Library Conference Devotion

Nehemiah 8:8 NIV

8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

The Lexham Hebrew-English Interlinear Bible Chapter 8

וַֽיִּקְרְא֥וּ בַסֵּ֛פֶר בְּתוֹרַ֥ת הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים מְפֹרָ֑שׁ וְשׂ֣וֹם שֶׂ֔כֶל וַיָּבִ֖ינוּ בַּמִּקְרָֽא׃ ס

The Lexham Greek-English Interlinear Septuagint: H.B. Swete Edition Chapter 18

8 καὶ ἀνέγνωσαν ἐν βιβλίῳ νόμου τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἐδίδασκεν Ἔσρας καὶ διέστελλεν ἐν ἐπιστήμῃ Κυρίου, καὶ συνῆκεν ὁ λαὸς ἐν τῇ ἀναγνώσει.

Lutherbibel 1912 Das 8. Kapitel

Und sie lasen im Gesetzbuch Gottes klar und verständlich, daß man verstand, was gelesen ward.

How many of you could understand the passage from the Bible that I just read? I doubt any understood it in the Hebrew or the Greek (and my not being able to pronounce Hebrew like a Jewish rabbi doesn’t help). It is possible that some of you understood it when I read it in German because of our background.

I did this to illustrate a point. Ever since the tower of Babel, there has been a language barrier which can make it more difficult to communicate. For this reason, people have found it necessary to translate a message into the language of the people to whom they are trying to communicate. You see this evident when you purchase items manufactured in other countries. It may have instructions in English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese etc.

Today we are going to learn about a new translation of the Bible into English. Now someone might object. They might ask, “Why do we need another English translation? Why isn’t the King James Version which many of us grew up with sufficient? Or why not the NIV which has been used in many of our congregations since the 1980’s? What is wrong with them? What value is there in another translation? I will let the presenter answer those and related questions.

I believe it is important to communicate as clearly as possible and the goal of a translation should be to convey as accurately as possible what the original says to the culture the hearer is in. But I also realize that even the most perfect translation cannot guarantee success. Note the instructions that the Lord gave to Ezekiel in

The New International Version Chapter 3

he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel—6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they

Ezekiel 3:4–11 NIV

4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel—6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.” 10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.”

The New International Version Chapter 3

he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel—6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign

This reminds us that the way to receive the Word of God is through faith in the God whose word it is. (see passages)

Ezekiel 3:1–11 NIV

1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. 3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. 4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel—6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.” 10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.”

John 5:36–40 NIV

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

This reminds us that the way to receive the Word of God is through faith in the God whose word it is. (see passages)

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 NIV

1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

Hebrews 1:1–2 NIV

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

When it comes to the the importance of the Bible today we have to weigh several factors. Some we have control over. Others are dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit working through the word against our natural inclination to refuse to believe.

Historically the Bible is the most preserved, known, used, and translated book on the face of the earth. Those who believe that

(NIV)

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

are very careful to preserve and translate accurately what the Bible says. We believe in its benefits. “Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

Others refuse to believe the authenticity of the Bible and attack it in numerous ways. This is often how the Bible is taught in our world’s venues of higher learning.

Our personal goal as Christians is to receive the Bible as the word of God trusting in Jesus’ promise “Blessed are they who hear the word of God and obey it.”