Some thoughts on New Bible English Translations.

Putting schoarship aside in the area of Bible Translations I would simply ask the question, “Does this translation of God’s Holy Word produce better Christians? Does this translation move the reader closer to Jesus Christ and God the Father? Does it make “our hearts burn within us?” Luke 24:32. To me these are the tests of a Bible translation. Does it move us closer to the God who in whom we “live and move and have our being?” Is the Bible translation saturated with prayer and fasting and thanksgiving? We are talking about the foundation of the Christian faith here, not some tranlation of the Illiad or Odyssey. But I think most scholars approach Bible translation as if it were an intellectual exercise – like translating Homer’s books, rather than the Word of God. I belive that God has the power to Preserve His Word throught the ages, no matter what language the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek is translated into. So again I ask “Do these modern translations make better Christians than the KJV which has produced Christians for over 400 years? I like the idea of an English translation. I think that the Koine Greek New Testament books and letters were written in the language of the people. The common language of the people. And any modern English translation should be true to the origional texts and intents. I think a modern translation should be as readable as today’s newspaper, yet at the same time avoid crass language (like preganant and sex) and elevate the reader into the very Throne Room of Heaven. We don’t need a McDonalds fast food Bible, but Bible translations that contain the meat of the Word. Does the ESV and HCSB contain the meat of the Word. I have to ask, “Where’s the Beef?” I would be more interested in hearing about the prayer meetings that were held before the translation commitees meetings than about the results of the meetings. I would be more interested in hearding about the conversion experiences and God at work in the daily lives of the translators than about their scholarly achievements and titles. I am hopeful that the HCSB will meet or exceed my expections. I pray that it does, and I will buy the HCSB Second Edition when it is available. I also pray that my comments will be taken to heart by the Bible Translators.