Sometimes, people
ask me, “What
translation of the Bible should I read?” Without starting controversies regarding accuracies of the newer
translations vs. the King James Version, my best response is, “Select
a translation that you will READ.”
In today’s post,
I’d like to share a few Scripture texts from different translations so that you
might get a feel for how the Lord can and does speak during study. I don’t
pretend to have a scholarly approach, just a hunger to seek the Truth of the
Word, so forgive me if I miss a few obvious points. This message is what the
Spirit of God has whispered to me.
I believe in
writing in my Bible. Some people wouldn’t think of marring the page with
highlighters and an ink pen, but it’s proven invaluable to me when sermon notes
warranted remembrance. It was just this sort of note making in my Amplified
Translation while studying James 1:2-4 that helped me understand my various
trials in a different way.
Now, if you have
ever had occasion to read Scriptures in the Amplified Translation, you know why
it is referred to as “The
Woman’s Version” of the Bible. Specific
words are “amplified” and the meanings of Greek and Hebrew language are
expounded to magnify our understanding of the textual content. In other words, IT IS VERY WORDY.
At first glance, just gazing over commas, parentheses, and brackets can feel
like an Olympic game of “leap frog!” Maybe that’s why it’s my favorite study
translation alongside my Mother’s Scoffield Bible. Its commentary and her
scribbled notes in the margin are a treasure trove that her hand has left for
me.
Yes, a good word
study becomes a challenging hunt to understand what God is saying to His
children of that time, across many generations of believers and to my current
personal life application. We serve a God who wants to really know
us in personal, intimate ways. He is Father and Daddy, and He wants to
communicate His love letters to me and to you, too. More importantly, He
wants us to really know Him and love Him back.
Let’s examine and
compare a few examples of one of my favorite texts, James 1:2-4. From the
Living Bible, a paraphrase that is meant to be an “easier read,” we
find this:
“Dear
brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for
when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So, let it grow and
don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in
full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and
complete.”
Did you catch the
directive from the Holy Spirit writing through the hand of James? Don’t try to squirm out
of your problems? I don’t know about you, but I wiggle lots to avoid
troubles.
As I have pursued
following Jesus in Christian life, I have discovered this to be at the heart of
my struggle to maturity in faith. I can only speak for myself, but I know other
believers who are also quick to abandon faith in the midst of personal trials. We
humans are seekers of a peace without conflict because this is the world’s idea
of peace. In so doing, we fail to endure the fiery trials that produce a
living, breathing testimony. Without fire, there is no testimony. Without mess,
there is no “message” of how God worked to clean it all up.
The American
Standard Bible translation adds an overlay. Notice in verse 2, James uses the
word, “when” you
encounter various trials…not “if.”
“Consider
it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance
have its perfect result that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in
nothing.”
Peter also writes
to us in 1Peter 1:6-7,
“In
this, you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary you
have been distressed by various trials, that the PROOF of your faith, being
more precious than gold which is perishable, even though TESTED by fire, may be
found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus
Christ.”
Though I may
not fully embrace a complete understanding while enduring the fire, (actually, most of
the time I am oblivious because it feels like the 2-minute warning at the end
of the game and my head is buried in a hole at the opposite goal line), I
am beginning to see that my trials are the proving ground of my faith. God’s
ultimate purpose is to display His Working Hands in order that Jesus is
glorified in my life. What is proven in me through these various trials is a
reward far more valuable than any Olympic gold medal!
When I eventually
studied James 1:2-4 in the Amplified translation, I experienced a new sense of
wonder at the work of endurance, steadfastness and patience.
“Consider
it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter
trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand
that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full
play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and
fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.”
As I read the
words “LET” and “FULL PLAY,” I suddenly saw these words frolicking over one
another like a friendly game of “leap frog.” Somehow, this revelation about
perseverance became a new landscape for what seemed like my personal Olympic
“life games.” As with any hosting nation, there are many years of planning and
preparation for the participating countries, their athletes, coaches, sponsors,
family members, international fans, advertisers and media support. Great
expense and investments bring hopes for even greater rewards in potential
commerce and it takes massive collaboration, diplomacy and dedication to
manifest the vision of every Olympian.
The thrill of
victory and the agony of defeat always occupy the same playground when
circumstances and people play “leap frog”. Life happens…we miss the mark. We
give up, we disappoint others and ourselves. We fail, we sin. Win or lose,
persevering through our trials proves the genuineness of the Gold in us. God
uses it all to get our attention, to uproot us from our spiritual dead places,
to call us back to Himself. With kind and tender compassion, He brings us back
to our inheritance…a Life and Faith in Him that is Alive and Vital.
(c) Copyright 2013-2016
