The Holy Bible on our desks, shelves, or phones is quite literally a treasure. I’m not just saying that because it’s a “Christian” thing to say. Even if you have some deep-sea-salvaged articles nicely displayed on pedestals, I’m sorry, they still pale in comparison.
The Bible, inspired by the living God, authored by kings, prophets, and Apostles, surviving millennia of ages, outlasting empires and civilizations, painstakingly copied, preserved, excavated, and translated, costing countless lives of martyrs so people like you and I can even read it, is absolutely peerless in value. Oh, did I mention it brings life and changes lives?
Bible’s original texts were written in ancient languages (ancient Hebrew, Koine Greek, and a tad Aramaic), which are impossible for us to read and difficult even for modern Hebrew or Greek speakers. Scholars had to make some hard decisions when translating them for their readers. If they aimed for high accuracy for every word, it would make no sense in our languages. If they aimed for maximal readability, certain nuances in the original languages would get lost.
Many accredited versions of the Bible find themselves at different places on that continuum. Some versions, like NASB, NKJV, and ESV, follow the “word-for-word” approach, striving to stay faithful to the original languages. They take less liberty on human interpretation and try to bring the readers as close to the “tablets and scrolls” as possible.
Some, like NIV and NLT, follow the “thought-for-thought” approach, offering accurate meanings of each sentence in readable modern languages. They are easy to start, approachable to the general populace, and ready to offer Biblical teachings without requiring much effort.
Yet many others belong to a third category called “idea-for-idea” translations. Their objective is to interpret the Scripture in terms nearest to the readers’ walks of life and bring the Word to their doorsteps. Some people find these versions more relatable and easier to digest, making them popular gifts for new believers.
In general, word-for-word versions are must-haves for Bible studies and anyone who is serious or curious about God’s words. (Don’t forget their interlinears.) Thought-for-thought versions are great for daily devotions. If anyone cares to get even more dimensions on God’s words or another perspective, Bible commentaries and some idea-for-idea versions (MSG) are good add-ons.
It’s important to be consistent during church readings. As a result, unless otherwise stated, our church uses NIV for English and CUV for Chinese. They have a reasonable balance between fidelity and readability and are both common choices among many contemporary churches. You cannot go wrong by starting with these two.
At the end of the day, it’s more important that we read than which we read. The Bible’s accessibility to many peoples in many languages should never dilute its significance, worth, or impact. When we read it, remember what we are reading. Indeed as Ps 119:103 says,
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
你的言語在我上膛何等甘美，在我口中比蜜更甜！
And one more for the road, 1 John 3:9
- NASB: No one who has been born of God practices sin, because His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin continually, because he has been born of God.
- NKJV: Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
- NIV: No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
- NLT: Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God.
- MSG: People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they? God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-born to practice and parade sin…
- CUV: 凡從神生的，就不犯罪，因神的道原文是種存在他心裏；他也不能犯罪，因為他是由神生的。
Photo by Steven Kamenar on Unsplash