Buying a Bible? Have you thought about buying bibles online? There are so many versions out there to choose from don’t just settle for whatever version they have at Walmart. You need to get the version that is right for you and if you buy your bible online, you can choose from just about any version you want. So, which version is right for you?
It used to be that the King James Version of the Bible was considered by many to be the only reliable translation. Today, dozens of English translations are available. With so many Bible translations to choose from, it's hard to know which one is right for you. You may wonder, what's unique about each translation. Generally speaking, some are better for study, others are more suited for easy reading rather than accuracy. It’s not so much about which version is best, but how the Bible is used. Each translation has its particular strengths and weaknesses.
So what kinds of differences are there among the different versions? Some versions are attempts to translate the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek into English on a word-for-word basis. Other versions paraphrase the original text. They attempt to preserve the original meaning without necessarily translating each word of the original. Still others are a compromise between the word-for-word approach and the meaning-preservation approach.
If you are interested in a serious study of the Bible, including grammar and vocabulary, you will want a more literal translation that is bases on the word-for word approach. If however you are more interested in reading the Bible more as a story, then a freer translation based on the paraphrasing approach may be better.
So why do we have so many different versions of the Bible? There are a couple of reasons. One is simply updating the language. Many versions were made a long time ago. Over time language changes. Words fall out of use; new words come into use; and meanings of words change. Many versions of the Bible try to update the language used so that they are more easily understood.
Another reason for different versions is to clarify meaning. The best version of the bible would be one where the meaning of the original author is clear and accurate. The problem is that there are no original manuscripts. The original manuscripts were copied and passed down and recopied and passed down and so on. Remember they were originally written long before the printing press. What would happen is that scribes would copy earlier books, and as they did so,
they wrote notes on the margins of the page to correct their text, especially if a scribe accidentally omitted a word or line, and to comment about the text. When later scribes were copying the copy, they were sometimes uncertain if a note was intended to be included as part of the text. Over time, different regions evolved different versions, each with its own assemblage of omissions and additions.
Most versions we have today come from the evolved versions that were copied and re-copied several times. We just don’t have any of the early manuscripts. Because of this sometime there is some ambiguity as to the original meaning of the author. Throughout the years different versions have arisen in an attempts to interpret and clarify meaning. Also from time to time, earlier manuscripts are discovered and then used in translating a new version of the Bible.
Another reason that we have different versions of the Bible is that often different denominations interpret certain passages or concepts differently according to their theology and so will publish a new version or translation that they believe is correct and in accordance with the original authors meaning.
Although one version may be suited for a particular purpose, it is good to have several Bible translations on hand rather than only one version. That way one can compare several translations, especially for passages that are difficult to understand. By using different versions of the Bible, readers can gain a richer understanding and appreciation for scripture because they gain different perspectives from each translation.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Buy Bibles Online School
Welcome to The Buy Bibles Online Bible School. The place to learn all you need to know before you buy your Bible.
Which Version of the Bible is Right for me?
The Old Testament
The New Testament
Compare Several Popular Versions of the Bible
Which Version of the Bible is Right for me?
The Old Testament
The New Testament
Compare Several Popular Versions of the Bible
Buy Bibles Online Store
If you’re not sure which Bible Version is right for you, head over to the Buy Bibles Online school, where you can learn more about the Bible, read up on some of the different versions, and compare verses from different translations to get some hands on experience with some of the different versions.
New International Version
New King James Version
King James Version
The Message
The Amplified Bible
English Standard Version
Holman Christian Standard Bible
New Living Translation Bible
Popular Versions of the Bible
New American Standard VersionNew International Version
New King James Version
King James Version
The Message
The Amplified Bible
English Standard Version
Holman Christian Standard Bible
New Living Translation Bible
Buy Bibles Online: New Living Translation Bible
The New Living Translation Bible (NLT Bible) guides every Christian into deepening their personal relationship with Christ. The goal of any Bible translation is to convey the meaning of the ancient Hebrew and Greek texts as accurately as possible to the modern reader. The New Living Translation is based on the most recent scholarship in the theory of translation. The challenge for the translators was to create a text that would make the same impact in the life of modern readers that the original text had for the original readers. In the New Living Translation, this is accomplished by translating entire thoughts (rather than just words) into natural, everyday English. The end result is a translation that is easy to read and understand and that accurately communicates the meaning of the original text. The NLT is a good translation to use with youth and adults who have difficulty with the traditional language of a formal equivalent translation.
Buy Bibles Online: Holman Christian Standard Bible
Translated by over 100 scholars coming from 17 denominations, Holman Bibles (HCSB) showcase a great Bible translation that would suit both seasoned scholars and new Christians alike. Bible translation, both a science and an art, is a bridge that brings God's word from the ancient world to the world today. Each verse has been translated while accounting for readability and staying true to the original meanings of the Scriptures. New Christians can benefit from this translation thanks to the simple and common words and phrases used in the Bible. The HCSB is a highly readable, accurate translation written in modern English. It is published by Holman Bible Publishers, the oldest Bible publisher in America.
Buy Bibles Online: English Standard Version
The English Standard Version or ESV Bible is a relatively new Bible translation that combines word-for-word precision and accuracy with literary excellence, beauty, and readability. Each word and phrase in the ESV has been carefully weighed against the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, to ensure the fullest accuracy and clarity and to avoid under-translating or overlooking any nuance of the original text. Archaic language has been brought to current usage and significant corrections have been made in the translation of key texts. The ESV is an "essentially literal" translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. It seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original. The ESV is considered to be one of the most readable Bibles available today. If you are looking for a Bible that is easy to read and understand, then look no further than the ESV Bibles.
