Hereafter, I will never be the same. Never, never, never! In the name of Jesus, for His honor and glory, both now and forever more, Amen.

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1 #3 THE BEST TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE Led by: Pastor Josh Franklin, Antioch Baptist Church The Pledge to the Bible This is my Bible. It is God s inerrant word. It is my most valuable earthly possession. I will, therefore, make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and I will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God. The Bible is God talking to me personally. I will, therefore, listen to it carefully and obey it fully. And I will endeavor to internalize it in my life by doing four things: I will know it in my head by diligent study, I will stow it in my heart by memorization and meditation, I will show it in my life by obeying its teachings, and I will sow it in my world by my witness. Hereafter, I will never be the same. Never, never, never! In the name of Jesus, for His honor and glory, both now and forever more, Amen. The Victory Pledge "I m too anointed to be disappointed, too blessed to be depressed, too chosen to be frozen, too elected to be rejected, too inspired to be tired, I have more to shout about than to pout about and more to sing about than complain about." 10 Imperatives for Continued Spiritual Growth: 1. Internalizing the Word Joshua 1:8; James 1: Infilling of the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5:18 3. Intimacy with the Father Psalm 27:4 4. Intentional Involvement in the World Mission of Christ Matt. 28: Interrelating with others to share one s life (Mentoring) - 1 Thess. 2:8 6. Investing your money redemptively with the Lord beginning with the tithe to your church Matt 6: Identification with, support of, and service in a local church Heb. 10:25 8. Intense devotion to one s family, especially his wife - Eph. 5:5 9. Intentional discipline of the physical body 1 Cor. 9: Instant repentance and cleansing from all sin Matthew 5:4 WHAT IS THE BEST BIBLE TRANSLATION ON EARTH FOR YOU? AT THE OUTSET we must understand that our Old Testament was written in Hebrew (a few passages i n Aramaic) and the New Testament in Greek. The best language in which to study the Bible is the language in which it was written. Any book suffers in translation. However, most of us have not had the advantage of studying the biblical languages. This makes it imperative that we use some translation. How, then, do we choose a translation? Two factors should be kept in mind in choosing a good translation: (1) accuracy or faithfulness to the original texts, and (2) readability. A translation can be accurate, but not necessarily too readable. Accuracy is the first hallmark of a good translation. A translation can be readable, but not too accurate. Accuracy must not be sacrificed for readability. The idea is to secure a translation which combines both accuracy and readability. The amateur can judge if the translation is readable: one must have knowledge of the original languages to determine if it is accurate. Even then one s evaluation will be colored by his theological perspective. 1

2 Three Main Approaches to Translations: LITERAL TRANSLATIONS If you desire to study the Bible so you can know exactly what God said, without question you need a good, literal translation. By this I mean a translation that will get you as close to the original language of the biblical authors as good English will allow. A word-for word rendering, to the extent that this is possible, is the only way to get the very words of God in the English language. Yet English is a living language, which means that it changes over time. Good English in the period of Shakespeare or King James had a certain majestic eloquence that is lacking in our modern language. Even so, people in our contemporary world tend to prefer reading or hearing what they are used to. That s why new translations are continually appearing. Every literal translation into English over the past century has been an attempt to say it better and/or more accurately. Here s a summary of some of the most popular word-for-word English translation. All of them read well but some of the more recent ones have improved on the quality of contemporary English. 1. The King James Version (KJV, 1611). A very accurate translation in the English of seventeenth-century England. It was the standard English Bible for more than three hundred years. 2. The Revised Standard Version (RSV, 1946, 1971). Scholarly but lacking in stylistic excellence. Rejected by evangelicals as having a liberal and ecumenical theological bias. 3. The Jerusalem Bible (JB, 1966) and New Jerusalem Bible (NJB, 1985). A Roman Catholic Bible published by scholars of the Dominican Biblical School of Jerusalem. An essentially literal translation with an emphasis on contemporary English. Includes the Apocrypha as canonical scripture and extensive notes translated from the original French. 4. The New American Standard Bible (NASB, 1971). A reliable translation that is faithful to the original. Reads well, but lacks stylistic excellence. 5. The New King James Version (NKJV, 1982). A version that preserves the accuracy of the KJV but uses more contemporary English for the modern reader. Very similar to the NASB. 6. The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV, 1989). An ecumenical revision of the RSV reflecting the influence of Protestant, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Jewish participation. A more modern translation with gender-neutral language. 7. The English Standard Version (ESV, 2001). An excellent translation with good English styling. The most recent and up-to-date literal English translation. DYNAMIC EQUIVALENT VERSIONS - If you just want to read the Bible to get a general sense of what God is saying, the thought-for thought versions are probably adequate. Dynamic equivalent versions are not particularly good for in-depth study, but they are easier to read. Technically they are called dynamic equivalent versions because they attempt to capture the dynamic of God s ideas. Reflecting the exact meaning of words is not their purpose. So they consist of whatever English words the translators think will get the thought across to the reader. The best translation of the Dynamic Equivalent is The New International Version (NIV, 1978). A version widely used among American evangelicals and one of the better dynamic equivalent versions. Generally reliable, but not always accurate. PARAPHRASES The Paraphrase are less literal than the Dynamic Equivalent Versions but more readable: 1. The Living Bible (LB, 1971). A loose paraphrase originally done for children. Generally reliable and very easy to read. The work of one man Ken Taylor. 2. Good News Bible for Modern Man or Today s English Version (GNB or TEV, 1976). A translation of the American Bible Society that does not accurately reflect the original text. Conversational style, but not reliable. 3. The New Living Translation (NLT, 1966). A more scholarly revision of The Living Bible done by ninety scholars. Easy to read, but plays fast and loose with the original languages. 2

