How to choose a Bible for a Christmas Present

A Bible makes a wonderful gift. Many people like to choose a Bible for the children in their lives. It is a meaningful present that will touch their hearts forever. With such a wide variety of translations available, take a few moments here to discover there is more to choosing a Bible than a pretty cover.

It's amazing that just a few hundred years ago you couldn't read the Bible at all it you didn't know Greek, Aramaic or Hebrew. Now the Bible has been translated and transliterated by many, many scholars. Many Bibles have been newly written to make them easier to read. In 1611 when King James commissioned the Bible to be written in English, there was a lot of concern about the Holy Bible being read by us ignorant common people.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    

   Since very few people speak Old English and our American English is constantly evolving, more and more translations are being written. To choose a Bible wisely first think about what you are using it for and who will be using it. There are many children's versions out there now that are great for various ages.

2. Some people like to read the Bible every morning or evening like visiting a good friend. They want the conversation to be light and easy. They are looking for a Bible that will feel good and speak to them. Other people are looking for a Bible that is correct in what it is saying. They want the Bible to be as accurate as possible since it is giving them direction from God on how to live their lives. Unfortunately, the Bible should be both of these things but, often times it is not.

3. In the front of the Bible where the credits are listed, look for the word Translation or Transliteration. A Bible that is a Translation will have been taken from the original Bible language. There are actually an amazing number of copies or manuscripts of the Bible, that are dated very close to when the originals were written. A Translation will be taken from the original languages.

4. 
    
   Ancient texts are much more accurate than people want to believe.

   The problem comes when a Greek or Hebrew word doesn't have an exact English word to translate too. For example the Greeks have at least 3 words for Love. The love of a family member is not the same as the love of things or the love of a spouse. In English, we only have one word for love. We love pizza and we love our children, but it all looks the same.

5. So, some Bibles are translated thought for thought, instead of word for word. If the word Love doesn't mean enough, the translator will explain a thought, instead of just using a word. Where this might help in explaining the Bible, it also may put ideas into the passage that weren't really there to start with.

6. 
    

   Later, some translators started to "freshen up" or transliterate the Bible. They took the King James Bible with it's translated flaws and used modern words and phrases to make it easier to understand. For example, the word "baptism" was never an English word at all. It literally means "to plunge, dip or immerse". King James didn't like the idea that one needed to be immersed, so he had the translators bring the Greek word to English letter to letter. Now a days, we still use the word baptism, as if it were a special ceremony made up by King James, instead of the literal meaning, to immerse. It has caused a lot of unnecessary confusion.

7. When a Bible translation doesn't go back to the original language at all, it is a transliteration. It translates the King James for example, instead of the Greek or Hebrew manuscripts. Unfortunately, many transliterations try to make the Bible say what the writers want instead of what the original language actually said.

8. 
    

   When choosing a Bible, go for accuracy. Directions to a great restaurant are going to do you much good, if they are not correct directions. After you have studied a while, you will become familiar with the wording. Some modern translations do a good job combining accuracy and simplicity. Mark Twain said, "It is the parts of the Bible I don't understand that bother me ... it's the parts I do understand." Do make it harder than it is.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a Bible wisely.
• Look for whether it is a translation or a transliteration.
• Look up key verses and make sure they are translated in a factual manor.
• Read who the translators are and what church they are affiliated with. If the doctrine of that church is not what you believe, then the Bible or at least the Bible helps, may slant that direction also.
• Ask a Bible mentor whom you trust, what Bible they use.

[lucindaroth]

on 3/20/2009 Great article- especially tip 3 I would never have known