Buy Bibles Online: Amplified Bible
Amplified Bibles serve as the ideal Bible translation if you don't want to lose any of the important meanings from the original Bible languages. Reading through this translation won't require you to know Greek or Hebrew, just an open heart and a thirst to know more about Christ's story. The Amplified Bible was the first Bible project of The Lockman Foundation. It attempts to take both word meaning and context into account in order to accurately translate the original text from one language into another. The Amplified Bible does this through the use of explanatory alternate readings and amplifications to assist the reader in understanding what Scripture really says. Multiple English word equivalents to each key Hebrew and Greek word clarify and amplify meanings that may otherwise have been concealed by the traditional translation method.
Buy Bibles Online: The Message
Having the Message Bibles on hand makes it easier to learn and understand the Holy Scripture. Message Bibles were created by Eugene Peterson as a way to help readers become more engaged in reading the Bible. Its easy to read translation has helped many modern readers understand and start reading this important and fulfilling book. The goal of The Message is to engage people in the reading process and help them understand what they read. This is not a study Bible, but rather "a reading Bible." The verse numbers, which are not in the original documents, have been left out of the print version to facilitate easy and enjoyable reading. The Message tries to recapture the Word in the words we use today. The Message is a paraphrase from the original languages and provides a fresh and unique Bible-reading experience.
Buy Bibles Online: King James Version
The KJV is a word-for-word translation originally published in 1611 at the request of King James I of England. One of the most beloved Bible translation for centuries, The King James Version Bibles have certainly stood the test of time. It has been used by countless Christians over the century. Its poetic Old English language appeals to both new and seasoned Christians. The KJV Bible is not only a great Bible in itself, but it will definitely enlighten you more about your faith. The translators mostly aimed at making a clear and accurate translation from the original languages. So many people have used the KJV over the centuries that it has become the single most important book in shaping the modern English language. The KJV is still the most widely owned and used English translation in the USA.
Buy Bibles Online: New King James Version
o NKJV or The New King James Version Bible is a great book to have if you want to learn more about your faith. The NKJV was commissioned in 1975. It took seven years to complete. The NKJV is a modern translation of scripture that still retains the purity and stylistic beauty of the original King James. With unyielding faithfulness to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts, the translation applies the most recent research in archaelology, linguistics, and textual studies.
o NKJV or The New King James Version Bible is a great book to have if you want to learn more about your faith. The NKJV was commissioned in 1975. It took seven years to complete. The NKJV is a modern translation of scripture that still retains the purity and stylistic beauty of the original King James. With unyielding faithfulness to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts, the translation applies the most recent research in archaelology, linguistics, and textual studies.
o NKJV or The New King James Version Bible is a great book to have if you want to learn more about your faith. The NKJV was commissioned in 1975. It took seven years to complete. The NKJV is a modern translation of scripture that still retains the purity and stylistic beauty of the original King James. With unyielding faithfulness to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts, the translation applies the most recent research in archaelology, linguistics, and textual studies.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Comparing Several Popular Versions of the Bible
To help you in your decision as to which version of the bible to buy, we have put together this page where you can compare the same passage of scripture in several different versions of the bible. The versions that you will be able to compare are the American Standard Version, Amplified, English Standard Version, Good New Translation, Holman Christian Standard Bible, King James Version, Message, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New King James Version, and the New Living Translation.
The passage that we will be comparing is from the Gospel of John, 10th chapter, verses 1-5.
American Standard Version (ASV Bible)
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Amplified Bible
1 I ASSURE you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.
4 When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.
6 Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.
English Standard Version (ESV Bible)
1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Good News Translation (GNT Bible)
1 Jesus said, I am telling you the truth: the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 The man who goes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him; the sheep hear his voice as he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out.
4 When he has brought them out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.
5 They will not follow someone else; instead, they will run away from such a person, because they do not know his voice.
6 Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he meant.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB Bible)
1 " I assure you: Anyone who doesn't enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The doorkeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don't recognize the voice of strangers."
6 Jesus gave them this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
King James Version (KJV Bible)
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Message Bible
1 "Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good—a sheep rustler!
2 The shepherd walks right up to the gate.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice.
5 They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it."
6 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about.
New American Standard Bible (NASB Bible)
1" Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
2 "But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 "A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."
6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
New International Version (NIV Bible)
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
New King James Version (NKJV Bible)
1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
New Living Translation (NLT Bible)
1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!
2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.
5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant.
The passage that we will be comparing is from the Gospel of John, 10th chapter, verses 1-5.
American Standard Version (ASV Bible)
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Amplified Bible
1 I ASSURE you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.
4 When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.
6 Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.
English Standard Version (ESV Bible)
1 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Good News Translation (GNT Bible)
1 Jesus said, I am telling you the truth: the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 The man who goes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him; the sheep hear his voice as he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out.
4 When he has brought them out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.
5 They will not follow someone else; instead, they will run away from such a person, because they do not know his voice.
6 Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he meant.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB Bible)
1 " I assure you: Anyone who doesn't enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The doorkeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don't recognize the voice of strangers."
6 Jesus gave them this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
King James Version (KJV Bible)
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Message Bible
1 "Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good—a sheep rustler!
2 The shepherd walks right up to the gate.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice.
5 They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it."
6 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about.
New American Standard Bible (NASB Bible)
1" Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
2 "But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 "A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."
6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
New International Version (NIV Bible)
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
New King James Version (NKJV Bible)
1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
New Living Translation (NLT Bible)
1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!
2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.
5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Buy Bibles Online: New International Version
The New International Version of the Bible or NIV makes reading the Word of Christ a breeze. It presents the Scripture in straightforward and easy-to-read language that is ideal for today's readers.
The NIV Bible is a favorite no matter who you are from pastors to your casual bible reader. Everybody can easily take advantage of the uncomplicated yet profound presentation of the Holy Scriptures. Don't wait another minute. Get you copy today!
The NIV Bible is a favorite no matter who you are from pastors to your casual bible reader. Everybody can easily take advantage of the uncomplicated yet profound presentation of the Holy Scriptures. Don't wait another minute. Get you copy today!
