1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Does the Holy Spirit lead us in choosing a Bible translation?

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by Friend of God, Apr 30, 2009.

  1. Friend of God

    Friend of God Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2005
    Messages:
    2,971
    Likes Received:
    13
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I know that the Holy Spirit leads us in understanding the Scriptures, does he also lead us in choosing a Bible translation?

    Your thoughts and opinions please.

    Rob
     
  2. robycop3

    robycop3 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2000
    Messages:
    14,362
    Likes Received:
    668
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I believe He does. There are some KJVOs who are so by PERSONAL PREFERENCE, & not from believing theman-made KJVO doctrine. I believe those folx have been led by the HS to use the KJC same as He has led me to use multiple versions, showing me that GOD IS NOT LIMITED to just one version, same as He's led others to use some other version alone, or only certain others.

    He has different specific work for each believer, on toppa the general work of spreading the Gospel at every opportunity. For example, He may want a certain person to evangelize mostly senior citizens, & the KJV is the best English version for that. He has led me to be a warrior against false doctrines & cults, & that requires the use of several valid Bible versions.
     
  3. Eliyahu

    Eliyahu Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2005
    Messages:
    4,957
    Likes Received:
    16
    Faith:
    Baptist
    From my experience, I believe so.
     
  4. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    The Spirit leads us to His Word. Versions are a minor and individual issue. Maybe He leads some to a particular version but I know He leads us all to the Word. Being in the Word is what we need to be worried about.
     
  5. Friend of God

    Friend of God Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2005
    Messages:
    2,971
    Likes Received:
    13
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Thanks everybody. I kind of thought it was true.

    I agree with you 100% Ann. The most important thing is that we are in the Word. I just wondered if The Holy Spirit would allow a particular version to speak to us in a deeper and more intense manner than another version. This is not to say that one version is better than another...just that a particular version is permitted to speak to us more effectively.
     
  6. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2002
    Messages:
    15,460
    Likes Received:
    1
    I am afraid the Holy Spirit gets blamed fr a lot of things we do.

    If you had to ask your office boss about every little detail, you would get the sack. There are some things we must decide for ourselves using our own faculties. My opinion.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  7. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Messages:
    2,752
    Likes Received:
    0
    Apparently since there are many translation, and Christians cannot agree on which one is best.
     
  8. franklinmonroe

    franklinmonroe Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2006
    Messages:
    2,929
    Likes Received:
    4
    I hear this idea that the Holy Spirit will 'lead us into truth' from time to time, which I think is primarily based upon John 16:13 (KJV) --
    Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
    However, literally Jesus is speaking to His disciples (the "you" in the above verse) before the Holy Spirit had arrived. Recognizing the context of this passage, how can we assume this applies to us today (or any other group)? What other verses support this concept? I observe many Christians with different interpretations of Scripture; is the Holy Spirit not leading some, or are many interpretations true?
     
  9. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Messages:
    8,755
    Likes Received:
    0
    In one short sentence, Jim1999 has said this so well it is almost scary.

    We, as individuals, seem also to have no problem with a host of these egotistical statements such as 'ascribing to' the Father ("God told me to ____." or "God led me to ____.");

    invoking the Son ("I asked 'WWJD...' or I'm doing 'thus and so', because that's what Jesus would have done! );

    using 'the church' for our reference [Well, our church (plural) believes that _____." (IOW, an unspoken "I know better, but I have to go along with my church, you see!")]

    and especially "blaming" Satan ["The devil made me do it!" or "The reason I sinned in such a way is that Satan ____." (How egotistical this last would be, for me to utter. Effectively claiming that I so important that the devil, who unlike God, is limited to one place and time, would stop what else he may be doing, to give me his personal attention, as opposed to putting some 6th level demon on my case. It was one thing when Paul said Satan hindered him, as he was the most important and most influential figure in the early Christian world. It would be ridiculously egotistical for this old layman farmer in Central KY, to begin to claim that sort of notoriety and influence.] IMO.

    Whatever happened to taking responsibility for our own shortcomings and decisions? Paul did. David did, But we would rather "pass the buck", it would often seem.

    Ed
     
    #9 EdSutton, May 3, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: May 3, 2009
  10. EdSutton

    EdSutton New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Messages:
    8,755
    Likes Received:
    0
    Another who has said this very well, IMO.

    Give me an individual who has a well used Bible version even of a type that is not the one I might prefer, vs. one whose favorite version is the one I would prefer, but whose copy is sitting on the coffee table, and covered with a quarter inch of dust, every time. :tear:

    (Actually, my bride's favorite 'hard copy' probably does have a good covering of dust, these days, since she has acquired multiple versions on her phone, and can actually "punch in" on the phone, and find something faster than I can in my own 'hard copy' these days. ;))

    Now, if I can finally convince her to drop that one version in favor of the KJ-1967 or NKJV. :BangHead:

    I am making some small progress, I think. She is now reading the HCSB a good deal, anyway. :laugh:

    Ed
     
    #10 EdSutton, May 3, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: May 3, 2009
  11. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2005
    Messages:
    19,715
    Likes Received:
    585
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Your wife's favorite version is the NIV. I'm glad she's reading the HCSB. Now if only she can come over to the TNIV side.She'd be in even better shape.
     
