A PROVERB A DAY, PROVERBS 30

The controversy rages, self distancing, government forced quarantine, or getting back to work.

But I’m going to mention a different controversy.

Among Christians there are arguments (some friendly, so adamant) about which is the best version of the Bible to read? Which one is most true to the original? Which one is really “the word of God”?

KJV, NKJV, ESV, NIV, NASB, TLB, NLT, TPT…?

To add to the controversy, I am about to give you the answer.

Yeah, that is bold, I admit.

Before the distancing began, I was a part of a weekly gathering of men studying the comparative texts of the life of Jesus, mainly Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

When these texts would mention something from the Old Testament, the question would come up, ” If the new Testament was originally in Greek, or maybe Hebrew and Aramaic translated into Greek, and the Old Testament was originally in Hebrew, how can we trust the translations of the Bible we now have?”

In our studies, we would use the original language words and definitions to bring greater understanding to the passages we were studying.

Layer on layer on layer of deeper meaning would reveal itself to us.

“But the average guy, just reading the Bible, he doesn’t have all this information. How can he know the true meaning?”

““Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬
That is the Proverb for today, April 30.

In the book of John, at the very beginning,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1, 3-5, 9-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Word was not a book, the Word was God.

That day in our study, I had a thought.

“Do you think God knew that we would be translating His book into other languages?”

Yes! Yes he did!

Jesus told the religious guy in John 3, Nicodemus, that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

Something happens when one is truly born again. A light that has been dead begins to shine.

A love for the One who gave the light begins to grow.

A love to read about the giver of light and his personality begins to develop.

What do you read? Do you learn Hebrew and Greek?

No. You begin to read the version of the Bible that you have.

And the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us? His voice grows within you to lead you and guide you into all truth.

You must be born again! John 3
The Comforter (the Holy Spirit, the inner voice of God) will come to lead you and guide you into all truth. John 16
God has given us eternal life.
This Life is in His son.
He who has the son has Life.
He who does not have the Son of God does not have Life. 1 John 5: 11-12

The question is not “which version should we read?” the question is “Do you have the Son of God?”
Do you?