Buy Bibles Online: New American Standard Version
The New American Standard Bible or NASB is the an excellent version of the to have on hand if you would like a bible that uses straight forward easy to understand language It has been translated in language that is easy to read and comprehend, which makes it ideal for anyone who would like to study and learn more about their beliefs.
Owning an NASB Version of the Bible makes it simple for virtually any person to understand the meaning of the Scriptures. It offers clear, easy to understand language that makes stories and lessons from the Bible so much easier to comprehend.
Those that translated this version of the Bible have made sure that the translation from the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic was carefully accomplished to make sure that the translated text retains the original meaning. This is a bible that the whole family will enjoy. Get your copy today!
Owning an NASB Version of the Bible makes it simple for virtually any person to understand the meaning of the Scriptures. It offers clear, easy to understand language that makes stories and lessons from the Bible so much easier to comprehend.
Those that translated this version of the Bible have made sure that the translation from the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic was carefully accomplished to make sure that the translated text retains the original meaning. This is a bible that the whole family will enjoy. Get your copy today!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Some Guides to the Interpretation of the Bible
The Bible is one of the most popular books of all time. Just take a look around. You can buy bibles online. You can buy bibles at the bookstore. You can buy bibles at stores like K-mart and Walmart. I’ve even seen them at the grocery store. You can buy bibles just about anywhere. The bible is the best selling book of all time.
As we read the Bible, we should do so with a few guides in mind, which will help us to understand and appreciate it, and to interpret it honestly and fairly.
We should try to check the accuracy of translation. This is not easy to do since most of us are not familiar with the original languages of Hebrew and Greek. We can study a great number of translations and scholarly commentaries and thereby arrive at the opinion of men of learning. Our only other check is our own practical wisdom and the inspiration we may seek and receive from the Lord.
We should read each book within the Bible as a separate work, seeking to learn what we can about the language, author, people, and circumstances of the day. This we can do by referring to a good Bible commentary and by studying the best historical works on the subject. Often the latter are less prejudiced and fair than books published by churches. The little book of Amos, for example, becomes much richer in meaning if we now that Amos lived in the Eighth Century B.B. in Judea and went north to the Kingdom of Israel at the a time when Israel was enjoying a post-war prosperity and the people were both self-righteous, shallow, and hypocritical in their “religious life.”
We should keep in mind the Spirit and emphasis of Jesus Christ. Christians, who look to Jesus Christ as the great teacher, revelator of the Father, the Son of God, and their Savior and Redeemer, do well to make his life and teaching normative for their own interpretations of scripture and religion. He fulfilled and thereby did away with many things in the Old Testament. Other teachings he strongly affirmed and strengthened.
We should have his concept of God and man in mind as we read all scripture. When we find ideas which seem to contradict his Spirit and teachings in the scriptures, then we cannot accept them for ourselves and live by them. Either our interpretation is wrong or there is an error of translation, or there is a teaching adapted to people of different needs, circumstances, or understanding, or there is some other human limitation in the picture. Great fundamentals of religion are found in the Bible, including the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel, although contained in the Bible, is greater than the Book. So we use the Gospel to interpret all passages in the Bible.
We should remember the poetic character and the rich imagery of Biblical writers. Jesus himself chose strong figures of speech to drive a great religious truth home. He said, for example, “Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world…Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers…O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets…” The religious teaching implicit in these sayings is to be taken literally, but not always the figure of speech which makes the teaching remembered.
We should read the scripture with humility, prayerfully seeking inspiration from Deity as we read. If they were written by men of God under his inspiration, surely the same kind of attitude is needed by the reader and by the student if he is to gain what went into their writing. When we read poetry, we do so in a poetic mood, with feeling s well as thought, searching for the mood of the poem. Much scripture is also poetic and cannot be appreciated except with feeling, with aspiration, and with a desire to worship. The Bible is not a treatise in philosophy, nor a scientific textbook, nor a scholarly, thoroughgoing historical chronicle, nor even a text in theology. It is a deeply religious and moral work, trying to teach Israel and all men how to worship and serve God and how to deal fairly and considerately with fellow men.
As we read the Bible, we should do so with a few guides in mind, which will help us to understand and appreciate it, and to interpret it honestly and fairly.
We should try to check the accuracy of translation. This is not easy to do since most of us are not familiar with the original languages of Hebrew and Greek. We can study a great number of translations and scholarly commentaries and thereby arrive at the opinion of men of learning. Our only other check is our own practical wisdom and the inspiration we may seek and receive from the Lord.
We should read each book within the Bible as a separate work, seeking to learn what we can about the language, author, people, and circumstances of the day. This we can do by referring to a good Bible commentary and by studying the best historical works on the subject. Often the latter are less prejudiced and fair than books published by churches. The little book of Amos, for example, becomes much richer in meaning if we now that Amos lived in the Eighth Century B.B. in Judea and went north to the Kingdom of Israel at the a time when Israel was enjoying a post-war prosperity and the people were both self-righteous, shallow, and hypocritical in their “religious life.”
We should keep in mind the Spirit and emphasis of Jesus Christ. Christians, who look to Jesus Christ as the great teacher, revelator of the Father, the Son of God, and their Savior and Redeemer, do well to make his life and teaching normative for their own interpretations of scripture and religion. He fulfilled and thereby did away with many things in the Old Testament. Other teachings he strongly affirmed and strengthened.
We should have his concept of God and man in mind as we read all scripture. When we find ideas which seem to contradict his Spirit and teachings in the scriptures, then we cannot accept them for ourselves and live by them. Either our interpretation is wrong or there is an error of translation, or there is a teaching adapted to people of different needs, circumstances, or understanding, or there is some other human limitation in the picture. Great fundamentals of religion are found in the Bible, including the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel, although contained in the Bible, is greater than the Book. So we use the Gospel to interpret all passages in the Bible.
We should remember the poetic character and the rich imagery of Biblical writers. Jesus himself chose strong figures of speech to drive a great religious truth home. He said, for example, “Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world…Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers…O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets…” The religious teaching implicit in these sayings is to be taken literally, but not always the figure of speech which makes the teaching remembered.
