible Translations are one of the ways God illuminates Scripture to us . One of the most asked questions about the Bible is what is the best translation?. What is The Message (MSG)? - GotQuestions.org Find out how we work and where we work to bring the Bible to life for communities all over the world. We've broken that big tale down into three parts, all 3.5minuteslong. Let's get started, Advantages of MAN. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Now, if were squared up on that, keep reading because Im sure youll learn a thing or two. Books and blogs that help you live a more joyful, integrated life. Concerning terms that refer to God in the Old Testament: God, the Maker of heaven and earth, introduced himself to the people of Israel with a special personal name, the consonants for which are YHWH (see Exodus 3:1415). Eugene Peterson, biblical languages scholar, peoples pastor, Scripture storyteller, has done it again. You'll notice that some of the same comments appearunder pros and cons this is because some people regard something as a positive, while others regardexactly the same thing as a negative. He was trying to connect the ancient text with the daily lives of the people in his congregation. You can probably tell that Im pretty excited about this Bible. The goal of The Message is to engage people in the reading process and help them understand what they read. Therefore, we do not call The Messagea Bible and neither should its publisher. *A formal equivalence, word-for-wordtranslation gives priority to what the original language says and how it says it. Some think their translationshould always reflect this; others that they should be translated in such a way as the original audience might have understood them, Sometimes its choice of inclusive language obscuresconnections in the text, One of the few modern translations to originate in Britain, Aims for a mix of accuracy, poetry and comprehension, It is especially good for reading in public, It isnt widely used and so is quite hard to get hold of, Because it doesnt follow the best known translations, sometimes its phrases sound unusual, Intended to be a readable though literal translation (at the time), The Old Testament was translated to reflect Jewish interpretations of the text, Language has moved on and it is no longer up-to-date.