Sunday, July 31, 2011
Quote of the Day
"I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that 'nothing happens' when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand."--C.S. Lewis
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Next Step
The next step in what I consider a critical situation in my life will take place for better or worse early in the coming week. I pray a clear direction will emerge from this and may God's will be done. It's all in His hands.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
NASB, ESV, and HCSB
There are blogs and articles all over the internet comparing Bible translations. I should know. I search them out and read them...regularly. I have already shared on this blog my journey through different translations or versions through the years. Having been accused of being "wishy-washy" by some people, it does seem that description fits me due to my inability to settle on one Bible version for every day use.
As of this writing I have been bouncing among the New American Standard, English Standard, and Holman Christian Standard versions of the Word. Eventually, however, a person needs to make a stand. I have in the past thought I had made that stand, only to discover another version previously unknown to me or hear a new fact or opinion which tended to influence my thoughts at the time. Now I want to lay out my thoughts on each Bible version and then attempt to make a decision or choice in the matter (notice I did not say "final").
Beginning chronologically with the New American Standard Bible (the 1995 updated edition), I purchased a burgundy, genuine leather copy not long after the 1995 release. It is single-column, with references and a nice 11-point bold font. The NASB is generally considered to be the most "literal, word-for-word" translation...closest to the original Hebrew and Greek texts. This version of the Word has never been hugely popular with the masses like the KJV and NIV and has been labeled by many as a study Bible to be used more for reference purposes. The most consistent negative criticism I have seen is that the language is too "wooden" or "stilted". Those holding this view say this makes the NASB difficult to read because it does not "flow". I disagree with this charge. For my daily Bible reading I have recently been listening to the ESV as I read along in the NASB. To those who believe the ESV "flows" better than the NASB, I must say the New American seems to flow quite well, thank you. The NASB capitalizes personal pronouns for deity and verses such as Acts 8:37 are included in the text with brackets, instead of being relegated to a "footnote only" status as it is in the ESV and NIV. John MacArthur, Charles Stanley, and Kay Arthur would be among those who use the NASB in their ministries.
The English Standard Version was first released in 2001 with a significant revision taking place in 2007. When I embraced reformed theology and joined the Presbyterian Church in America in 2007, the ESV seemed to be the perfect fit. My pastor preached from it and many fellow church members carried it as well. I bought several copies trying to find the perfect binding, font size, etc. The ESV publishers have waged a tremendous marketing campaign and in a few short years the ESV has become very popular. The ESV, like the NASB, is a literal, word-for-word translation, but not quite as much as the NASB. It does read well which apparently is one of the greatest reasons for its popularity. I really thought I had found "my" Bible version with the ESV. Upon further reading and studying I discovered the ESV is over 90 percent the Revised Standard Version re-packaged with changes made to satisfy conservative evangelicals. That is not a bad thing. What has been most enlightening to me is how there is not much difference between the ESV and NASB when it is all said and done. The question that comes to my mind: "Why is the ESV needed?" The issue of "ease of reading" between these two versions is a non-issue for me. The translation committee for the ESV was made up mostly of persons of the reformed persuasion, which has been a problem for some, but not for me. Also, to be a 21st century translation, the ESV does seem to contain more archaic language or "Biblese" as some call it, than it should. Those known to endorse and/or use the ESV include John Piper, Harry Reeder, Francis Chan and a large number of persons in the conservative Presbyterian denominations.
The late comer to this "competition"...the new kid on the block, as it were, is the Holman Christian Standard Bible. The HCSB was first released in 2004 with a revision in 2010 by the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. When I first heard of the HCSB I did not bother to investigate, writing it off for obvious reasons. This is unfair, because the HCSB really is an excellent translation. The Holman Christian Standard Bible strikes a very nice balance between the word-for-word NASB and the thought-for-thought New International Version. Unlike the NASB and ESV which were based on previous versions, the HCSB is the first "from scratch" translation since the NIV over 30 years ago. It has very readable, current English without any slang thrown in which would probably be soon outdated. With its lack of marketing, unfortunately, in history the HCSB may well find itself being known as nothing more than the "Southern Baptist Bible".
All three of these excellent Bible versions have their strengths and weaknesses. I could go into more detail, but maybe I will address the subject again at a later date. For today I cast my lot with my old friend the New American Standard Bible. It's currently my daily Bible reading companion and will be the Bible I carry to church this Sunday.
Next week.....who knows?
As of this writing I have been bouncing among the New American Standard, English Standard, and Holman Christian Standard versions of the Word. Eventually, however, a person needs to make a stand. I have in the past thought I had made that stand, only to discover another version previously unknown to me or hear a new fact or opinion which tended to influence my thoughts at the time. Now I want to lay out my thoughts on each Bible version and then attempt to make a decision or choice in the matter (notice I did not say "final").
Beginning chronologically with the New American Standard Bible (the 1995 updated edition), I purchased a burgundy, genuine leather copy not long after the 1995 release. It is single-column, with references and a nice 11-point bold font. The NASB is generally considered to be the most "literal, word-for-word" translation...closest to the original Hebrew and Greek texts. This version of the Word has never been hugely popular with the masses like the KJV and NIV and has been labeled by many as a study Bible to be used more for reference purposes. The most consistent negative criticism I have seen is that the language is too "wooden" or "stilted". Those holding this view say this makes the NASB difficult to read because it does not "flow". I disagree with this charge. For my daily Bible reading I have recently been listening to the ESV as I read along in the NASB. To those who believe the ESV "flows" better than the NASB, I must say the New American seems to flow quite well, thank you. The NASB capitalizes personal pronouns for deity and verses such as Acts 8:37 are included in the text with brackets, instead of being relegated to a "footnote only" status as it is in the ESV and NIV. John MacArthur, Charles Stanley, and Kay Arthur would be among those who use the NASB in their ministries.