We should read the scripture with humility, prayerfully seeking inspiration from Deity as we read. If they were written by men of God under his inspiration, surely the same kind of attitude is needed by the reader and by the student if he is to gain what went into their writing. When we read poetry, we do so in a poetic mood, with feeling s well as thought, searching for the mood of the poem. Much scripture is also poetic and cannot be appreciated except with feeling, with aspiration, and with a desire to worship. The Bible is not a treatise in philosophy, nor a scientific textbook, nor a scholarly, thoroughgoing historical chronicle, nor even a text in theology. It is a deeply religious and moral work, trying to teach Israel and all men how to worship and serve God and how to deal fairly and considerately with fellow men.
Two Things to Remember When Studying the Bible
Did you know you can buy bibles online? That’s right. Probably the best place to look if you want to buy bibles is online. The reason is that you can find almost any version out there and as you consider reading and studying the bible, you want to make sure you get the version that is right for you.
As we read and study the Bible, we should do so with a few things in mind, which will help us to understand and appreciate it, and to interpret it honestly and fairly. Both of them deal with taking things out of context. First we should interpret single passages in their context. Second we should interpret single ideas in the Bible in the context of religion as a whole.
We should interpret single passages in their context. Single verses are written as part of passages; single passages are part of larger themes. It is unfair to the meaning of scripture to interpret a single verse without being sure that the interpretation is in harmony with that which goes before or after.
In practically every religion some writers are guilty of this practice of singling out verses favorable to a position taken on some point of doctrine. This we should guard against doing in fairness to the book and to truth. One can prove almost anything from the Bible if one selects his own verses out of context.
As an illustration, consider the verse in I John 4:8, which reads: “He that loveth not knowth not God; for God is love.” The last part of this verse has been quoted sincerely as proof that God is love, nothing more. Taken by itself it says just that. However, if one reads the entire little book of I John, one notes that God is more than love. The author stresses this one attribute of Deity because a major purpose of his writing the book was to inspire men to love one another.
We should interpret single ideas in scripture in the context of religion as a whole. In a lecture, an architect said that there are three things an architect keeps in minds as he plans a house: soundness, utility, and delight or beauty. These are wonderful guides to home planning. Everything one does, whether in planning the garage or the kitchen, must be sound, functional, and delightful to be completely satisfying.
This same method of referring single ideas back to a few big fundamental guides applies equally well in the study, interpretation, and living of religion. One should not base his faith on single passages or ideas in the Bible taken separately one at a time. He should search for the big fundamentals in scripture which are taught or implied over and over again. These should become his guides, giving structure and consistency to his religious views.
For example, read the entire Bible to see what the big, oft-repeated concepts about God are. With these in mind, one brings to an interpretation of a single passage the larger Biblical views of the nature and character of God. When we proceed in this way, we know that God is more than love, for the scripture teaches again and again that he is Creator of the universe, Revelator to the prophets, a Person of Justice as well as a Person of mercy and love. What do the scriptures teach about man when we study them thoroughly?
Is the freedom and responsibility of man reiterated again and again and implied in practically all scriptural teaching? If so, it should become a guide to our interpretation of each passage of scripture. A single verse which appears to deny man’s agency cannot be taken at face value as a final source of the doctrine of man, as some theologians have taken isolated verses from Paul.
The great fundamentals of religion pertaining to God and man should guide us in interpreting all passages and lesser ideas. We cannot accept as truth interpretations of scripture which deny the Fatherhood, justice, impartiality, and love of God, or the freedom, worth, and brotherhood of man. In any field of life we do well to live by fundamental principles; this applies to religion no less than to business or the practice of medicine.
As we read and study the Bible, we should do so with a few things in mind, which will help us to understand and appreciate it, and to interpret it honestly and fairly. Both of them deal with taking things out of context. First we should interpret single passages in their context. Second we should interpret single ideas in the Bible in the context of religion as a whole.
We should interpret single passages in their context. Single verses are written as part of passages; single passages are part of larger themes. It is unfair to the meaning of scripture to interpret a single verse without being sure that the interpretation is in harmony with that which goes before or after.
In practically every religion some writers are guilty of this practice of singling out verses favorable to a position taken on some point of doctrine. This we should guard against doing in fairness to the book and to truth. One can prove almost anything from the Bible if one selects his own verses out of context.
As an illustration, consider the verse in I John 4:8, which reads: “He that loveth not knowth not God; for God is love.” The last part of this verse has been quoted sincerely as proof that God is love, nothing more. Taken by itself it says just that. However, if one reads the entire little book of I John, one notes that God is more than love. The author stresses this one attribute of Deity because a major purpose of his writing the book was to inspire men to love one another.
We should interpret single ideas in scripture in the context of religion as a whole. In a lecture, an architect said that there are three things an architect keeps in minds as he plans a house: soundness, utility, and delight or beauty. These are wonderful guides to home planning. Everything one does, whether in planning the garage or the kitchen, must be sound, functional, and delightful to be completely satisfying.
This same method of referring single ideas back to a few big fundamental guides applies equally well in the study, interpretation, and living of religion. One should not base his faith on single passages or ideas in the Bible taken separately one at a time. He should search for the big fundamentals in scripture which are taught or implied over and over again. These should become his guides, giving structure and consistency to his religious views.
For example, read the entire Bible to see what the big, oft-repeated concepts about God are. With these in mind, one brings to an interpretation of a single passage the larger Biblical views of the nature and character of God. When we proceed in this way, we know that God is more than love, for the scripture teaches again and again that he is Creator of the universe, Revelator to the prophets, a Person of Justice as well as a Person of mercy and love. What do the scriptures teach about man when we study them thoroughly?
Is the freedom and responsibility of man reiterated again and again and implied in practically all scriptural teaching? If so, it should become a guide to our interpretation of each passage of scripture. A single verse which appears to deny man’s agency cannot be taken at face value as a final source of the doctrine of man, as some theologians have taken isolated verses from Paul.
