THE BIBLE VERSIONS I remembered when I was a First Class Midshipman in the Academy, a question popped out of my mind – “which Bible version should I use?” A question that led me to spend time in the library, browsing through various encyclopedia which has differing description regarding versions of the bible. Somehow, through these various encyclopedia, I was able to determine how some versions came about. At that time I was using three versions, the King James Version 1611, Recovery Version and another one which I can’t remember because I seldom use that version. I use KJV 1611 after a Pastor confidently endorse this version on one of his preaching, because according to him it is the most authoritative Bible. Aside from that, most of my Christian classmates are using this version. On the one hand, I use the Recovery Version due to the English translation is easy to understand and has rich footnotes. This morning I came across a video in youtube, explaining KJV 1611 and the Geneva Bible, which gave me a sense that KJV 1611 is indeed authoritative because King James made it authoritative as explained by the speaker in the video. There are several Bible versions today and each has its own story on how it became a version of the Bible. Some Christians may have the same question as I have before “which Bible version should I use?” Or some are set to use a certain version and have their own reasons why they prefer that version of the Bible. For some, it may be discouraging to read the Bible because of varying translation. That it seems the Word of God was not preserve and the accuracy of it may have been questionable. Before we come to a state of paralysis due to too much analysis, we should see that the Author of the Bible is God and that ALL SCRIPTURE is God-breathed… (2 Tim. 3:16). Whatever version we are using, it is “God-breathed”. We may argue that the words that I have quoted here are different from the version you are using. The words use on a certain version maybe related or totally different from that of the other, but we need to see that the Word came from God and that the Word is God. Although it is a fact that there are several versions and that the translations vary, this should not hinder us from reading the Bible or insist on the version we prefer. Even if there is varying translations we could always refer to the living Word which is the Spirit ( John 6:63 ). As believers in Christ, our spirit is joined with the Spirit for us to have a fresh speaking of the Lord Jesus. The Bible is not for us to debate on or to have it quoted word for word in legality like lawyers do. God has provided us the Word for us to enjoy. The Word is our life supply – our breathing, our spiritual milk ( 1 Pet. 2:2), our food (Matt. 4:4). God is the Word himself (John 1:1) coming to us to be our life supply. So which Bible version should we use? It does not matter what version it is, as long as we are joined in the Spirit and enjoy the Word as our life supply.
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 08:33:00 +0000