Showing posts with label NRSV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NRSV. Show all posts

Sunday, December 29, 2024

What Bible Version Should I Use?

The one you will read. Maybe that seems like an oversimplification of a complex topic, but it doesn't matter if you have the most perfect translation ever if every verse feels like a chore to read and understand. Find a version that feels readable to you, get an audio version, a video version, have someone tell you the stories, whatever it takes to be able to personally get the stories so you can learn from them (and from now on, when I say read the Bible, this is what I mean.)

The best advice I ever got about reading literature in translation (and generally speaking we read the Bible in translation) was from the student assigned to show us around for Freshman orientation who took us on a brisk tour and then got us on a bus to the big used bookstore downtown and helped us shop for the many source texts required for graduation. He told us not to worry about getting the exact translations that the professors called for, but instead to look for a translation that we found readable and understandable so we would actually do the reading. He also pointed out that if we read different versions from others in our discussion sections, we might have different insights and that would give us something to talk about. This applies well to Bible versions. Translation is almost always a compromise between accuracy to the original text and readability in the target language and accuracy has a couple of different aspects, sometimes a translator has to choose between using words that best fit the the style of writing (particularly with things like poetry or a pun, but it could also be formal versus informal language) and words that best fit the meaning.

That said, the Italian proverb "Traduttori, traditori" (Translators are traitors) applies to Bible translation as well. Even the most well meaning translators bring their own assumptions to the table. It is useful to be aware of those assumptions and most translations have notes, either in the published Bible, or online, where the translators explain their process and what they used as their base text. At this point, you are probably thinking, wait, a minute, isn't there just an original text, don't we just translate from the oldest version? Not always, and the King James Version in particular did not. And while that sounds bad, it can sometimes be justified - for example, at the time of Christ, many Jews and thus the early Christians used a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures called LXX or the Septuagint for the 70 (or 72 depending on which history you believe) rabbis and scholars involved in the translation, so if we want to know how Jesus, the apostles and the early Christians saw these texts, we might want to start from that translation ourselves. However, Jews went back to using Hebrew scriptures and translating from them due to inconsistencies in the translation of the Septuagint, including the fact that some books were more retellings than translations. If you don't ever use the Septuagint for translation, you will miss some places in the New Testament where the Old Testament is quoted and possibly some important information about how Jesus, the Apostles and early Christians saw the scriptures. If you do use the Septegent, you will risk getting further from the original meaning by using a translation of a translation. Again, how this issue is handled is usually included in the translators notes. If your Bible version doesn't have translators notes and you can't find them on the internet, looking up the translation on Wikipedia often will provide at least some of the same information. 

Why you are reading the Bible may also impact which version you use. You might want a different version for daily reading than for study. You might want a different version for reading the poetic parts like the Psalms. 

Here are a couple notes on some English Bible versions and why you may or may not want to read that one:

New Revised Standard Version

This is the version used in a lot of seminaries as well as the basis for many study Bibles that are well regarded in academic circles. It is in modern English and reasonably readable, but it always chooses accuracy over readability.

Common English Bible

This is a very readable Bible and aims at a middle school reading level. My personal experience is that almost every word in it is in my active vocabulary - words that I would use every day and that that really causes me to focus on the text.  It's a good version to use in worship situations because children and English language learners are likely to find it understandable. Despite using simpler language, it also usually gets good marks for accuracy.

The Brick Bible

This is more of a novelty Bible, but it does an excellent job of presenting the stories of the Bible in an accurate and engaging format. If  you are a highly visual person, this is an excellent addition to your understanding.

The Message

 A single author translation intended to focus on presenting the story in conversational English. It's great for reading (or listening too), the poetic parts are excellent, but it's probably not great as a study Bible.

King James Version - KJV (also known as the Authorized Version)

Some people believe this is the only version to use, don't listen to them or anyone who says to only use one translation. Because it was translated in 1611, it uses an older version of English that is harder to read and understand and I don't recommend it as a main reading and study Bible particularly for this reason. Some of the poetry in particular is translated in a beautiful and poetic way, so it can be worth reading, particularly in excerpt version. Because it is out of copyright, you can freely quote from it without worrying about copyright (although most translations have generous quoting policies), and it is sometimes used for this reason alone and KJV Bibles are cheap - the dollar store usually has a full shelf of them. (By the way, the reason copyright  became a thing for Bible translations was not an effort to recoup the cost of translation, although that is an issue, but because people were writing in their own changes to prove their point and passing them off as original.)

 




Sunday, March 8, 2015

Worship

Lectionary Readings
John from CLF does weekly lectionary studies for the Christan mailing list. I would have used an image of that except I didn't think it would be appropriate without permission.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Epiphany of Our Lord Year B (2015)

Today's Readings

I knew Epiphany as the day the three kings showed up to see Jesus (probably when he was a couple years old, not a dozen days after his birth.) This is the story in today's gospel reading, Matthew 2:1-12. Wikipedia's article about it shows that it is much more complicated than that. For instance, it is also 12th Night. As well as the anniversary of the day John the Baptist baptised Jesus. And much more in many diverse countries and denominations. It is a reminder that there is so much I (and most Christians) don't know about our faith.

The carol We Three Kings of Orient Are was written for Epiphany.

The other readings for today are very much about justice. In particular, I liked the Psalm reading, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14:
Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to a king’s son.
May he judge your people with righteousness,
    and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
    give deliverance to the needy,
    and crush the oppressor.
May he live while the sun endures,
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish
    and peace abound, until the moon is no more. May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles
    render him tribute,
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
    bring gifts.
May all kings fall down before him,
    all nations give him service.
For he delivers the needy when they call,
    the poor and those who have no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
    and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
    and precious is their blood in his sight.
I think it is interesting that some Psalms are filled with anger in response to oppression, while others are filled with hope. Even knowing much of the history since they were written, I can't say what is or was the better response but I do know that for myself, while being angry has it's value, I need hope as well to work for justice. I can be angry on my own (ie based on my own observances), I am more likely to need outside help with having hope.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

New Years Day Year B (2015)

There are two possible sets of readings for January 1st, New Year's Day and Holy Name of Jesus (the day Jesus was circumcised and named.)

I decided to focus on New Year's Day.

I must agree that Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 is an excellent way to start something, even if it is a fairly arbitrary start date (as our New Year is.)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil?
I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with.
He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live;
moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.
Also in today's readings are some of my favorite verses Matthew 25:34-40. This is a theme that shows up other places as well, and is well worth remembering. It also strongly supports one of my most important reasons for being a Christian - following the example of Jesus and his earliest followers will make me a better person and the world a better place.

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Image Attribution:
Pebbles with Quarzite By Sean the Spook (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Stil Stapeln By Krethiplethi (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons