The Foray

Why Lately I've Been Preaching from the New Living Translation (3)

In previous posts, I underscored the importance of reliability and readability in the work of Bible translation. In other words, a good translation of the Bible will "... reliably replicate the meaning of the text without sacrificing its readability" (Comfort, Essential Guide to Bible Versions, 104). On this score, I've found that the NLT succeeds wonderfully.

With the "two Rs" as non-negotiables, allow me now to share a little more on "Why, lately, I've been preaching from the NLT." It has to do with my heart and how God is working in my life. Here's an example from just last night:

Meeting with a small group of men, the conversation turned to the importance and legitimacy of publicly recognizing hard-working volunteers in the church. I immediately thought of something Paul said about Epaphroditus, a hard-working brother well-known to the Philippians. So I grabbed my Compact Edition NLT, found Philippians 2:25, and began reading aloud. (To get the gist of what I'm describing, you might try reading these words aloud for yourself):

"Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him -- and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn't do from far away."

Now this may sound "weird" to some but, as I was reading, my heart was singing -- at the beauty, simplicity, and profundity of God's word. I genuinely felt joy. Because I understood what I read! Because I knew my brothers did too! And because we knew it was TRUTH!

When he's standing on the solid ground of a reliable and readable Bible, a man with a singing heart is a happy man -- let me tell you! And that's more of "Why, lately, I've been preaching from the NLT."

Greg

Why Lately I've Been Preaching from the New Living Translation (2)

In my previous post on this subject, I cited Dr. Philip Comfort. His book, Essential Guide to Bible Versions, is an excellent resource for learning reliable answers to questions such as:

• Differences between Bible versions -- do they matter?
• Where does the Bible text come from?
• How are Bible translations made?

Here is Dr. Comfort's take on the NLT, which he discusses in chapter six of his book:

"More than ninety evangelical scholars from various theological backgrounds and denominations worked for seven years to produce the New Living Translation. As a result, the NLT is a version that is exegetically accurate and idiomatically powerful."

In case you might be interested, here's a list of the scholars he refers to (NLT Bible Translation Team). I see the names of at least four that I learned from in the classroom in seminary, along with the names of a bunch of other outstanding scholars whose work I've studied. Trust me on this one: They all know their stuff!

It is of paramount importance that the English Bible we read and learn from in our worship gatherings be accurate, clear, and understandable. These qualities have increasingly impressed me with the NLT and why I am using it lately from the pulipit.

More to come.

Greg 

PS A second edition of the New Living Translation was released in 2004 and is the edition that I'm using in the pulpit. I got a copy with readable size print (for a 43 year old, that is) at LifeWay Christian Store for only $10.

Why Lately I've Been Preaching from the New Living Translation (1)

Because I've found it consistently to be exactly what it claims: "The Truth Made CLEAR." When I read the New Living Translation, I "get" it (i.e., I understand what it's saying). Time and again I've studied hard into a literal translation of a verse, and found the NLT accurately rendering the verse in simple, understandable English. That's precisely what I want as a speaker and for those who listen.

Archbishop William Temple was once told that he had made a complex issue very simple. He was hugely delighted, and replied: "Lord, who made me simple, make me simpler yet" (cited in J.I. Packer's, Concise Theology, xii). Bear in mind also that when Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German at the time of the Protestant Reformation, he insisted, "Give us simple words -- not those of the court -- for this book should be famous for its simplicity." He said this because he believed that everyone should be able to read and understand God's word. I believe this too.

Along these lines, I've found the teaching of Dr. Philip Comfort quite helpful:

"The thousands and thousands of papyri that were discovered in Egypt around the turn of the twentieth century displayed a form of Greek called 'koine' Greek. Koine Greek was everyman's Greek; it was the common langauge of almost everyone living in the Greco-Roman world from the second century BC to the thrid century AD ... Koine Greek was not literary Greek (i.e., the kind of Greek written by the Greek poets and tragedians). Instead, it was the kind of Greek used in personal letters, legal documents, and other nonliterary texts."

"After the recovery of so many koine Greek papyri, New Testament scholars began to discover that most of the New Testament was written in koine Greek -- the language of the people. As a result, there began to be a strong prompting for translators to translate the New Testament into the language of the people. Translators began to separate themselves from traditional Elizabethan English, as found in the King James Version ... and to produce fresh renderings of Scripture in the common idiom."

I'll say more about translation in a few days, Lord willing.

Greg

For Your Peaceful Enjoyment

http://www.biblesociety.ca/free_scriptures/escriptures/ecclesiastes3/ecclesiastes3.html

There are wonderful sides to the internet, as well as ones to avoid; this is an example of the former.

Enjoy!

Greg

What They're Saying about the New Study Bible

"The ESV is a dream come true for me. The rightful heir to a great line of historic translations, it provides the continuity and modern accuracy I longed for. Now the scope and theological faithfulness of the ESV Study Bible study notes is breathtaking. Oh how precious is the written Word of God.” John Piper, Pastor for Preaching and Vision, Bethlehem Baptist Church

"An ESV Study Bible? ... Wee-who!" Greg Lindsey, Struggling Pastor, MVB

“Outstanding! The ESV Study Bible is a treasure—a beautiful volume, filled with a wealth of resources. It will be just as useful for the seminarian and long-time pastor as it will be accessible to the brand-new Christian.” R. Albert Mohler Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"If he thinks he's buying one more Bible, he's got another think coming!" Denise Lindsey, Struggling Pastor's Wife, MVB

“The ESV Study Bible is the finest study tool I have seen in fifty years of Bible teaching. The notes, articles, maps, and illustrations are all of the highest quality. It is a great achievement!” Jerry Bridges, speaker, bestselling author of The Pursuit of Holiness

"I remember how excited I was when The Geneva Bible first came out! It's like 1560 all over again!" Bill Haney, MVB

"The definitive clarity and beauty of the ESV Study Bible is extraordinary ... For everyone who wants to understand God's word in a deeper way, the ESV Study Bible is an outstanding resource. I will be an avid user!" Joni Eareckson Tada, Founder of the JAF International Disability Center

"Bela Fleck!" Harold Jennings, MVB

2008 Is Going to Get Even Better!

Check out this announcement: http://www.esvstudybible.org/

Click on "contributors" and you'll see some pretty hefty names in the world of Bible-loyal theologians and scholars (e.g., Packer and Schreiner; the latter is contributing study notes to Romans (among other books!). And Mark Dever will have an article on "God's Plan for Salvation."

Okay ...

... clicking around their website ... there's just way too much stuff there to write about here.

Just go check it out!

From the preview, all I can say is, "WOW!"

Greg

The English Standard Version

I guess by now most people in our church know that I preach and teach primarily from the English Standard Version. I have solid reasons for doing so, which you can check out here: http://www.esv.org/about/intro

And this is a really neat sight on things related to the ESV and the Bible in general: http://www.esv.org/blog

If you're interested in purchasing an ESV, here you go: http://www.gnpcb.org/catalog/bibles

Greg

A Great Source for 2008 Bible Reading Calendars

Go to www.esv.org/blog and click "Read your Bible in 2008." You'll find 8 different plans (count 'em, 8!) for reading your Bible this new year. Technology isn't all bad!

Just a reminder: The ESV (English Standard Version) is the translation in our pews and the one I preach from. You can find a lot of information on it at this same website.

Greg