Multiple Translation Benefits – Lift Up Your Eyes!

The NLT – Excellent for Occasional Use

The godly care about the rights of the poor;
the wicked don’t care at all.
Proverbs 29:7 NLT

From time to time I like reading the NLT. Many times it renders Scripture in language I really understand. For example, here is the above verse in the ESV. For me, the NLT seems clearer.

A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;
a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.
Proverbs 29:7 ESV

The NLT of Proverbs 21:23 made me smile, and I think it is an excellent translation. “Keep your mouth shut” is today’s English that I really understand.

Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.
Proverbs 21:23 NLT

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 21:23 ESV

However, the NLT is a functional translation, and sometimes I don’t agree with it. Consider Proverbs 18:21.

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue can bring death or life;
those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
NLT (Functional translation)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
ESV (Formal translation)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
NKJV (Formal translation)

The NLT isn’t 100% wrong, but IMO the second part of it only covers negative words. I have come to believe I can deliberately use my words for good. For example, I can pray for someone and bless them when my flesh would rather curse them and punch them in the nose. If someone only read the NLT, they might not understand deliberately using words for good.

Therefore I recommend people do most of their Bible reading in a modern formal translation such as the ESV, NASB or NKJV. But by all means use a modern functional translation such as the NLT or NIV from time to time to gain insight. I really like Proverbs 19:8 in the NLT!

Proverbs 19:8

To acquire wisdom is to love yourself;
people who cherish understanding will prosper.
NLT

Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will discover good.
ESV

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.
NKJV

Here is a good article on functional vs formal Bible translations.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR THEORIES OF BIBLE TRANSLATION?
(FORMAL EQUIVALENCE AND DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE)

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

⁴But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³²“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Psalms 23:3 NLT – “He renews my strength.”

He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Psalms 23:3 NLT

I felt led to read some Psalms in the NLT this morning, and I’m glad I did. In many translations Psalms 23:3 begins with something like He restores my soul, as in the NKJV and ESV below.

Psalms 23:1-3

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
²He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
NKJV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.
ESV

The NLT reads a little differently.

¹The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
²He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³    He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
Psalms 23:1-3 NLT

That sentence really caught my attention, and made me happy. I really needed some renewed strength! 😊

If you check other translations of Psalms 23:3 at BibleGateway and BibleHub, you’ll see about a dozen translations speak about strength, so the NLT is not alone. I need both a restored soul and renewed strength! 😊

Yes, I benefit by using several Bible translations.

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Two Interesting Translation Differences in Ephesians

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Psalms 119:105 ESV

About a month ago I started reading Paul’s shorter letters to the churches, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, one epistle per day. After a couple cycles I added 1 & 2 Thessalonians. There are a couple passages in Ephesians that make me pause and think every 6th day when I read it. To introduce the first, Peter tells us that Jesus preached to the spirits in prison. I have understood this to be one of the things Jesus did after He died and before He rose from the dead.

¹⁸For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, ²⁰who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
1 Peter 3:18-20 NKJV

I thought Ephesians 4:9 was talking about this time of Jesus being dead.

⁹(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:9-10 NKJV

⁹(Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had previously descended [from the heights of heaven] into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]).
Ephesians 4:9-10 AMP

The ESV adds a comma that changes this meaning. The whole earth is the lower regions.

⁹(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
Ephesians 4:9-10 ESV

The NLT conveys this same understanding.

⁹Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. ¹⁰And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Ephesians 4:9-10 NLT

I haven’t decided if one understanding is “right” and the other is “wrong,” it is just something I notice and think about when reading Ephesians. I tend toward the NKJV understanding, as I think the previous verse, verse 8, is speaking of Jesus taking the righteous dead from Paradise, Abraham’s Bosom, to heaven.

⁷But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸Therefore He says:

“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”

I rate this translation difference of Ephesians 4:9 as interesting, but not too important. The reason is both understandings are true. Jesus did come to earth, which is lower than heaven. He also descended into the earth and preached to the spirits in prison. I’m not going to lose any sleep over the comma in the ESV. 😉

The second translation difference is more interesting. It is from The Whole Armor of God passage, Ephesians 6:10-20. I ‘grew up’ as a Christian taking up the shield of faith above all.

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:16 KJV

above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
Ephesians 6:16 NKJV

The ESV made me pause and think. In all circumstances?

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Ephesians 6:16 ESV

I took a quick look at the Greek and discovered two common Greek words, en and pas, are translated above all and in all circumstances.

En and pas have many meanings, depending on the context.

Check these links to see the many ways that en pas has been translated into English: BibleGateway – BibleHub – BlueLetterBible – StudyBible

Meditating on this, my understanding grew. It is difficult to put into words but now Above all take up the shield of faith also includes In all circumstances take up the shield of faith.

Using multiple Bible translations help me in several ways. This post shows how they cause me to dig deeper for understanding when translations differ.

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

The Flipside of Galatians 5:17

¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Galatians 5:17 KJV

Many are familiar with Galatians 5:16-17, the flesh and the Spirit are opposed to each other.

¹⁶I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Galatians 5:16-17 NKJV

¹⁶This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Galatians 5:16-17 KJV

¹⁶But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Galatians 5:16-17 ESV

I have always understood the highlighted parts to mean that the Spirit keeps my flesh from doing the evil things my flesh wants to do. Every time I read the passage I only thought about the Spirit keeping my flesh and its wicked desires in check.

Today I read the passage in the NLT and I was shocked how it ends.

¹⁶So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Galatians 5:16-17 NLT

The Amplified Bible is similar.

¹⁶But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. ¹⁷For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.
Galatians 5:16-17 AMP

Whoa! That is a different understanding: My flesh is keeping me from doing the good things I should be doing! In a sense it is a summary of this part of Romans 7.

¹⁵For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. ¹⁷So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Romans 7:15-19 ESV

I have not yet decided if my old understanding is “wrong” and the new one “right” or if both are “right.” It’s not a huge theology issue anyway. I write this as just a sample of the good things that happen for me as I read God’s Word in multiple translations. I meditate on the differences to gain insight. 😊

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Proverbs 10:17 Unleashed

The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130 ESV

Can you complete Proverbs 10:17 in these six translations? The answers are below the sunrise pictures. Think a bit before scrolling… 😊

Proverbs 10:17

Hebrew Understanding One

He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction _______________.
NKJV

One who is on the path of life follows instruction,
But one who ignores a rebuke _______________.
NASB

Hebrew Understanding Two

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof _______________.
ESV

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction _______________.
NIV

Both Understandings

He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing],
But he who ignores and refuses correction _______________.
AMP

He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof _______________.
AMPC

Proverbs 10:17

BibleGateway – BlueLetterBible – StudyBible – BibleHub

Hebrew Understanding One

He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction goes astray.
NKJV

One who is on the path of life follows instruction,
But one who ignores a rebuke goes astray.
NASB

Hebrew Understanding Two

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
ESV

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
NIV

Both Understandings

He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.
AMPC

For me, the first Hebrew understanding is “expected.” The Bible has much to say about putting the Word in practice.

He who keeps instruction is in the way of life,
But he who refuses correction goes astray.
Proverbs 10:17 NKJV

²⁴“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Matthew 7:24-27 ESV

²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. ²⁴For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. ²⁵But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:22-25 ESV

The second Hebrew understanding is still “startling” to me. My disobedient self-deception leads others astray? Wow!

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
Proverbs 10:17 ESV

Since I don’t read Hebrew and Greek I am glad I can use many good modern translations to understand God’s Word better. It’s almost hard for me to believe that I once though-eth this-eth is-eth the only-eth Bible I should read:

He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
Proverbs 10:17 KJV

(I have nothing against the KJV. It is a fine translation. But the English language has changed a lot since 1611. Modern translations use words more understandable to modern English readers.)

If you haven’t done so, I recommend you look at these translations of Proverbs 10:17. Hebrew experts have brought out many shades of meaning in their various translations.

BibleGateway – BlueLetterBible – StudyBible – BibleHub

Using multiple translations is one way to be a Berean. 😊

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
Acts 17:11 BSB

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 NASB

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Romans 8:12 in English I Can Understand

I have been reading Romans 7:13 – 8:39 daily for almost two months. I am confirming the benefits of reading multiple translations. For example, I don’t understand Romans 8:12 very well in the literal translations.