The great fundamentals of religion pertaining to God and man should guide us in interpreting all passages and lesser ideas. We cannot accept as truth interpretations of scripture which deny the Fatherhood, justice, impartiality, and love of God, or the freedom, worth, and brotherhood of man. In any field of life we do well to live by fundamental principles; this applies to religion no less than to business or the practice of medicine.
Attitudes Toward the Bible
The Bible is the best selling book ever. You can buy bibles almost anywhere. You can buy bibles online, you can buy bibles at your local bookstore, I’ve even seen them at the dollar store. If you’re thinking about buying a bible, where to get one really isn’t an issue. Knowing a little bit about the bible and which version is right for you is much more important.
Jews and Christians entertain various views of the Bible. On the one extreme some Christians believe in the verbal authority of scripture, holding that every word and every sentence is the word of God to be accepted authoritatively. On the other extreme, there are liberal Christians who believe the Bible to be an interesting book but having no more authority than the message itself dictates to the mind and heart of the reader. This view holds that parts of the Bible are inspiring and commend themselves to conscience and much of it is purely human and not the best of morality and religion at that. In between these two extremes is the view that the Bible is the Word of God, delivered through inspired men, but that because of human error through years and years of translating and copying, some errors may have been introduced.
When it was first written, both the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek, there was no printing press. For many centuries scribes copied the text laboriously and no doubt earnestly from one parchment sheet or papyrus roll to another. In the process of copying, errors were bound to have been made and then transmitted to new copies. Not only that, but conscientious scholars could hardly resist the temptation to clarify the meaning of a passage to inspire or safeguard the faith of the alter generation. Interpolations and deletions occurred in this manner.
The Bible has undergone many translations from ancient to modern languages. In any translation there is some leeway, some differences of opinion, some loss or change of the original meaning. The story of the translation of the Bible alone would seem to nullify the possibility of believing in its verbal authority.
A study of the Bible itself indicates that it is not all on the same religious and moral plane. This is particularly true of the Old Testament. Parts of this great work were written by unknown authors who make no claim to be speaking for God. Their work was retained and adopted into the Canon because of its literary merit, wisdom, or historical interest to the people of Israel. Other portions of the book come to us through the prophets who are speaking with authority and conviction for God. For example, the Song of Solomon is a great love poem appreciated for its literary beauty, but of little religious value. Ecclesiastes is a masterful literary work of much practical wisdom, but quite foreign to the tenor of most of the Old Testament and almost opposite in its teaching about life after death to the teaching on this same subject in the New Testament. Much of the historical material in the Old Testament cannot compare in inspiration and value to us today with parts of the Law of Moses and the writings of the more important of the literary prophets. Even the Apostle Paul acknowledged on occasion that he was giving his own opinion and not speaking by way of commandment, “But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment (I Corinthians 7:6,7)
One does not have to seek far to find the reasons for differences in revelation within the Holy Bible. The Bible is not one book, but a collection of sixty-six separate books, some of which are themselves collections of many writings, such as Proverbs and Psalms. We believe that God not only speaks to man, but does so in a way that man can understand him. As we read the Bible, therefore, we must not only keep God in mind, but also the prophet or the writer, and the people to whom he was speaking.
It is unfair to the Bible to interpret it as though it were equally inspired of God in all books and passages. Some writers were more inspired than others; Christ, himself, reached new heights of inspiration and revelation because he was the Son of God and because of his own wonderful intellectual and moral life.
Jews and Christians entertain various views of the Bible. On the one extreme some Christians believe in the verbal authority of scripture, holding that every word and every sentence is the word of God to be accepted authoritatively. On the other extreme, there are liberal Christians who believe the Bible to be an interesting book but having no more authority than the message itself dictates to the mind and heart of the reader. This view holds that parts of the Bible are inspiring and commend themselves to conscience and much of it is purely human and not the best of morality and religion at that. In between these two extremes is the view that the Bible is the Word of God, delivered through inspired men, but that because of human error through years and years of translating and copying, some errors may have been introduced.
When it was first written, both the Old Testament in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek, there was no printing press. For many centuries scribes copied the text laboriously and no doubt earnestly from one parchment sheet or papyrus roll to another. In the process of copying, errors were bound to have been made and then transmitted to new copies. Not only that, but conscientious scholars could hardly resist the temptation to clarify the meaning of a passage to inspire or safeguard the faith of the alter generation. Interpolations and deletions occurred in this manner.
The Bible has undergone many translations from ancient to modern languages. In any translation there is some leeway, some differences of opinion, some loss or change of the original meaning. The story of the translation of the Bible alone would seem to nullify the possibility of believing in its verbal authority.
A study of the Bible itself indicates that it is not all on the same religious and moral plane. This is particularly true of the Old Testament. Parts of this great work were written by unknown authors who make no claim to be speaking for God. Their work was retained and adopted into the Canon because of its literary merit, wisdom, or historical interest to the people of Israel. Other portions of the book come to us through the prophets who are speaking with authority and conviction for God. For example, the Song of Solomon is a great love poem appreciated for its literary beauty, but of little religious value. Ecclesiastes is a masterful literary work of much practical wisdom, but quite foreign to the tenor of most of the Old Testament and almost opposite in its teaching about life after death to the teaching on this same subject in the New Testament. Much of the historical material in the Old Testament cannot compare in inspiration and value to us today with parts of the Law of Moses and the writings of the more important of the literary prophets. Even the Apostle Paul acknowledged on occasion that he was giving his own opinion and not speaking by way of commandment, “But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment (I Corinthians 7:6,7)
One does not have to seek far to find the reasons for differences in revelation within the Holy Bible. The Bible is not one book, but a collection of sixty-six separate books, some of which are themselves collections of many writings, such as Proverbs and Psalms. We believe that God not only speaks to man, but does so in a way that man can understand him. As we read the Bible, therefore, we must not only keep God in mind, but also the prophet or the writer, and the people to whom he was speaking.
