Which Bible?

Which Bible? Brad Reiches Nov 27 2006 01:07AM Monday, November 27, 2006 GodThoughtsWired! "Which Bible?" "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture is a matterof ones own interpretation..." 2 Peter 1:20 About once a week, somebody asks me, "Which Bible translation do you use?"*  Over time that question has resulted in alot of duplicate e-mails, so it finally ocurred to me that it might be worthwhile to publish my answer so...Here it is!  I highly recommend the NASB (New American Standard).  In my opinion, along with the vast majority of true Bible scholars, this is the best of the English, "literal word for word" translations.  This is what I read, study, and preach from.  All GodThoughtsWired! verses are NASB unless otherwise noted. Additionally, I would HIGHLY recommend what is called, The Comparative Study Bible, put out by Zondervan.  It is expensive, but well worth it.  It includes the KJV, NASB, NIV and Amplified versions all in one book.  It give you a marvelous comparison of the differences between these translations.  With this Bible, you can study from the NASB, and at the same time see how the other translations differ. *A Final Very Important Note:  Twenty-First Century, "Seeker-sensitive Christianity" has popularized the use of many different translations.  Dr. Rick Warren, in his highly acclaimed and extremely influential book, "The Purpose Driven Church," encourages all pastors to "read scripture from a newer translation" (p. 297).  He further states in his even more popular book, "The Purpose Driven Life," "It is always helpful to compare translations" (p. 325).  THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TEACHING!  Let me explain.  In "The Purpose Driven Life," Warren uses 15 different translations.  Among them he quotes from "The Message" approximately 98 times.  In almost every case he begins the quote with, "The Bible says."  The problem with this, of course, is that "THE MESSAGE" IS NOT THE BIBLE!  Read what Dr. Eugene Peterson, the author of "The Message," has to say about his own work:  -"The goal is not to render a word-for-word of Greek into English, but rather to convert the tone, the rythm, the events, the ideas into the way we actually speak" (The Message, Introduction, p. 7). -"In a congregation where somebody uses it in the Scripture reading, it makes me uneasy...I would never recommmend it to be used as, "hear the Word of God from the Message."  It surprises me how many do...I like to hear the more formal languages from the pulpit...I did the Beatitudes in about 10 minutes" (Christianity Today, December 23, 2002, bold mine). Can you believe what you're reading today?  The actual author of "The Message" "would never recommend it" being used as the Bible because he knows that it is NOT THE BIBLE, nor did he ever intend for it to be used in place of the Bible.  "The Message" is a useful commentary.  It is really good in some passages and not very good in many others, and NEVER THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD.  Yet, Dr. Warren uses it as the Bible and has influenced thousands of other pastors to do the same.  The true word of God WARNS against this kind of irreverent approach to God's word (see Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19).  The reality is that in this day and age the average local Christian book store carries tens of different versions, translations, paraphrases, word for word, thought for thought or "dynamic equivalency" (huhh?), ALL OF WHICH CLAIM TO BE Bibles.  What is also true is that some are excellent representatives of the word of God, while others are...NOT!. So, rather than teaching, "It is always helpful to compare translations," a statement that I believe is dangerous, misleading and WRONG the way Warren practices it, I believe it far more prudent and appropriate to say, "It CAN be an excellent practice to compare SOME of the highly respected translations for the purpose of discerning what God originally said." That's what I do.