Discipleship Journey: Phase #1- The Beginning (Step #2- How to Study the Bible)- Part 2
Ok, so, if you are going to start studying the Bible, you need to understand a couple things about the different translations of the Bible.
First, it is good to understand that the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament was written in Greek.
Anytime you translate words, phrases, and ideas from another language and another culture, many times there are not one to one comparisons.
Let me give you an example. In the Old Testament there is this Hebrew word “Hesed.” Now, throughout the Old Testament it is translated as love, faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, and loyalty, just to name a few. Well, all of those words mean different things so which is it? This is where understanding a bit about the language can help.
Second, it is good to understand that different translations of the Bible are trying to do different things.
Word-for-Word (Literal) Translation:
Focus:
Maintaining the original wording and sentence structure as closely as possible.
Advantages:
Generally considered more accurate for in-depth study and analysis, preserving nuances of the original language.
Disadvantages:
Can be difficult to understand in modern English, may include archaic language, and may not always capture the intended meaning due to differences in sentence structure and idioms between languages.
Examples:
New King James Version (NKJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), English Standard Version (ESV).
Thought-for-Thought (Dynamic) Translation:
Focus:
Conveying the meaning and intent of the text, even if it requires rephrasing or summarizing in modern terms.
Advantages:
More readable and accessible for general audiences, can be more helpful for devotional reading and understanding the overall message.
Disadvantages:
May lose some of the subtle nuances of the original language, can be more open to interpretation, and may not be as suitable for in-depth study or linguistic analysis.
Examples:
New International Version (NIV), New Living Translation (NLT), Good News Translation(GNT).
Paraphrase Translation:
Focus:
Paraphrased translations prioritize conveying the core meaning and readability for the target audience. They aim to simplify complex ideas and make them accessible, sometimes prioritizing natural flow and cultural relevance over strict adherence to the original wording or sentence structure.
Advantage: This approach can significantly enhance accessibility and understanding, especially for those unfamiliar with the original language or complex concepts. It can make the text more engaging and relatable to the target audience.
Disadvantage: The interpretive nature of paraphrase translation carries the risk of oversimplifying or even altering the original meaning, potentially introducing bias or losing nuance. Accuracy and faithfulness to the source text might be compromised in the pursuit of clarity or stylistic adaptation.
Examples:
The Message (MSG), The Living Bible (TLB)
Here is the bottom line. Pick a Bible that you will read and read often. I usually read the NIV, but pick something that is readable for you and read it.
There is no one best translation. There are pros and cons to each, and they all do the best they could to faithfully translate the Bible with the information that they had at the time.
The core message is the same in all of them! They will all lead us to Jesus!
If you need any help picking a Bible, let me know.
Happy Studying!
Paul