The English Standard Version was first released in 2001 with a significant revision taking place in 2007. When I embraced reformed theology and joined the Presbyterian Church in America in 2007, the ESV seemed to be the perfect fit. My pastor preached from it and many fellow church members carried it as well. I bought several copies trying to find the perfect binding, font size, etc. The ESV publishers have waged a tremendous marketing campaign and in a few short years the ESV has become very popular. The ESV, like the NASB, is a literal, word-for-word translation, but not quite as much as the NASB. It does read well which apparently is one of the greatest reasons for its popularity. I really thought I had found "my" Bible version with the ESV. Upon further reading and studying I discovered the ESV is over 90 percent the Revised Standard Version re-packaged with changes made to satisfy conservative evangelicals. That is not a bad thing. What has been most enlightening to me is how there is not much difference between the ESV and NASB when it is all said and done. The question that comes to my mind: "Why is the ESV needed?" The issue of "ease of reading" between these two versions is a non-issue for me. The translation committee for the ESV was made up mostly of persons of the reformed persuasion, which has been a problem for some, but not for me. Also, to be a 21st century translation, the ESV does seem to contain more archaic language or "Biblese" as some call it, than it should. Those known to endorse and/or use the ESV include John Piper, Harry Reeder, Francis Chan and a large number of persons in the conservative Presbyterian denominations.
The late comer to this "competition"...the new kid on the block, as it were, is the Holman Christian Standard Bible. The HCSB was first released in 2004 with a revision in 2010 by the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. When I first heard of the HCSB I did not bother to investigate, writing it off for obvious reasons. This is unfair, because the HCSB really is an excellent translation. The Holman Christian Standard Bible strikes a very nice balance between the word-for-word NASB and the thought-for-thought New International Version. Unlike the NASB and ESV which were based on previous versions, the HCSB is the first "from scratch" translation since the NIV over 30 years ago. It has very readable, current English without any slang thrown in which would probably be soon outdated. With its lack of marketing, unfortunately, in history the HCSB may well find itself being known as nothing more than the "Southern Baptist Bible".
All three of these excellent Bible versions have their strengths and weaknesses. I could go into more detail, but maybe I will address the subject again at a later date. For today I cast my lot with my old friend the New American Standard Bible. It's currently my daily Bible reading companion and will be the Bible I carry to church this Sunday.
Next week.....who knows?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Words of Wisdom
Sometimes you gotta say, "What the heck, make your move". And I might add, especially at my age,"...while there's still time".
But someone else has to make the first move!
But someone else has to make the first move!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Imminent Changes?
Anyone who bothers to waste their time following my blog knows that I have had the desire to return to coastal living. I lived in Virginia Beach, VA for a couple of years in the mid 1980's and enjoyed it (what little I could, considering I was working two jobs and raising three children with my wife at the time). Until the past couple of years, the thought of living at the coast again never really crossed my mind, what with living on family land, still paying on a relatively new mortgage and quickly approaching my 60th year of existence. However, life is not static. I now find myself actually in a position to possibly work and live near the Atlantic Ocean again....this time in my home state of North Carolina.
It all began in 2009 when my son and his family moved from my hometown in central North Carolina to Wilmington. The more I visited this wonderful city on the Cape Fear River, the more I felt comfortable there....almost like it was where I belonged. Without going into a lot of detail (maybe that's material for a future blog), an event occurred this past week that has me excited to say the least. I received a phone call from a gentleman who is in the same business as I and he basically, as I interpreted it, presented me with the possibility of a forthcoming job offer. After asking me what computer software programs I had experience with, he made the statement, "I have something in the works". I had only spoken to this individual twice on the phone over the past two years and I mailed him a letter and resume the day before I received his phone call.
Is this the sign of a new chapter beginning in the life of Tymetraveler? Yahweh only knows and I trust His will be done. Psalm 37:4 says "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires". I trust the Lord and I believe He is in control of my affairs, but I must gain a grasp on this concept of "taking delight in the Lord". My prayer is that I would love God more and the way I should, and I would truly take delight in Him.
Stay tuned for further developments........
It all began in 2009 when my son and his family moved from my hometown in central North Carolina to Wilmington. The more I visited this wonderful city on the Cape Fear River, the more I felt comfortable there....almost like it was where I belonged. Without going into a lot of detail (maybe that's material for a future blog), an event occurred this past week that has me excited to say the least. I received a phone call from a gentleman who is in the same business as I and he basically, as I interpreted it, presented me with the possibility of a forthcoming job offer. After asking me what computer software programs I had experience with, he made the statement, "I have something in the works". I had only spoken to this individual twice on the phone over the past two years and I mailed him a letter and resume the day before I received his phone call.
Is this the sign of a new chapter beginning in the life of Tymetraveler? Yahweh only knows and I trust His will be done. Psalm 37:4 says "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires". I trust the Lord and I believe He is in control of my affairs, but I must gain a grasp on this concept of "taking delight in the Lord". My prayer is that I would love God more and the way I should, and I would truly take delight in Him.
Stay tuned for further developments........
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