Romans 8:12

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
NKJV

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
ESV

So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—
NASB

Ok, so I’m not a debtor to the flesh. But what am I a debtor to? I don’t really get what this verse is saying.

The NLT made me think, “Ah ha!”

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.
Romans 8:12 NLT

Many years ago I believethed that the King Jameseth Versioneth was the onlyeth English version of the Bibleth one should useth. I’m glad to have been set free of that error. I benefit greatly by reading from many translations. 😊

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Romans 8:18 Glory Revealed IN Us or TO Us?

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 NKJV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18 ESV

I have been reading Romans 7:13 – 8:39 almost every day for about 6 weeks. Several days I read the passage in more than one translation so I’ve averaged over one reading per day, 40+ total. One benefit of reading several translations is the differences stand out. One of these is in Romans 8:18. Is glory going to be revealed IN us or TO us? The difference seems significant to me. These are the four websites I use to see how a verse reads in several translations.

Romans 8:18 — BibleGateway – BibleHub – StudyBible – BlueLetterBible

StudyBible.info is particularly handy because it shows several translations keyed to the Strong’s Numbers, allowing the Greek and Hebrews word to be easily displayed.

Strong’s doesn’t help, because both to and in are valid translations.

Because Paul separates the creation from believers, both to and in are correct. Someday soon, the glorified creation will be revealed to us, per the ESV.

¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.¹⁹For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Romans 8:18-23 ESV

Per the NKJV, someday glory will be revealed in us.

¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; ²¹because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
Romans 8:18-23 NKJV

The NLT helped me to this conclusion.

¹⁸Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. ¹⁹For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. ²⁰Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, ²¹the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. ²²For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
Romans 8:18-23 NLT

Conclusion One

The Amplified Bible and Amplified Bible Classic get this verse right IMO.

For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!
Romans 8:18 AMP

[But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!
Romans 8:18 AMPC

Conclusion Two

Analyzing differences in translation is a good way to gain Bible insight. 😊

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Bible Translations and Intercourse, Pennsylvania

No one expecting to give an account of their lives to God would name a town in the USA Intercourse today. Per the Merriam-Webster definition it has sexual meaning. (I choose to not paste the definition.) But in Webster’s 1828 dictionary there was nothing sexual in its meaning.

intercourse

IN’TERCOURSE, n. [L. intercursus, intercurro; inter and curro, to run.] Literally, a running or passing between. Hence,

1) Communication; commerce; connection by reciprocal dealings between persons or nations, either in common affairs and civilities, in trade, or correspondence by letters. We have an intercourse with neighbors and friends in mutual visits and in social concerns; nations and individuals have intercourse with foreign nations or individuals by an interchange of commodities, by purchase and sale, by treaties, contracts, &c.

2) Silent communication or exchange.

This sweet intercourse

Of looks and smiles.

https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Intercourse

It was perfectly reasonable for Cross Keys, Pennsylvania to change its name to Intercourse in 1814. From the wikipedia page:

… A final idea comes from the use of language during the early days of the Village. The word ‘intercourse’ was commonly used to describe the ‘fellowship’ and ‘social interaction and support’ shared in the community of faith, which was much a part of a rural village like this one.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercourse,_Pennsylvania

The meaning of the word intercourse from the 1800’s to now shows how the English language has changed over time. In my lifetime the meanings of calculator and scan have changed, and when I’m writing software the word cookie brings to mind a browser local storage method, not something with chocolate chips.

Are older English translations of the Bible, such as the Geneva Bible, useful today? Yes, of course. But the primary issue I have had is with words whose modern meanings are different from what the meaning was when the translation was made. Consider the word conversation. Today it means an oral or electronic exchange. But in 1828 other meanings were higher precedence.

conversation

CONVERSATION, n.

1. General course of manners; behavior; deportment; especially as it respects morals.
Let your conversation be as becometh the gospel. Philippians 1.
Be ye holy in all manner of conversation. 1 Peter 1.
2. A keeping company; familiar intercourse; intimate fellowship or association; commerce in social life. Knowledge of men and manners is best acquired by conversation with the best company.
3. Intimate and familiar acquaintance; as a conversation with books, or other object.
4. Familiar discourse; general intercourse of sentiments; chat; unrestrained talk; opposed to a formal conference.
What I mentioned in conversation was not a new thought.
[This is now the most general use of the word.]

https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/conversation

Verses like these from the KJV can be difficult to understand if you don’t know that in 1611 the word conversation was what we today would call behavior, conduct, or way of life.