  12. sag38

    sag38 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2008
    Messages:
    4,395
    Likes Received:
    2
    So, instead of the "devil made me do it" it's the "Holy Spirit made me do it." :saint:

    I'm not real sure God lead me to a particular version. Rather I know that He leads me to read His word and to obey it.
     
  13. Marcia

    Marcia Active Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2004
    Messages:
    11,139
    Likes Received:
    1
    The Holy Spirit teaches us through God's word in any valid version and illuminates it.
     
  14. IveyLeaguer

    IveyLeaguer New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2004
    Messages:
    666
    Likes Received:
    0
    True, except versions are not a minor issue.

    Far from it. Certainly, "being in the Word" is where we want to be, for that Word is God's revelation of Himself to us through Jesus Christ. But to swallow what you think is Truth from many of the translations, interpretations, and paraphrases of the 100+ English versions of the Bible can be a very dangerous practice, especially if what God says is important to you and you really care about getting what He says 'right'.

    On one extreme, there are versions of the Bible that are designed to lead you into some type of cultism. On the other are the KJVO folk who usually lack a basic understanding of the difficulties of language. In between are versions designed to accommodate various perversions of God's Truth as revealed in The Holy Scriptures.

    Even so, in this modern day God has preserved His Word and provided us with more than a handful of wonderful English translations. For me, the KJV, ESV, and NASB reside at the top in a class by themselves, primarily because of accuracy and manuscript issues. The ESV is as 'readable' as anything, yet maintains accuracy. The NIV is not a bad dynamic translation and is a good example of why versions are important. There are some verses where the NIV is the best at getting the idea across. There are at least as many where it only gets a piece of it right, narrowing it to the extent where some or much is missed, and occasionally misses altogether. FWIW, I have found versions from HCSB to RV to Moffatt's useful as well. And Brenton's translation of the Septuagint is a very valuable resource. I should point out that the best translations have misses, too, but they are RARE, and there is little danger that one will be led astray.

    Nevertheless, great care must be taken to avoid straying off the narrow road. In short, a student should know what he is doing. IMHO, most young Christians should get hold of a good translation or two and stick pretty close to it, until they have a solid foundation in the Word. Add a copy of Strong's and Vine's to that and the seeker is on very solid ground. Translation difficulties and related doctrinal issues will appear soon enough in the quest for God and His Truth.

    In order to find the truth about Bible versions, or anything else for that matter, surely one would be wise to solicit the help of The Holy Spirit. But if your life depends on God and what He says, it seems to follow that it would be most important to understand correctly anything He says. And Bible versions are very different in that regard.

    Choosing a Bible version, then, is one of the most important decisions a human being can ever make.

    :praying:
     
    #14 IveyLeaguer, May 4, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: May 4, 2009
  15. IveyLeaguer

    IveyLeaguer New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2004
    Messages:
    666
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yes, but what is a valid version?

    That is the question.

    ~~~
     
  16. Harold Garvey

    Harold Garvey New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,036
    Likes Received:
    0
    I would say so because we should be consistent and not forever trying to explain something in multiple wordings which cause others to not be able to become familiar with so many versions available.
     
  17. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2005
    Messages:
    19,715
    Likes Received:
    585
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Other than the NWT,Clear Word, Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith's Inspired Bible -- what other versions are "perversions"?

    I'll agree that it maintains accuracy -- but it certainly is not "as readable as anything." By that you must mean as understanable as any other English Bible version. That is clearly not the case.

    The NIV is not in the dynamic category. You are misinformed or don't read the NIV and have made this assertion without studying the matter.

    The NIV is middle-of-the-road between the more formal and the more functionally equivalent versions. Actually, the TNIV is closer to the NASBU than to any so-called dynamic version. Check out former threads I have on the subject.


    You should check your metaphors more carefully. the danger of straying off the narrow road is for those who do not follow the Lord -- it is not addressing the subject of which versions you approve of to stay on-course.

    No. I disagree. Choosing a particular Bible version is not a priority. And for many in a number of foreign nations they don't even have the luxury of choosing. They either have no portion of Scripture or have just one part --- not even the whole Bible and no option to choose among competing versions. Your vision is myopic.
     
  18. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2005
    Messages:
    19,715
    Likes Received:
    585
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Do you speak English much?:laugh:

    Just because a number of faithful Bible versions have different wordings does not detract from the fact that they are the Word of God.

    I fail to see how multiple versions is such a bad thing -- it is a blessing of God. You don't want to oppose what God supports -- do you?
     
Loading...