Paul speaks in the language of the people, so their ears perk up. For the past decade, I have been reading a translation of the Bible called The Message (I actually stared reading it while it was being translated). Whenever I quote Scriptures here, I'm using that translation. We will be giving this Bible to our four Confirmation students on May 23rd (someone wanted to honor their mother who just passed away and made that donation).
As a gift from the church, we will be giving a Read With Me Bible to the families who celebrate a baptism. We also budget for 3rd grade Spark Bibles. Is there some among you who would like to help provide Spark Story Book Bibles to our 3 year olds in September? Reading the Bible together as a family is so important.
I'm sure as a good Jew, Paul knew his Bible well. That's probably why he found himself so passionately on both sides of "the Way". He believed he was on God's side the whole time. He uses who he is and how God made him to serve the Lord. I get the impression that he was rarely went in peace though.
How can we use our experience of worship and daily devotion to strengthen our resolve to serve God with our lives? None of us will have the intense life of faith that was pressing in on Paul from all sides, but that doesn't mean we can't be just as passionate and strong in the faith as he was.
I had the opportunity while getting an oil change the other day to connect with Tyrone and Chris. Paul spoke with Felix and Drusilla. Let's shine our light in this community and get people talking about what God is doing in and through the church on the rock!
Kelly, in 4 days we wrap Acts up. I'd like to announce tomorrow and again on Wednesday which book we're reading next. Please check in with the 7th-9th graders and let me know.
Reading the Bible regularly and praying for guidance are going to be the things that push us forward into the future God has in mind for us...
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Sorry to have dropped the ball last week on selecting the next book - just slipped my mind. I have the print-out you sent ready to go and we'll get it done tomorrow.
ReplyDeletePersonal issue: I'd be careful about referring to The Message as a "translation." A version, sure, and in the language of the people, as you point out. But it's not a translation any more than the Living Bible is. I've enjoyed that version and given it to others, but it strays too far from the original text for me to accept "translation."
Eugene Peterson spend nearly a decade translating it from the original languages of Hebrew and Greek. While he put it in the language of the people, he did begin by translating it.
ReplyDeleteI agree - he began by translating from the original texts - but then he went further. By "putting it in the language of the people" - he went beyond just putting it in the vernacular. His Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6, for example, goes from "Hallowed be your name" to "Reveal who you are". While there is merit in "Reveal who you are" and a fresh view - it is fundamentally different from declaring God's holiness and reminding us of the power of God's name.
ReplyDeleteIt's nitpicky, I know. There is much to be gained from The Message - most significantly a fresh read and deeper understanding of words that may become stale as we hear them so often we stop listening. But to my mind, what may have begun as a translation has gone a step farther. My choice is to not call it a "translation."