Resolution Not Lost in Translation

Posted on January 8, 2008 by elizabeth

Img_5018I was raised on the King James Version of the Bible. Which is to say that my spiritual language was completely divorced from my everyday language. You just don’t hear 8 year olds saying things like: "Whence goest thou?"

Nevertheless, I loved the KJV. Not because I understood it, mind you. It’s just that the cadence, the flowery imagery, the precise prose carved it’s mark on my psyche.

I confess, though, reading the Bible from cover to cover in the KJV has always daunted me. You get tired of translating every "wot" and "verily" and pretty soon you’ve completely lost the point of the passage.

When I was 18, I was given my first New American Standard Bible. I fell in love with it. Suddenly, the Scriptures actually meant something in language I understood. I still read my KJV, of course. But I carried my NASB around with me. I really learned the Bible using that translation. I marked it up, underlined, highlighted and claimed verses.

But still, I didn’t read it cover to cover.

This year, our pastor encouraged everyone to read the Bible in a year. And to do so, he presented us with The Daily Walk Bible in the New Living Translation by Tyndale.

I think my pastor understands something: in order to succeed at reading the whole Bible, we need to read it in language we easily understand. Unlike the KJV, the prose of the NLT doesn’t distract. It’s simple, straightforward. The prose is servant to the message.

Yes, the NLT is a little on the juvenile side. But that’s coming from an English major who wishes she spoke Shakespearean English in everyday situations. However, in order to attain my goal of reading the Bible cover to cover, I’m casting aside my elitist, KJV sensibilities.

The goal this year is not to stuff myself with high-falutin’ KJV imagery. The goal is to read the whole Bible. Cover to cover. To this end, I will be posting regular updates as I travel through Scripture.

p.s. I started reading while on bedrest, so I’m a wee bit ahead. Very soon I’m sure I’ll  fall behind. Anyone wanna join me? Or just cheer me on? I fear I have bitten off more than I can chew!

 

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  • http://karennkool.blogspot.com karenkool

    You go girl! I don’t think want to join you though–sad to say. haha. I have enjoyed reading through the Bible many times in my life (although never in KJV), but I’m not feelin it. I think I liked the Chronological Bible the best. It really put some pieces of the puzzle together for me.

    Anyway, I cheer you on!! (I don’t know how you’re going to do it with twin infants! WOW)!

  • http://anothermomonthego.blogspot.com Just Mom

    You truly do inspire me.

    I read the New Testament from a Catholic Deveotional Bible last year. My goal is to read through the whole Bible this year.

  • Michelle Hart

    I admire your desire and willingness to do this with the adjustments to a new family life!!! You can do it, just take it one day, one reading at a time and don’t worry if you fall behind, the Lord knows your heart and your desire. I, too, am an English major and can read Shakespeare easily, but trying to digest the KJV of the Bible has always been a struggle for me, so I read the NLT and the Living Bibles and find them so much easier to understand. God bless you and your family…your twins are beautiful :)

  • http://www.heidijowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com Heidi Jo

    i like the new american version too. the living bible translations sometimes are too out there for me. too interpretive.

    i have a bible reading guide that has you read through chronologically…oddly i NEVER knew, until adulthood that the bible didn’t go in order. no stinkin’ wonder it was so hard to comprehend! so now, i can read the books in the historical manner they occurred.

    it’s a salvation history guide. much, much better.

  • haley

    Hi…..the twins are beautiful!

    i’m going through the NKJV right now. i finished the new testament and now i’m reading the old testament. i have never read the Bible through, so i’m very excited!=D
    GOD bless you! i’m praying for you and if there is ever a time i could help you i would love to.=D
    haley

  • http://www.ariellateater.blogspot.com ariella

    I there with you already, plugging through Genesis. I have discovered the archeological study bible-so cool.

  • leanne gilchrist

    I found you through someone else’s blog, and may I say that you’ve quickly become one of my favorite blogs??

    I have wanted to leave a comment but didn’t know if I had to have an account on wordpress, which I don’t, so today I’m trying it!

    I’m from SoCal, Huntington Beach, actually. I lived there for 8 years before moving to Corona for a year and then to Irvine for a year. I have great memories of spending entire days on the beach and skating at Venice…and Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor!

    I’ve lived in WA State for almost 22 years…….that said, you can NEVER take the love of the beach out of me. Looking at your “Merry Christmas from SoCal” pics really caused me to miss the beach. I even told my husband!

    I always wanted to be an English major, I have always loved the English language, and some other languages too……….

    I love your poetry also…..

    Hmmmm….what DON’T I like about you???

    We are pregnant with our 7th child, due sometime this summer, I think. And let me tell you, my husband has been diligently praying for TWIN BOYS. We have one boy, our oldest, who will be 13 in April, and allllllll the rest are girls. I know. I know.

    Anyway, if you want to check me out, just go to homeschoolblogger.com/stillgrowing and feel free to browse a while, but PLEASE leave me a comment!

