“Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation though faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17.
My wife and I have read the Bible through every year for a number of years now. We have chosen to read in a variety of translations. At the present time I am also reading a guide that takes three years to complete the entire volume and we read small portions each morning at the breakfast table along with comments. You are probably asking, “Why go to all that trouble?”
After all, the Bible is a very old , some would say “out of date,” book. It starts with the creation account! Some of it is written in Hebrew and Aramaic, and another part in Greek. What we read is a translation. One English language version dates from King James and was first published in 1611. That means it was published nearly four hundred years ago. “What makes it so different? Why is it still in print?” and, “Why do you use that old version in all your blogs and in your weekly publication?, “Search the Scriptures with Bob.”
Some would say, “Oh, It is because he is an old man, and I would not deny that is so, but there are far more important reasons. In that connection, like Timothy, I was taught at the knee of my Godly mother. Timothy had the advantage of a likewise Godly grandmother, and of course, he was also taught by the apostle Paul. But then I also learned through Paul who wrote, under the inspiration of God, most of the books of the New Testament portion of the Bible. And I too, learned from likewise Godly teachers in college and seminary.
Let us consider the “out of date“ question. A study of scripture, classical writings, or history reveals one solid fact. No matter what culture, what nationality, or what era of history. People are people, and it is a fact that “All have sinned and fallen short.” An inflated ego, greed, jealousy, murder is to be found in the very first family. The same is to be found throughout history. And, the same is still to be found lurking in every family even today. God destroyed most of life on earth once already by flood, and we are told that he will do so again, this time by fire, and starting over with a new-born people in a perfect place he is even now preparing. We call that place, Heaven. These new people are those who know and follow Christ Jesus. These are a people who recognize his sovereignty as an absolute king, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20. His people recognize his sovereignty and obey his commands. Those who do not obey him, are not of his kingdom. This is what Jesus told Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5.
The Bible is different because it is “God breathed” (inspired of God who directed and guided different writers to write, completely compatible documents, even though many of them never met the others, lived in different places, and wrote in different languages and historic times. It is the only book that reveals a loving God who loved his creation so much that he gave his only Son to save it, knowing that he would be killed.
The King James version is written in English as the readers understood it in 1611. The language has changed, not the message. A living language always changes, thus there are numerous different English translations, never mind all the other languages of the earth today.
I use the King James version, because it was the Bible of choice when I was young and being taught at home. The scriptures I memorized were from that translation, and today it is the only really acceptable translation that one can use without the inconvenience of gaining a copyright permission every time it is quoted. My generation is comfortable with it.
What ever version you choose; Read your Bible! It is the power of God unto salvation. And “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.
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