Translation Wars

 This last weekend I went to Washington D.C with my wife to lead a bus for an organization called Passages Israel which provides trips to Israel for Chrisitan college students. these trips highlight the Jewish roots of the Christian faith, explore the history of Chrisitan-Jewish relations and provides an honest and in-depth look at the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The terrorist attack on Oct. 7th led to Passages launching a D.C trip to fill in the gap until tours in the country were open.

Part of the trip is visiting the Museum of the Bible (MOTB).If you have not visited this amazing museum yet, DO IT! It is worth the trip to DC alone.

In the entire museum one of my favorite rooms is the translation room. In it they have almost every language the Bible is translated on one shelf, with the rest of the room representing languages that have partial translations, portions translated, in process, or no translation in process at all (pictured above). The thing that struck me this time was the realization that with few exceptions, most languages in the world only have a single translation. That's it! 1 translation of the Bible. While in English there is an insane plethora of translations spanning the spectrum of word-for-word and thought-for-thought. The thing in particular that struck me is the frank ridiculousness of the "translation wars" that is a constant back and forth within Western Christianity.

We have everything from the KJV as the only perfect translation for the English language, to some in the NAR hyper-Pentecostal camp producing the heretical translation known as the Passion Translation (TPT). With the exception of the latter mentioned Bible version (that is not a translation by any serious Biblical scholar) the best translation is the one you will read. I grew up reading the KJV, and now find myself often using the NLT and the NIV for personal devotion, study an preaching.  

But in the big picture we have to realize that the majority of modern translations are excellent. And in comparison, those who speak English are amazingly blessed! In many nations and languages there is only one translation of the Scripture into their heart language, and in some cases that's if they even can get a copy because the Bible is illegal as our brothers and sisters in Christ face persecution.

All of this to say, whichever English translation you utilize, consider it a blessing that you have it. Consider the ability you have to choose a specific translation a humble honor and that you are the part of a minuscule minority across the world and history that has the ability to bicker about what translation you get to use.

Ultimately the Bible is the means by which we come to know Christ. The Bible in and of itself is not God. Yes, it is His perfect revelation to mankind concerning who He is. It shows us, a broken humanity the way to the One who gives us new life and salvation in the perfect and loving God who created all things. Christ is the Word (the logos), but the words on the page before us is not God, and we need to be careful not to confuse to two.

Find a Bible that you will read. Read it often, read it deeply, read it for all its worth, study its challenging words and ask the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer to make you more like Jesus which it all points to. In this be humble, and pray for those who do the important work of translating the word of life for people who will ever only likely have one Bible to ever choose from...if they can get a copy.