Many Christians read and study the King James Version of the Bible. Some believe it is the best and most accurate translation there is. Why? Can I read a different translation? What about paraphrases such as The Message?
Jonathan Brooks
Thou shalt comprehend thine manuscript as paramount as is achievable, and scrutinize the periphery in any manner thusly deemed appropriate. Translation: You can read whichever translation makes it easier for you to comprehend God’s word. Many Christians hold on to one translation even though they find themselves struggling for understanding. I believe the Bible is meant to be read and understood, so it is important that the individual reader finds a version he or she can read and understand. I also believe that the Bible was not written to us; it was written for us, meaning it was written to an ancient audience, and it is our responsibility to understand that but still use it in our modern culture. It is already difficult to understand some passages because of the cultural differences of our time. Reading paraphrases such as The Message and others can be helpful. Translators such as Eugene H. Peterson have gone through serious care to bring an ancient language to a modern audience. I would advise you to have as many translations as possible; this will help you gain different understandings of what the original writers were trying to convey.
Sean Gladding
The way some people talk about the KJV, one could almost imagine that God should have chosen English for the original version. Its enduring popularity and revered status are quite remarkable given the awkwardness of the way it reads four centuries since it was translated. It was written in order to be read aloud in the liturgy of corporate worship, and the beauty of its poetry still moves us, much as Shakespeare can. To state that it is the most accurate translation of scripture is to deny 400 years of the expansion of our understanding of both the Hebrew and Greek languages and the cultures out of which the Bible grew. Every translation is already an interpretation, as we choose which words to use from a range of possibilities. To pretend it is not is to be disingenuous. For instance, the translators of the KJV use “prince” for fourteen different Hebrew words. Coincidence? Or because the one paying for their services was King James? The impetus for this third English translation appears to have been the desire to reinforce the established institutional structure of the Church of England, which also no doubt shaped the language used. When people ask me, “What translation of the Bible should I buy?” I invariably answer, “One you will actually read.” This has meant that I often recommend The Message version, as it is so accessible for our culture. For me, the question is not which Bible to read, but how to read it. My conviction is that it is to be read in community with others, aloud and often—and then embody what we believe God is saying.
Phil Jackson
The King James Bible uses a linguistic style that no one currently identifies with, yet because of the elegant sound of the words, some folks believe that this is the way we have to talk when speaking to God. There’s a lot of information out there about why the King James translation is not necessarily an accurate version of the Bible, and even more information from those who say it is the only version that should be read. So which is it? If you cannot understand the Word of God, it means nothing. The purest way to read the Bible and to find its deep meaning is to read it in Hebrew, Greek, and/or Aramaic, but this is unrealistic for most of us, just trying to read English. So if you are going to spend time seeking truth from God’s Word, find a version that is in a language that you are able to comprehend and to read easily, and go for it! God is bigger than whatever version you choose, and yet He desires us to know Him though His word. Whether it’s a paraphrase or the King James version, we must grow in our understanding of God, and that is best done when we are experiencing Him through His word.
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Scriptural reference(s): 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12
Suggested additional sources: • How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stewart • Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson • Manna and Mercy by Daniel Erlander • The Epic of Eden by Sandra Richter • Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today by N. T. Wright • How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart
Questions for further discussion/thought:
1. Can you think of a time when you heard someone incorrectly and it ruined the relationship?
2. How important is it that you truly understand God’s commands?
3. If you have read different translations, what was your experience in doing so?
4. What has been your experience of reading the Bible with other people?
5. How has that shaped the way you read the Bible today?
6. Why are there so many different versions of the Bible? Is one better or worse than the other?
7. Why do you think some churches use more than one translation, or even non-literal interpretations of the Bible?
Source cited: • The Holy Bible
You Can't Ask That! : 50 Taboo Questions about the Bible, Jesus, and Christianity, edited by Christian Piatt, Chalice Press, 2020.
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