3 4. The Message (1993). Eugene Peterson has attempted to rewrite the Bible for the modern person. It reads like a novel but lacks any true fidelity to the original text. 5. Today s New International Version (TNIV, 2003). A version that takes great liberties with the original text in order to make it gender-inclusive. Not as good as the NIV. As you may discover when browsing for a Bible, I have not covered all of the options available in the English translation market. Many other versions and updates of versions will surface to confuse the seeker still further. I trust, however, that this simplistic explanation with examples of the most popular choices will provide a basic orientation to translations of the Bible in the English language. Early English Bible Translations DATE WORK DESCRIPTION First complete translation (handwritten) 1382 Wycliffe Bible Bible into English based on the Vulgate Tyndale Bible First printed New Testament in English based on the Greek Cloverdale First complete printed English Bible.Relies heavily on Tyndale Bible, German Versions, and Vulgate Matthew s Bible Edited by John Rogers. Relies on Tyndale Bible. First licensed English Bible The Great Bible Revised version of Matthew s Bible by Cloverdale. Based on Tyndale, Hebrew, And Greek The Geneva Bible (Pilgrims Bible) The New Testament is a revision of Tyndale, and the Old Testament is Revised based upon the Hebrew, First English Bible with verse divisions. Strongly Calvinistic footnotes 1568 The Bishop s Bible A revision of the Great Bible translated By a committee of Anglican bishops Douay-Rheims Bible Literal rendering of the Vulgate by Roman Catholics 1611 King James Version Translated by a committee of scholars WE SAY THE BIBLE IS INERRANT SO WHAT! In our pledge to the Bible, we COMMIT ourselves to know, to stow, to show God s Word in order that we might Sow IT in our world, and the Sowing in our world includes Selling the Word to an unbelieving world. Thus God in 1 Peter 3:15 commands two things of the Christian. (1) Sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts. That means to turn everything over to Him and to live only to please and glorify Him. When we obey this commandment we are able to obey God s, and (2) the second commandment in 1 Peter 3:15; Be ready always to give ananswer for the hope that is within you with fear and trembling. Our English word apology comes from the Greek word translated answer, but it does not mean, to say I am sorry, please forgive me for being a believer. Rather it means a defense of our hope in Christ according to the Bible. Apologetics is the branch of theology that deals with the defense of the faith. When Christ is Lord of our lives, we will be able to give a reasoned defense of our hope of salvation now and eternal life forever. But out witness must be given with meekness and fear (respect), and not with arrogance and a know-itall attitude. Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. However, we must be sure our lives back up our defense. We are not to argue with the lost but rather share what we believe and have experienced and why we believe it in a loving manner. The purpose is not to win an argument but to win lost souls to Christ. I read that a very learned man tried to win his neighbor to Christ, with brilliant argumentation, but failed. Then another 3