    Thanks for bringing back such fond memories of my life in SoCal….I hope to visit there this year…

    And I’m enchanted with your beautiful baby girls!

    I wonder if I see a bloggy friendship in our future?

    Love
    Leanne in Longview WA

  • Sheila

    Hey, I’ll join you! Do you have a certain schedule you’re going by? Please let me know. :)

  • http://www.elizabethesther.typepad.com Elizabeth Esther

    Leanne: howdy from The OC!! I feel your pain. You can leave California, but California never really leaves you. ;-) welcome and i will check your blog just as soon as i pump another bottle! Thank you for all the kind remarks about my blog. I’m blushing now!

    Sheila: The Daily Walk Bible has it’s own schedule. You read about 3-4 chapters per day, which in the NLT is really easy to do. SOmetimes I read more than a day’s worth. Sometimes I miss a few days. It’s not about being perfect. Like Michelle mentioned—just do what you can keeping the goal in mind. At least, that’s what I’m going to try! My best suggestion to you would be find a translation that’s easy to read. It doesn’t have to be the NLT. Best of luck and when I post an update, I’d love to have you comment on where you’re at/how it’s going, etc.

  • Cathy

    I have read the Bible through for several years. The ESV is a really good version as is the NASV (the most literal translation). The Bible that I use for my devos is a chronological one and it is an NIV.

    At the end of 2007, I was determined to finish. I was about two months behind due in part to reading different passages throughout the year that I would choose instead, and, frankly, some days, my rebellion was alive and well, and I just didn’t want to read! Thanks be to God for His patience and grace. I wanted to finish what I’d started, but wondered aloud if it was appropriate to speed read the Bible since I was behind. : )

    God allowed me to finish and I announced to my husband, with great fanfare, “I’m through with reading my Bible!” to which he replied, “For good?” What a wiseguy.

    I’ve always thought of reading the Bible as a discipline. Even though it is, that can also denote a sense of drudgery–merely an exercise. While that’s valid, I think the Puritans had it right. They viewed it as one of the “graces” that God gave us, i.e., the privilege of reading His Word. May that be our take on it, as well.

    Cathy

  • Sarah O.

    Hi Elizabeth, haven’t been by in a while…your precious girls are a miracle! Way to go God and good work, momma. I just had this discussion with my man a few days ago (bible translations, reading through the bible). Been a believer for 25 years and have NEVER read the whole thing-2008 is going to be THE year, with God’s help! My hubby who is a seminary student at Gordon Conwell, likes NIV best for everyday study (although at this very moment he’s digging into his Greek New Testament to prep. for his final exam on Thurs.) I like it too, but echo your thoughts about an “easy to understand” translation for reading the whole thing through. I think I’m going to dig up my Living Bible. I so enjoy reading your blog, your candid thoughts on our faith lived out are an encouragement to me!

  • http://www.elizabethesther.typepad.com Elizabeth Esther

    Cathy: LOL! Sounds like something my husband would say. Thank you for your thoughts. Yeah, in the past reading it cover to cover would have been drudgery to me. This year, with all the time I’m spending pumping breast milk–reading of any kind seems like a privilege. So while I pump, I prop the Bible up with one knee and read! I’m so glad you shared your thoughts today, it really encouraged me!

    Sarah O.: So, you gonna take the challenge and read along with me? As I post updates on my progress (or lack thereof), I would love for you to chime in with a comment on where/how it’s going for you, too! It’s always more fun to do this with a friend!

    Ariella: HEY! HI! I know you!! ;-) So, let’s plug through together, shall we? Hugs to you and your fam.

  • http://www.sixblessings.blogspot.com Carmen

    I started 07 with a goal to read through the Bible in a year and fell short come spring…life got busier than I’d planned. So…I asked for a One Year Devotional Bible for Christmas and got one…The One Year Bible for Women NLT by Tyndale. I am loving it so far. We’ll see come spring again! (New baby due in May so we’ll see how that goes!…might be reading at 2 AM!) But…knowing that I have a one year reading buddy(s) will make it easier! I’m in! I hope there are no tests, though, when I graduated college I swore I’d never take another test again! ” )

    Hugs,
    Carmen

    P.S. Thanks for your kind words in the e-mail Elizabeth…your blog is one of the first ones I check each day…a great source of encouragement (and occasional laughs!) for me!

  • http://www.sixblessings.blogspot.com Carmen

    Forgot to add that my reading plan has some OT, some NT, Psalms and Proverbs to read every day…is that how ya’ll have it?

    Hugs,
    Carmen

  • http://mjbillingtonquebec.blogspot.com/? Jill

    I recently found this great site http://bible.christianity.com/readingplan/1 Have you seen it? It helps you keep track of what you’ve read, and you can read in whatever version you want. If you feel like reading that day’s portion in kjv, well, you just click on that particular version. It also allows for adding notes, highlighting, etc. I don’t particularly love reading from the computer screen, but all the other benefits are many. Anyway, if you don’t know about it, I encourage you to go look around.

    I’m trying to read through the Bible this year as well. I look forward to seeing your posts as you travel through.