It is unfair to the Bible to interpret it as though it were equally inspired of God in all books and passages. Some writers were more inspired than others; Christ, himself, reached new heights of inspiration and revelation because he was the Son of God and because of his own wonderful intellectual and moral life.
The New Testament
The English word Bible comes from a Greek word “Biblia,” meaning books. This is a very fitting name because the Bible is not just one book, but a collection of 66 books. These books have been collected through the ages and have been put together in what we now call the Bible. The Bible is divided into two main parts called the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word “Testament” is also translated as covenant. The Old Testament contains the covenants God made with man before the coming of Christ, and the New Testament contains the covenants that God made with man after the coming of Christ. As you study the Bible it is important to remember that it is a collection of books from different settings and different time periods. It is well then to read and study the Bible not as though it were one book, but as a collection of sacred writings, all dealing with the covenants that God has made with man.
The New Testament is an outgrowth of the establishment of the Pristine or Primitive Church of Jesus Christ. Jesus, Peter, and Paul in establishing the Christian faith, spoke as moved upon by the spirit quoting at times to their Jewish listeners from the Old Testament. Their sayings and writing were cherished so much by the Christian communities that they were preserved, copied, exchanged, and finally collected and canonized into our present New Testament. Let us take a look at the books within the New Testament.
The Gospels
The first set of books that we run into in the New Testament are referred to as “The Gospels.” They include Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and document Christ’s life and teachings from 4 different perspectives.
The Acts
Next we have the Acts. The Book of Acts was written by Luke. It is a continuation of his gospel, telling of the establishment of the Church under Peter and Paul.
Epistles of Paul
Next we have the Epistles of Paul. There are thirteen of these. They are letters written to the saints in various places were the Christian church had been established. They are Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
Hebrews
The book of Hebrews is also found in the New Testament and is traditionally ascribed to Paul. It was written to all Christians to encourage them in the persecutions they were suffering.
The General or Universal Epistles
Next we have the General or Universal Epistles. They were written to the Church at large and include I Peter, James, Jude, II Peter, and I, II, and III John.
Revelation
Finally we have Revelation, written by John while on the Island of Patmos. The book of Revelation is a highly dramatic and symbolic writing, difficult to understand, declaring the downfall of Rome and the triumph of Christ.
The New Testament, it is believed, was originally written in everyday Greek, the cultural language of the Graeco-Roman world of the First Century A.D. The New Testament is a collection of writings of various types and character. The life and mission of Jesus Christ is the central and unifying theme of these twenty-seven remarkable books.
The New Testament is an outgrowth of the establishment of the Pristine or Primitive Church of Jesus Christ. Jesus, Peter, and Paul in establishing the Christian faith, spoke as moved upon by the spirit quoting at times to their Jewish listeners from the Old Testament. Their sayings and writing were cherished so much by the Christian communities that they were preserved, copied, exchanged, and finally collected and canonized into our present New Testament. Let us take a look at the books within the New Testament.
The Gospels
The first set of books that we run into in the New Testament are referred to as “The Gospels.” They include Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John and document Christ’s life and teachings from 4 different perspectives.
The Acts
Next we have the Acts. The Book of Acts was written by Luke. It is a continuation of his gospel, telling of the establishment of the Church under Peter and Paul.
Epistles of Paul
Next we have the Epistles of Paul. There are thirteen of these. They are letters written to the saints in various places were the Christian church had been established. They are Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
Hebrews
The book of Hebrews is also found in the New Testament and is traditionally ascribed to Paul. It was written to all Christians to encourage them in the persecutions they were suffering.
The General or Universal Epistles
Next we have the General or Universal Epistles. They were written to the Church at large and include I Peter, James, Jude, II Peter, and I, II, and III John.
Revelation
Finally we have Revelation, written by John while on the Island of Patmos. The book of Revelation is a highly dramatic and symbolic writing, difficult to understand, declaring the downfall of Rome and the triumph of Christ.
The New Testament, it is believed, was originally written in everyday Greek, the cultural language of the Graeco-Roman world of the First Century A.D. The New Testament is a collection of writings of various types and character. The life and mission of Jesus Christ is the central and unifying theme of these twenty-seven remarkable books.
The Old Testament
The English word Bible comes from a Greek word “Biblia,” meaning books. The name is well chosen because the Bible is not one book but a collection of sixty-six books. These sixty-six are divided into two main divisions: The Old Testament (Old Covenant), and the New Testament (New Covenant). It is well then to read and study the Bible not as though it were one book, but as two collections of sacred writings.
The Old Testament was written by Jews in the Hebrew language. It is much larger and more varied in content than the New Testament. It is a religious record of the life of the Hebrew people, telling of the creation of the world, the life of the Patriarchs from Adam to Abraham, and then relating in much greater detail the establishment and history of the people of Israel. It is interesting to look at the books of the Old Testament as they were compiled and classified by the Jewish people.
The Law (Also called Pentateuch or Torah) includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
The Prophets includes two types, historical and literary. The historical books include Joshua, Judges, Samuel I, II, and Kings I, II. The literary books include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
The Writings include historical and narrative books like Ruth, Esther, and Chronicles I, II; prophetic books like Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah; Poetic books like Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations; and philosophical books like Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes.
Some people also include the Apocrypha which is a group of “hidden” writings, written from 200 B.C. to 200 A. D., which have not been accepted on a par with the above groups and which do not appear in most versions of the Bible.
Through the centuries devout Jews have held the Law of Moses, the first five books, to be the most sacred part of the Old Testament Canon. This is due to several factors. They tell the heroic story of the great founders of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and of the establishment of Israel as a nation under Moses, to them the greatest of the prophets. Here is a record of how God chose Israel, brought her out of bondage in Egypt, and established her as a nation in the Holy land of Cannan, and revealed to her great religious and moral truths.