4 simple guy comes along, filled with love, and wins him to Christ. The first witness complained to the saved man, I confronted you with every argument for Christianity and you rejected me. The saved man replied, Well, I was able to get around your arguments but I could not get around the love of the other guy. One of the great evidence that Jesus is Lord of your life perhaps the greatest is the readiness with which we witness to others about Him and seek to win them to Christ in love. FINAL QUESTION: WHAT IS THE VERY, VERY BEST TRANSLATION ON EARTH? As the great Bible expositor, Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse, said, The world may never read the Bible in leather, but the world will not fail to read the Bible in SHOE LEATHER. No matter the Translation you may have, even if you can read it in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, it amounts to nothing unless it is lived out in your life. Some of the finest Christians I ever knew could hardly read the Bible at all, but they lived out what they knew and touched every life that they met. Example: Mahatma Gandhi looked Billy Graham in the eyes and said, Mr. Graham I ll become a Christian when I see one. I visited a church member one day, and the lady complained that she had lost her glasses. As I was departing her home, I suggested I read from her Bible and when I opened the Bible I found her lost glasses. Another guy approached me on the street with an extended lecture on the 5 points of Calvinism, implying that no one was a Christian who did not believe in them, though he never once named the name of Jesus in his long harangue. Believe it or not, the very next morning the papers reported that this same guy had been arrested for raping his neighbor. Such is what I call the Abomination of High Doctrine and of Low Conduct. Jim Farley said The world is yet to see what will happen when one man reads the Bible and takes it all seriously. D.L. Moody heard these words and went forth saying I will be that man, and he became the greatest soul winner in history. D. L. Moody, though He murdered the King s English, lived and preached the Bible and moved two continents and was influential in bringing Billy Graham to the Lord by winning Edwin Kimball to Christ. What is a greater compliment than, You really know your Bible? That you really live your Bible. Do people see the Bible come alive in you in your daily walk? The Bible in Shoe Leather is the best English translation because it is the best Bible to change a life, the primary purpose of the Bible. Do you use this translation? THIS MENTORING SCHOOL IS DESIGNED TO MAKE MEN THE VERY BEST TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE! 1. I approach the Bible in prayer. Ten Approaches to The Bible Which Have Changed My Life And Ministry: 2. I read it as a Book that points to Jesus. 3. I let Scripture interpret Scripture. I sometimes check a paraphrase. Why? 4. I memorize Scriptures from NKJ constantly and keep repeating them until they are etched in my psyche. 5. I meditate on the Scripture day and night. See Psalm 119: I quote Scripture before I eat, before and after travel, in worship, while jogging, flying, ing, coffee breaks, every time I teach or preach, write, and especially when I m going through trials. 7. I dig into its deeper truths all the time. I find it difficult to repeat an old message. 8. I make the Bible the basis of every book I have ever written. 9. I believe I love the Bible more than I love my daily food (Job 23:12; Psalm 119:97). 10. I love Jesus today more than ever in my life and also my Bible. 4

5 Questions and Answers: 1. Which version of the Bible do you own? 2. Do you prefer reading 1. Literal Translation 2. Dynamic Equivalent, or 3. Paraphrase? 3. What Bible would you use for a verse-by-verse translation? 4. What Bible would you use to read the Bible through in one year? 5. Have you ever pre-judged a person for the translation of the Bible he or she used? 6. One purpose of the Bible is to bring lost persons in saving relationships with Jesus Christ. 7. If a Roman Catholic neighbor asked you, Why do you Protestants cut some books out of the Bible, how would you answer? If a Protestant asked his Catholic neighbor why do Catholics add books to the Bible, how would the Catholic explain. If a Catholic asked a Jewish neighbor, why do you have only 22 of the 39 books in the Old Testament, how should the Jew s respond? 8. If you are a teacher or preacher, have your messages tended to be more moralistic ( Do this, don t do that ) or more Christocentric ( Christ did it all. ). 9. If a person is a biblical Inerranist, does that mean he will always life a godly life? 10. If someone says, I just can t understand the Bible, could you answer him from the Scripture? See John 7:17. A great theologian writes, The clarity of Scripture means that the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by al those who read it seeking God s help and being willing to follow it. (Wayne Gruden, PhD). 11. If one does not believe the Bible is his problem primarily intellectual or moral and spiritual? 12. Can you answer the accusations of Satan by quoting Scripture as Jesus did? If not, where does that leave you in your walk with the Lord? 13. Can you take the Bible and lead a lost person to Christ? 5