Best Bible Translation?

[B. W.]

, fair enough. I'm in complete agreement. I just wanted to get your take on it, as I don't meet too many people with a working knowledge of Greek. Most of the people I meet who tell me it is unimportant don't read it, so you can hardly take their word as worth anything!

I started studying Greek and Hebrew in 1984 thru 1994 and from 1994 till 2007 - I stopped and only on occasion read these languages - till last month - March. I find that Hebrew is the hardest [for me] due to the shape of the letters and reading it backwards. I rely on the many Study aids for Hebrew and I was not very good when studying this language.

However, Greek was easier. I neglected it for so many years and used it on occasionally that I forgot about how to read it on the fly. Last Month, early March, I began to brush-up again on it. I use many study aids to help and I find myself still able to pick out a few words in the Greek text on the fly but rely mostly on the aids to read it again.

Those of you that know me know that I like using the original Greek word order/structure of a sentence as I find this the hardest to translate into English but the original Greek word order/structure does convey — Voice — very well. Yes there is a voice to language and its tones express the meanings. For example:

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship created….” In the Greek text reads, “His for we are workmanship, [masterpiece, a making, sculpting] - created — [made habitable, transform, shape] …”

Yet you read it like this — yell out the Capitalized words — HIS for WE ARE WORKMANSHIP [his sculpting] Created [made habitable — transformed] in CHRIST JESUS…”

Or read it like this for tone — “HIS! WE ARE for WORKMANSHIP [sculpting] Created [made habitable — transformed] in/by CHRIST JESUS…”

This has more of a punch than the English… with the text pointing out that it is Christ in us through the Holy Spirit that shapes us to do his will. In other words — the Lord lives in us to do his WORKS GOOD … and this 'good work' that God preordained us to walk in is to be transformed in the image of his son — not a new ethical moralism as verse 8-9 reveals.

Well that is enough for now. I need to get back a start studying the Greek again as I am very rusty as you can see. I am working on the book of Ephesians to brush up on Greek and having a blast. It is nice to study without having to cram for a professor's exam!

Anyways — please do not make me out as a Greek expert as I most certainly am not. I like to read it the best I can for my own enjoyment and I use the study aids I have to rely on these more than most than reading Greek text on the Fly. IMHO - it is safer that way...
-
-
-

[KrisW]

There is no perfect translation of the Bible into English. And some translations are biased by whatever denomination penned them.

To really study a particular passage it is best to use a Strong's Concordence and look-up the original Greek or Hebrew.

[B. W.]

There is no perfect translation of the Bible into English. And some translations are biased by whatever denomination penned them.

To really study a particular passage it is best to use a Strong's Concordance and look-up the original Greek or Hebrew.

I would also add the use of several different bible translations as well along with different word studies, commentaries, and Hebrew/Greek dictionaries and grammars that also correspond to the Strong's numbering system.

Then, most importantly lace and bind your study time with copious amounts of prayer.


-
-
-