Subject: Choosing a Bible translation |
Bible Note: "'Which Bible Should I Study?' or 'Does God use 'thees' and 'thous?'" Discussion of Bible study method naturally raises this question. We offer the following guidance rather than a simple answer. First, study a Bible in your own dialect, because the whole point of the Bible is communication. For a variety of reasons some students may think they should use a Bible with older language forms, for example, 'thees' and 'thous,' that seem on the surface to indicate respect for God and sacred things. This is understandable, but unless you regularly communicate in fourteenth English, you should seriously question advice to restrict your Bible study to any of the pre-nineteenth century versions. Rather, one should use several versions, including respected older ones, but also encompassing good translations in modern English closest to the language you use. Second, use one of the standard (i.e., less idiomatic or non-paraphrasing) versions as a basis for careful, detailed study. Then, for increased insight, compare this basic study text with several others both new and old, paraphrasing and not. It is rarely a question here of choosing between "good" and "bad" translations. It is rather a matter of selecting a text appropriate to the use you intend." Taken from page 22 of David L. Thompson's book "Bible Study that Works". David Thompson teaches at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY. |