Bible translations, a guide to understanding the difference.
If you have the slightest interest in the Bible you will have noticed the vast number of Bible translations one can choose from. What are the differences from one Bible translation to another and why are there so many of them? This brief article will attempt to whet your appetite to further study in the fascinating world of Bible reading and translation.
The Bible was written in three languages, Hebrew, Greek (Koine) and some portions in Aramaic. None of these languages are widely spoken today and are pretty much reduced to a few academics that actually voice out the words, often not being quite sure how it is pronounced. So it is thank to translations that we can enjoy today this wonderful masterpiece, the Bible. In fact today nobody has any excuse not to have read at least a portion of the Bible as it has been painstakingly translated into over 2,400 languages and there are many languages that have dozens of different translations in one language.
What differences are there from one translation to another?
Bible translations are often divided in three main groups with a wide variety of hybrid versions in between. At one end of the spectrum of translations we have interlinear translations that contain the original language and render the target language on a word to word basis. These translations are very accurate in their rendition of words but sacrifice in readability and flow of thought when the grammar structure varies significantly to English or the language the Bible is being translated in.
On the other side of the spectrum are Paraphrase translations of the Bible. These translations, also called free translations, provide a looser translation where less importance is placed on word choice and translation and more in expressing the message the translator feels God wants to convey.
The middle ground of Bible translations is a hybrid of interlinear and paraphrase Bibles that strives to keep grammatical and semantic integrity while making the text interesting and easy to read.
Which is the best Bible for you much depends on the kind of student you are and what you want to get out of the Bible reading. We can however warn on the use of Free or paraphrased Bibles, sometimes the liberties taken by translators to express what they feel the message is are excessive and depend too much on the beliefs of the translator.
I personally recommend a wide variety of Bibles depending on the purpose of the reading which will provide depth and interest to your personal Bible study.
Read the Bible in the order it was written.
Reading the Bible is opening the door to the history of God’s people from the beginning of mankind to the first century and through prophecy down to our very day and in to the future. Whether you believe the Bible is God’s way of communicating with us or simply a literary work one cannot ignore it as a foundation of culture and moral principles for a large percentage of the world and worthy of study. I feel that if you really read and study the Bible with an open mind you cannot fail to see the signs that set it as a unique letter that could only have originated from a superior being that has our best interest at heart.
The bible was handwritten by forty men over sixteen centuries however the actual content was directed by God himself. It is for this reason that reading the Bible is not simply an intellectual exercise but a way to connect with the Almighty and learn about the purpose of life. You are probably skeptic about these claims and I can’t blame you. In a world with so much hypocrisy and false claims, to say that one can have direct communication with our Creator’s mind can seem naive at the very least.
However it is easy to find out if this claim is true or not. Set aside a ten minutes a day and start reading a chapter or two a day. Don’t only read the Bible, study it. Find people who share your love or interest for the Bible and ask them for help in studying the Bible.
A good way of reading the Bible is to read it in the order it was written. This provides a more organized understanding of the events the Bible describes in their proper context. There are small differences of opinion of the exact chronological order of the Bible books but these are minimal and will not detract at all from your enjoyment. If you are interested in doing so click here for a free chart of the Bible books in chronological order.
When you read the Bible in chronological order you will see the significance of certain Bible accounts more clearly. You notice the significance that Melchizedec were king and priest much before the nation Israel existed or the tribe of Levi was set as Priest class for the nation of Israel and how this reflects on Paul comparison of the king / priest and Jesus Christ. You might notice that Shem and Abraham probably knew each other providing a direct link between Noah and God’s friend Abraham. You will be amazed at the constant examples of forgiveness Jehovah displayed every time the rebellious nation of Israel ignored Jehovah’s commandments and turned to other Gods.
The truth is that reading the Bible with meaning and understanding will change your life and provide you the meaning and spiritual fortitude to be happy despite any hardship you might currently be enduring.