Bible Reading: try a different version

However, for Christians who have gone through the Bible at least once in its entirety, it is easy to dismiss the continual practice, with the smug feeling of "I have read that already". Although many can testify to the amazing insights that you always find, especially when re-reading the same familiar passage many times, the familiarity factor is always there as a potential excuse for us to take a break.

This challenge is especially relevant to me, as I am the type of person that prefer to explore new things. To keep the level of anticipation and excitement of reading something new in the context of Bible reading, I have discovered the treasure within the many versions of the Bible. Rather than introducing you to all the available versions, I would instead tell you of my own journeys through the various ones that I have picked up, and what they meant to me. Perhaps you will find similar interest, select appropriate ones for yourself, and embark on similar journeys.

To orient us among the many English translations of the Bible, we best compare them along a spectrum of translation styles, with literal (word to word) on one extreme, and free (paraphrase) on the other. These two extremes represent two different philosophies of what bridges to provide for the various gaps between an ancient sacred text and a current day reader. Besides the obvious gaps in language, grammar, diction, and linguistic style and devices, there are gaps in other dimensions as well: cultural, geographical, political, ...

The literal translation tries to be as faithful as possible in preserving the meaning of each individual word and the word order. It would leave the reader to bridge the other gaps. King James is an example version, which is why it often leaves a beginner feeling the awkwardness of the language.

A free translation or paraphrase would bridge all the gaps at the expense of the language, by translating the intent of a whole passage at a time. It will allow an easy reading, but will not enable you the option of doing accurate detail analysis on individual words. An example would be the Living Bible.

The middle ground between the two extremes is a translation style known as "Dynamic Equivalent", which reduces the awkwardness of a literal translation, while preserving as much of the original concepts as possible. Popular versions such as the NIV tend to fall into this range.

Anyone interested in a detail discussion of translation theories and styles could google on terms like "bible translation literal dynamic equivalent". So much for the theoretical stuff. So now onto my experience with the many versions.

My experiences with various translations

During my Cornell days, I got interested in the Word In Life Study Bible , which at the time was only available in New King James Version (NKJV). I liked it a lot, since it included convenient side panel information, such as geographical, political, or social profiles of persons or locations mentioned in the passages. Through that, I ended up appreciating the NKJV.

One day, while I browse through some neglected books in a church library, I picked up a copy of the Living Bible, a paraphrase in contemporary language by J.B. Philips back in the 1970s, and was fascinated by the refreshing perspective offered by the language.

That was when I realize how different versions can really offer distinctive insights and characteristics. I was motivated to read through my copy of The Layman's Parallel Bible: KJV, NIV, Living Bible, NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) and compare the 4 versions a paragraph at a time.

Due to my appreciation of the Living Bible for offering a rather assessible reading in today's language, I was equally motivated to go through the Contemporary English Version, which is written using only relatively simple English vocabulary throughout, so that people with lower reading skills can access the bible.

During a time when I hosted the fellowship library, with many versions of the Bible, I read through the NASB (New American Standard Bible), as I wanted to experience a version that is suppose to be in the translation spectrum that I have missed so far.

After I engaged to Jing, and hence started to attend the Ithaca Chinese Church, I start to use my Chinese-English parallel bible, and it was natural for me to re-read through the Chinese Bible, in three available translations, analogous to KJV, NIV, and CEV. Features of the Chinese language allows me to see how the two ancient cultures (Greek and Chinese) have so much in common, that the Chinese translation can offer insight to the original meaning of the Greek text that English alone cannot capture. (The best illustration being the Greek word "logos" which translates to "the Word" in English, but would in Chinese to simultaneously capture the meaning of "the Word", "the Way", "the Life", "the Tao".)

From a Christian book club, I purchased many books, among them the Inspirational Bible by Max Lucado, who was my favorite author at the time. Although I have already read through the NKJV, Max's various inspiriational writings on the side motivated me to go through this version again. Similarly, I found in the Surrendipity Bible all sorts of intriguing questions alongside the text, and The Answer, a New Century Version that included inspirational writings from a mixture of the best known Christian figures of the century, such as Billy Graham.

Another book from the club was "the Book of God - the Bible as a Novel" by Warren Wiersbe, which resembled a theatrical script that gave life and emotion to every story of the bible. I come to know every character in a whole new vivid living dimension.

During the time that I was suppose to finish up with my thesis for graduate school, I discovered the recently published "Narrated Bible in Chronological Order" . My enthusiam for it instantly reach an all time high after a few chapters, as I went on 4 times the speed of a bible reading program that the church was promoting at the time, daily looking forward to my bible study time, and finish the entire Bible in 3 months.

Eugene Peterson's long anticipated "The Message - The Bible in Contemporary Language" came out in several parts, and I devour each part like nothing before that. The rich and earthy language gave such different and fresh feel for the bible that it allowed me to experience God's Word so much more intimately.

Last year, I found out about e-sword.net and its freely available computer bible study tool. Not only does it provide every version of the Bible in all the languages, but it also integrates many study tools like commentaries and Christian writings. My favorite aspect is the possibility of reading Bible in the original Greek with the help of the Strong Number tool. My math background already provided me with a knowledge of the Greek alphabet, so I can at least read the words phonetically, such as the word "logos". The Strong Number would easily offer a word dictionary when I mouse-over any of the Greek words.

In conclusion, the various versions of the Bible has provided me a continual joy and great anticipation of discovering new perspectives to the Word of God, year after year. They complement each other and provide a more complete picture of what the original writers intended, and what God wants to inspire within me. I definitely recommend the same for you.

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