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I grew up in a Christian home. My siblings and I were disciplined according to the Bible—spare the rod, spoil the child (Proverbs 13:24).
My dad prayed over every meal, and my mom read the King James Bible daily.
In Sunday School, we were taught out of the King James Bible, and when I began to read it daily, it was the King James Bible.
HOWEVER,
My family did not speak 17th-century King’s English; in fact, no one did (except for the preacher, and only on Sundays).
Trying to understand the King’s English with my South Florida vocabulary didn’t turn out well.
As a result, I only read what began mandatory and quickly closed the book.
But we were a Christian family, and the King James Bible was all we had.
(This is where the preacher would say, I you can relate, say amen.)
How do you understand the Bible?
Back then, there was no Internet, Google, or blue-letter Bible to click on, but there was the Strong’s Concordance, with every word in the Bible categorized for you to study.
I would spend hours trying to make sense of the countless words I had to look up, but I was committed and stuck it out.
However, most people lack that kind of resolve, and Western culture does not teach that kind of patience.
So, what do you do?
You find a translation of the Bible that paints the pictures your mind can comprehend.
Some say the King James Bible is the only “authorized” translation. The immediate challenge is based on what biblical authority?
Here is why finding a translation that you can understand is important.
I developed an early attraction to the Old Testament book of Proverbs.
One such proverb is 23:7, which says this in the King James Version.
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.”
Proverbs 23:7 King James Version
“For as he thinks in his heart,” captured my attention. This verse of scripture talks about the importance of proper thinking—or so I thought.
One day, I stumbled upon the New Living Translation, and to my surprise read this:
“They are always thinking about how much it costs.
“Eat and drink,” they say, but they don’t mean it.”
New Living Translation
I was confused.
I found a New International Version, and it read:
“for he is the kind of person always thinking about the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”
New International Version
Although my premise was correct, proper thinking is important; this verse of scripture was not talking (directly) about proper thinking but rather about a miserly (Scrooge-type) person who was forced to be polite.
All these years, I had a perception of a verse of scripture (from the Holy Bible) that was inaccurate because of the language it was written in.
Years later, Eugene Peterson came out with The Message, which read this way:
“He’ll be as stingy with you as he is with himself; he’ll say, “Eat! Drink!” but won’t mean a word of it.”
The Message
Peterson captured my “Scrooge” in the way he wrote the verse.
Can you understand what I am saying?
The words of the King James Version painted a mental picture that did not truly convey the meaning of the scripture.
Does that mean the King James Version of the Bible is bad?
Of course not, and you miss the point if you think I am implying such nonsense.
The image the New Living Translation painted in my mind more closely represented what King Solomon (the writer of Proverbs) was saying.
The question is, do you want to “read” the Bible or “understand” what you are reading?
Here is another illustration from the New Testament.
This time, the Apostle Paul is writing. In the language of the King James Bible, he says,
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
I Corinthians 10:12 King James Version
For years, the picture painted in my mind was someone who was properly thinking. They motivate themselves by self-talking, “Okay, I got this; I am going to stand strong. I can do this.”
However, these translations paint a different picture.
“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.”
I Corinthians 10:12 New Living Translation
“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
I Corinthians 10:12 New International Version
“Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.”
I Corinthians 10:12 The Message
The first two are more subtle, but The Message puts it out there. The Apostle Paul is saying don’t get cocky and self-righteous thinking you can do this on your own—it’s useless. Instead, be humble by being God-righteous, depending on him to make a way and bring you through.
Can you see the difference in each version’s words painted in my mind?
Again, I ask, Is the King James Version bad?
Of course not, but until it paints an accurate picture of what is being said, perhaps it isn’t the best translation for you.
Why it matters
It matters because God intends for his human creation to understand him, their relationship with him, and their purpose through him.
And you cannot do that if the image in your mind does not accurately convey what God wants you to know about him, your relationship with him, and your eternal purpose through him.
I like The Message because its words paint an accurate picture in my mind. Your task is to find a translation that does that for you.
With over 3,100 translations, I am sure you will find one that accomplishes that.
How do you find them?
Use a search engine, of course.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead provides you a living hope. It is a living anticipation full of expectation of something good happening.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.
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