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Galatians 1:13 KJV

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Ephesians 4:22 KJV

Here are the verses in the NKJV.

For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
Galatians 1:13 NKJV

that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
Ephesians 4:22 NKJV

This is a verse I completely misunderstood in the KJV. I was a young Christian, but I thought it meant I could tell God what to do.

Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
Isaiah 45:11 KJV

This, I believe, is a much better translation for us modern-English readers.

This is what the LORD says— the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?”
Isaiah 45:11 NLT

I have spent several hours reading the Geneva Bible.

It’s not too bad after awhile of getting used to the old spelling: “And mens hearts shal faile them for feare, … And when these things begin to come to passe, then loke vp, and lift vp your heads: …”

I prefer a modern translation for my daily use, so I don’t have to continually look up words in Webster’s 1828 dictionary, and then try to remember them. 🙂

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

July 17, 2023. Updated links, as https://1828.mshaffer.com has an expired certificate.

Eternity in the Heart

Sometimes I will watch a YouTube video from the “Recommended” list. Many of these I will close pretty quickly, because the doctrine isn’t correct IMO. Some are good and I end up subscribing to the channel. A few I had to watch all the way through to make a decision. So it was with a recent video from the recommended list. The man was making good points, and I was planning to subscribe. But then in the last couple minutes he went all KJV-Only on me. He claimed that anyone could understand the KJV. You just google the words you don’t understand. I closed the video and did not subscribe to his channel.

Please understand. I have nothing against the KJV. It is a fine translation, but like all other translations, it has issues. Since I can’t read Hebrew and Greek, I use multiple translations in my effort to understand God’s Word. In the KJV, it is not the archaic words only that cause misunderstandings. Sometimes it is the words we think we know in the KJV that are misunderstood by modern English readers.

I remember the house we were living in when I had this experience, so I was in 4th or 5th grade. One night I felt “all hollow” on the inside. I stayed awake a long time thinking about forever. Some of the time it was terrifying. Years later I found a verse that described what I experienced.

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

Yes, I believe I was experiencing eternity in my heart that night. It was a profound experience, and this verse is a part of my prayer for the lost.

“… Father, Your Word says that You have put eternity in men’s heart. May the lost contemplate that eternity, and know the reality of eternal life and eternal death. …”

So this is a very important Scripture for me. But if I only read the KJV, I never would have understood what I experience that night back in the 1960’s. Here is the KJV translation.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV

“World”?? “… the world in their heart,”?? If you look at the Hebrew and the Strong’s I’m sure most people will agree the KJV translators blew it in this verse! I can’t think of any reason why “world” is the word they chose.

And to the person to whose YouTube channel I did not subscribe,
A) Why would anyone think they would need to google “world”?
B) If they did google “world”, how would they ever understand that the word should have been translated “eternity” or similar?

Use multiple translations of the Bible. All translations have errors, IMO.

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

‘Heart’ Not Translated ‘Heart’

For over a month I have been making note of verses with heart in them. My purpose is to better understand who I am: spirit, soul, being, mind, body, and heart.

¹²For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV

Yesterday I was researching heart in Proverbs. As you can see, I’m not on the computer for all my study. 🙂

But without even trying very hard, I noted some translations-strangeness. I will describe just one. Two of my restored-names Bibles use heart in Proverbs 27:23.

Know well the state of your flocks;
Set your heart to your herds.
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 27:23 TS2009

If that seems unfamiliar to you, it is because it is. Look at the Hebrew of the verse, and then at the the specific word, Strong’s H3820. An overwhelming amount of the time in the NASB, it is translated related to heart: heart (396 times), heart’s (2), and hearts (40). But not in this verse.

Know well the condition of your flocks,
And pay attention to your herds;
Proverbs 27:23 NASB

Why did all these other translations not use the word heart? So far, I have no idea. BibleHub BibleGateway Bible

In my current understanding, it is a big deal. “Set your heart to your herds” connotes to me putting in much more interest and attention into one’s income stream than do any of the other translations!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.