July 30, 2012
The Gist of It All
My friend, who is in multiple Bible studies, recently told me that one
of her weaknesses is not digging deeper into the Word. Her preferred Bible is
the Living Bible (paraphrased) translation. I have to wonder if our choice of
Bibles has a direct correlation with not only our own Spiritual maturity, but
also our witness to others. For me, using a paraphrase version of the Bible is akin
to reading the Cliff Notes and I just can’t hide that version in my heart. The
Psalmist recorded, “I have hidden your
word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11 NIV)
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----I take comfort in the fact translations are called “translations’ and paraphrases are called “paraphrases“. I don’t think a paraphrase is worthless, I just consider it worth less than a translation because it has more of the paraphraser’s meaning written into it. And I say “more” because a translation is worth less than text in the original language plus a skillful knowledge of that language, because it has more of the translator’s meaning written into it. I wish I had the time to develop more skill in my knowledge of the Bible’s original languages, but I am thankful I have enough interpretive skill that I can use a reliable translation without needing to rely on insights of paraphrasers. So I stand between the person using a paraphrase and the one using the original text in reading and understanding for myself.
-----Of course we must all reach an understanding for ourselves. And the understanding of each will not completely match the understanding of any other. My Presbyterian friends seem to imply God’s message in the Bible is whatever someone takes it to mean. I have trouble accepting with surety any thinking which states that two inconsistent ideas can both be true at the same time in the same sense. Trying to do so equates to lying, at least it does as far as I am able to reason. The Bible undeniably makes the case for a God in whom there is no deceit. Therefore, until I learn to reason better, I am sure the Bible has a certain and specific meaning in everything it says, a meaning God meant. Then it seems to me like the particular meaning each of us takes away from the Bible, each being a little different from the other, are each a little messed up in their own particular ways, because they are all a little different from the meaning God meant. And that rather correlates with I Cor 13:12. Then God can be true and single in His intended meaning.
-----So it doesn’t bother me a whole lot when I see a paraphrase being used. I know I don’t have to accept the meanings he takes from it just because I accept him. And I know that the meanings I take from my translation are just as likely to be out of sync with God’s intended meaning as are his. And I know that whoever reads from the original text with skillful knowledge has the rightful opportunity to consider me the same way I am able to consider the user of paraphrases. We are not all equally knowledgeable, but we are all equally loved.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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