The prophetic writings were the second group of books to be collected and accepted as scripture by the Jews. This portion of the Old Testament, particularly the fifteen literary prophetic books, has gained increasing respect among both Jews and Gentiles in recent centuries. The writing of Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Jonah contain religious poetry and concepts which are unexcelled in the entire Bible, and in some ways, by anything that has ever been written.
The third group of Old Testament books, the Writings, was the last to be accepted as part of the scriptures. They have been loved and appreciated by the Jews and Christians, but have not carried equal authority in matters of belief and doctrine as have the Law and the Prophets. Their value has been more of a meditative and devotional character with some historical interest.
The Old Testament as a whole is large in size, unexcelled in literature, rich in human interest and biography, and contains a great many wonderful and varied religious teachings – devotion, law, wisdom, moral and religious teaching. This book is also the most difficult to understand, presenting serious problems of interpretation to the careful and earnest student.
The Old Testament was written by Jews in the Hebrew language. It is much larger and more varied in content than the New Testament. It is a religious record of the life of the Hebrew people, telling of the creation of the world, the life of the Patriarchs from Adam to Abraham, and then relating in much greater detail the establishment and history of the people of Israel. It is interesting to look at the books of the Old Testament as they were compiled and classified by the Jewish people.
The Law (Also called Pentateuch or Torah) includes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
The Prophets includes two types, historical and literary. The historical books include Joshua, Judges, Samuel I, II, and Kings I, II. The literary books include Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habbakuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
The Writings include historical and narrative books like Ruth, Esther, and Chronicles I, II; prophetic books like Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah; Poetic books like Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations; and philosophical books like Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes.
Some people also include the Apocrypha which is a group of “hidden” writings, written from 200 B.C. to 200 A. D., which have not been accepted on a par with the above groups and which do not appear in most versions of the Bible.
Through the centuries devout Jews have held the Law of Moses, the first five books, to be the most sacred part of the Old Testament Canon. This is due to several factors. They tell the heroic story of the great founders of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and of the establishment of Israel as a nation under Moses, to them the greatest of the prophets. Here is a record of how God chose Israel, brought her out of bondage in Egypt, and established her as a nation in the Holy land of Cannan, and revealed to her great religious and moral truths.
The prophetic writings were the second group of books to be collected and accepted as scripture by the Jews. This portion of the Old Testament, particularly the fifteen literary prophetic books, has gained increasing respect among both Jews and Gentiles in recent centuries. The writing of Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Jonah contain religious poetry and concepts which are unexcelled in the entire Bible, and in some ways, by anything that has ever been written.
The third group of Old Testament books, the Writings, was the last to be accepted as part of the scriptures. They have been loved and appreciated by the Jews and Christians, but have not carried equal authority in matters of belief and doctrine as have the Law and the Prophets. Their value has been more of a meditative and devotional character with some historical interest.
The Old Testament as a whole is large in size, unexcelled in literature, rich in human interest and biography, and contains a great many wonderful and varied religious teachings – devotion, law, wisdom, moral and religious teaching. This book is also the most difficult to understand, presenting serious problems of interpretation to the careful and earnest student.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Buying a Bible? Here Are Seven Popular Versions of the Bible
Thinking about buying a bible? The real question isn’t where to buy a bible. You can buy bibles online, you can buy bibles at the bookstore. You can probably buy bibles through you local church. You can even buy a bible at Walmart. No, the question isn’t where to buy a bible. The real question is which version of the bible to buy.
With so many versions of the Bible one may wonder which one to choose. Knowing a bit about the versions and where and why they came about can help in making a decision as to which Bible to choose. This article discusses a few of the more popular versions of the Bible to aid you in your decision.
New International Version (NIV)
The New International Version (NIV) was started in 1965 when a multi-denominational, international group of scholars from many English-speaking nations gathered at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois. They decided that a new straightforward translation of the Bible in contemporary English was greatly needed. The NIV Bible was produced by more than one hundred scholars working from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.
It was completed in 1978. Within a decade it became the best-selling English version. It combines contemporary, literary English with traditional biblical vocabulary.
It is an ideal translation for both reading aloud and study purposes.
The NIV offers a balance between a word-for-word and thought-for-thought translation and is considered by many as a highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English.
King James Version (KJV)
In July of 1604, King James I of England appointed the best Bible scholars and linguists of his day, to the task of translating a new version of the Bible into English. The translation was by 47 scholars, all of whom were members of the Church of England. The New Testament was translated from Greek, the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew text, while the Apocrypha were translated from the Greek and Latin.
Upon completion, it was presented to King James I in 1611. It soon became the standard Bible for English-speaking Protestants. This translation is still recognized for the beauty of its language which dates from the time of William Shakespeare. It is sometimes referred to as the “Authorized Version”.
As time continued it became harder for people to understand the Old Elizabethan style English wording, so scholars started updating scriptures with more modern language. Many of the new versions of the Bible we have today are based on the King James Version.
New King James Version (NKJV)
In 1975, Thomas Nelson Publishers commissioned 130 of the most esteemed Bible scholars, church leaders, and lay Christians to produce an entirely new, modern translation of Scripture.
The New King James Version (NKJV) took seven years to complete and was released in 1982.
It updates the vocabulary and grammar of the King James Version, while preserving the classic style and beauty. Although it uses the same Hebrew and Greek texts as the original, it indicates where other manuscripts differ.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is a revision of the American Standard Bible of 1901. It was produced by 54 conservative Bible Protestant scholars and linguists. This translation was first completed in 1971. The New American Standard Bible is very literal in vocabulary and word order. The translators sought to be true to the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts and maintain grammatical integrity while providing an easy to understand, contemporary English version. It often is preferred by those who want an English version that reflects the grammar of the original. It is often considered the most accurate of all the English translations. It’s used for serious Bible study where accuracy is important.
The Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible is a paraphrased version of the King James Bible. It was put together by Kenneth N. Taylor and completed in 1971. It reads as a story book and was once immensely popular. While it is often criticized for adding too much commentary to the biblical text, it is a useful tool for introducing the Bible to people who are unfamiliar with it as well as easier for children to understand. Because it’s somewhat slanted with the author’s theology it is not the best bible for an accurate, serious study. It is however very easy to read and enjoyable for both children and adults.
New Living Translation (NLT)
In July of 1996, Tyndale House Publishers launched the New Living Translation (NLT). Using The Living Bible, as a base, a team of 90 Bible scholars from various theological backgrounds and denominations worked for seven years to complete it. They carefully compared each verse with the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures to produce a true translation that is accurate and easy to understand. The New Living Translation (NLT) is a translation of the Bible into modern English.
The New Living Translation was founded on the most recent scholarship with the goal of creating a clear, readable translation while remaining faithful to original texts. It seeks to preserve the freshness and readability of the original paraphrase while providing the accuracy and reliability The NLT is focused on producing clarity in the meaning of the text rather than creating a literal, word-for-word equivalence. It is a very readable translation that remains more faithful to the original texts than the Living Bible, while trying to keep the story book form and readability of the Living Bible.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The English Standard Version (ESV) was first published in 2001. It was developed by a translation team of more than 100 scholars with the goal of being a very accurate word for word translation, while still being very readable. The ESV is a highly accurate translation that closely reflects the original meaning of the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts in clear, readable, enduring English. Not only did the creators of the English Standard Version make every attempt to ensure accuracy, transparency, and clarity of the original texts, they also sought to retain the personal style of each writer of the Bible. The ESV combines word-for-word precision and accuracy with literary excellence, beauty, and readability.
With so many versions of the Bible one may wonder which one to choose. Knowing a bit about the versions and where and why they came about can help in making a decision as to which Bible to choose. This article discusses a few of the more popular versions of the Bible to aid you in your decision.
New International Version (NIV)
The New International Version (NIV) was started in 1965 when a multi-denominational, international group of scholars from many English-speaking nations gathered at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois. They decided that a new straightforward translation of the Bible in contemporary English was greatly needed. The NIV Bible was produced by more than one hundred scholars working from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts.
It was completed in 1978. Within a decade it became the best-selling English version. It combines contemporary, literary English with traditional biblical vocabulary.
It is an ideal translation for both reading aloud and study purposes.
The NIV offers a balance between a word-for-word and thought-for-thought translation and is considered by many as a highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English.
King James Version (KJV)
In July of 1604, King James I of England appointed the best Bible scholars and linguists of his day, to the task of translating a new version of the Bible into English. The translation was by 47 scholars, all of whom were members of the Church of England. The New Testament was translated from Greek, the Old Testament was translated from Hebrew text, while the Apocrypha were translated from the Greek and Latin.
Upon completion, it was presented to King James I in 1611. It soon became the standard Bible for English-speaking Protestants. This translation is still recognized for the beauty of its language which dates from the time of William Shakespeare. It is sometimes referred to as the “Authorized Version”.
As time continued it became harder for people to understand the Old Elizabethan style English wording, so scholars started updating scriptures with more modern language. Many of the new versions of the Bible we have today are based on the King James Version.
New King James Version (NKJV)
In 1975, Thomas Nelson Publishers commissioned 130 of the most esteemed Bible scholars, church leaders, and lay Christians to produce an entirely new, modern translation of Scripture.
The New King James Version (NKJV) took seven years to complete and was released in 1982.
It updates the vocabulary and grammar of the King James Version, while preserving the classic style and beauty. Although it uses the same Hebrew and Greek texts as the original, it indicates where other manuscripts differ.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The New American Standard Bible (NASB) is a revision of the American Standard Bible of 1901. It was produced by 54 conservative Bible Protestant scholars and linguists. This translation was first completed in 1971. The New American Standard Bible is very literal in vocabulary and word order. The translators sought to be true to the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts and maintain grammatical integrity while providing an easy to understand, contemporary English version. It often is preferred by those who want an English version that reflects the grammar of the original. It is often considered the most accurate of all the English translations. It’s used for serious Bible study where accuracy is important.
The Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible is a paraphrased version of the King James Bible. It was put together by Kenneth N. Taylor and completed in 1971. It reads as a story book and was once immensely popular. While it is often criticized for adding too much commentary to the biblical text, it is a useful tool for introducing the Bible to people who are unfamiliar with it as well as easier for children to understand. Because it’s somewhat slanted with the author’s theology it is not the best bible for an accurate, serious study. It is however very easy to read and enjoyable for both children and adults.
New Living Translation (NLT)
In July of 1996, Tyndale House Publishers launched the New Living Translation (NLT). Using The Living Bible, as a base, a team of 90 Bible scholars from various theological backgrounds and denominations worked for seven years to complete it. They carefully compared each verse with the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures to produce a true translation that is accurate and easy to understand. The New Living Translation (NLT) is a translation of the Bible into modern English.
The New Living Translation was founded on the most recent scholarship with the goal of creating a clear, readable translation while remaining faithful to original texts. It seeks to preserve the freshness and readability of the original paraphrase while providing the accuracy and reliability The NLT is focused on producing clarity in the meaning of the text rather than creating a literal, word-for-word equivalence. It is a very readable translation that remains more faithful to the original texts than the Living Bible, while trying to keep the story book form and readability of the Living Bible.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The English Standard Version (ESV) was first published in 2001. It was developed by a translation team of more than 100 scholars with the goal of being a very accurate word for word translation, while still being very readable. The ESV is a highly accurate translation that closely reflects the original meaning of the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts in clear, readable, enduring English. Not only did the creators of the English Standard Version make every attempt to ensure accuracy, transparency, and clarity of the original texts, they also sought to retain the personal style of each writer of the Bible. The ESV combines word-for-word precision and accuracy with literary excellence, beauty, and readability.
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