I was not intending to do a part 2 of “What Bible Translation do you use?” blog post but I was reading a magazine over the weekend called Bible Study Magazine. In the September/ October 2022 edition of the magazine there was an article talking about modern day Bible translations and how they sometimes go too far in making the Bible fit contemporary English. In the example given in the article, this new contemporary English translation, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVue) changes the Biblical text to fit modern-day culture. Again, I cannot stress enough that, especially when you study the Bible for own personal growth, or if you are going to teach the Bible, if you do not know the original Biblical languages, you need to compare two or more translations. This will keep you in check, making sure that you do not teach or believe any errors.
My heart breaks over the fact that these scholars who translated the NRSVue will stand before God and give an account for their error of mistranslating the Bible. The danger of translations like this is the fact that they will lead many people away from the truth of God’s Word and the people using these translations will not even know it. James 3:1 state “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement.” This verse brings fear to me and is why I take my job so serious as a Bible teacher. I know that I will be held accountable for what I teach, and I make sure that what I teach is accurate even when it is unpopular, or not politically correct. We cannot do the Biblical Hokey-Pokey just because we disagree with the Bible. We, as followers of Jesus Christ, are to change our lives to walk in obedience to God’s Word, not change God’s Word to make it obedient to our lives. Below is the article from Bible Study Magazine. I would encourage you to read it for yourself.
