So, you ever feel like diving into the Bible is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded? Yeah, we’ve all been there. Today, we’re breaking down the chaos of finding a Bible that doesn’t make you want to pull your hair out. Seriously, whether you grew up in a KJV-only household or wandered into a Christian bookstore and just stared at the wall of options like a deer in headlights, we’re here to help. We’re diving into the nitty-gritty of translations, from the clunky word-for-word versions to the breezy thought-for-thought ones, and why you should totally pick whatever resonates with your vibe. So grab your favorite version, or maybe a couple, and let’s get into the Word without losing our minds! Diving headfirst into the chaotic sea of Bible translations, we're tackling the age-old question: how do you find a version that doesn’t make your head spin? You’ve been there, right? Grown up in a place where the King James Version was the holy grail, and suddenly you’re staring at a wall of 40 different translations like a deer in headlights. Yeah, we feel you. You don’t need to wrestle with ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ while your soul is just craving some good old-fashioned wisdom. We get it, and we’re here to break it down for you. Each translation is like a pair of glasses—some are focused on the nitty-gritty details (like the King James and ESV) while others give you the big picture (hello, NIV!). We’re not saying one is better than the other; they all serve different purposes. It’s about finding what fits your vibe. Do you want to dissect every word like you’re some sort of biblical scientist, or are you looking for something that reads more like a warm hug on a Sunday morning? Spoiler alert: both exist! But hey, don’t feel guilty about reading a version that others might scoff at. Your relationship with the Lord is personal, and if the NLT or even the Action Bible speaks to you, then that’s what matters. We’ll guide you through how to navigate these translations and find one that resonates with your spirit. By the end, you’ll be flipping through the pages like a pro, possibly with a Bible that’s falling apart because you’re using it so much. Remember, a Bible that’s falling apart is a sign that you’re on the right track. So let’s get lost in translation together!

Takeaways:

1. Navigating Bible translations can feel like wandering in a bookstore labyrinth, but it doesn't have to be a headache.
2. Every Bible translation is an interpretation, so finding the right one is like finding your favorite pair of shoes.
3. Embrace the quirks of different translations; some are like Shakespeare, while others are casual coffee shop vibes.
4. A Bible that’s falling apart is a sign of a life that's thriving, so read what resonates with you.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. biblegateway.com
2. logos.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

1. King James Version
2. ESV
3. NIV
4. NLT
5. NRSV
6. The Action Bible
7. Bible Gateway
8. Logos

And today is part two of our series of basically getting back in our Word and reading the Bible.

So in part one, the Bible is not a library.

So I hope that you had time to really.

Look at the Word.

Just open up.

Doesn't need to be a lot, Turn to a page or two, figure out which book is for you.

And also I hope you had the time to understand how the different books and how they communicate and what those different books, the message and what God is trying to say to you.

So today, what we're going to talk about is Lost in Translation.

That's the title, Lost in Translation.

Finding a Bible that doesn't give you a headache.

Yes, as my eyes look tired.

So follow with me.

Okay, Follow with me.

So maybe you grew up in a house where it was, it wasn't, it was.

The only thing was the King James Version.

It wasn't real word of God unless it was the King James Version.

You spent your time trying to decode the these, the thous.

And while your soul is starving to hear the Word, you're just not understanding what the word is even saying.

Or maybe walked into Christian bookstores or a Christian bookstore because that's a lot that can be overwhelming, especially with the wall of the 40 different versions.

And you walked out because you just don't know what, what is the right one, what is where you should start.

So here we go.

So every translation is tackling something different.

It has a different goal in mind.

And unless you are going after, unless you can read Greek or Hebrew and that is the real.

I shouldn't say they're real, but that is.

It can't get any, you can't get any closer to God than knowing or reading Greek or Hebrew unless you know those two languages.

Every translation is just an interpretation of Greek and Hebrew.

That's really what it comes down to.

So when it comes to Bibles, there are actually committees, especially when it comes to the King James.

There are actually groups of people who come together and all they are doing is just combing through every single letter and word, trying to hence translate from Greek and Hebrew to the different translations and languages that we have today.

So, so think of the word is really a spectrum, word for word versus thought for thought.

And each translation is tackling one or the other.

So the best way to describe it is a pair of glasses.

The best way to describe is a pair of glasses.

So you got your near, you have your far.

All right, so for those that are near, those microscopic details, those that are far, think of it as the Big picture.

So neither is wrong.

They just have different jobs.

And when you start to study, that's where different translations really come into play.

You can have the King James, for example, as a Bible study to translate, or you can have the esv, the English Standard Version.

You can also have that also with you.

So you can read the English, read the King James, go back and forth, and your spirit is going to be doing just like glasses, you know, just like glasses.

Just like in and out, in and out, going in and out and really learning the word of God.

Okay, all right.

Looking at my notes here.

All right, so if you.

As I said, unless you can read Greek and Hebrew, great, because that's where it's at.

But if you want something that is equivalent to what, to match Greek and Hebrew word for word, you can go, as I said, King James is the king.

ESV is a good one in asb.

That's also a good one.

What's beautiful about them is they're great for deep study.

You see the original sentence structure.

All right.

The con with them is that they can be clunky, they can be hard to read.

Except for the esv.

ESV is pretty easy.

But King James, definitely, it can be clunky.

It could be hard to read, it can be stiff.

If you want something that's more storytelling, more storytelling mode where you capture the idea and the feeling of the original sentence.

Niv.

That's what I'm reading.

I know a lot of people are into Niv Niv right now.

There's also the NL TO as well.

That's another popular one, one that I never picked up, and I'm being perfectly honest, is the nrsb.

So I can't personally say anything about that, but.

And I don't know too many people who do read that, but I know.

I do know that there are people out there that are out there right now.

NIV and nlt.

I do see a lot of people who are.

That's more popular right now.

Now, anyways, the prose, they flow like modern English.

They're great for daily reading.

Hence why the NIV and the nlt.

I'm seeing a lot.

Sometimes the translators smooth over the difficult parts in order to make it more sense.

And I have seen that because there's.

Sometimes I go to the King James in order to.

In order to get some of that meat that sometimes that.

That it misses.

So there are many more translations, but I'm just going to say some of the popular ones and the vibe that they bring, for example, King James, New King James.

So you get that Shakespeare vibe.

Poetic.

Okay.

The con is the language is hard.

Language is hard.

Flat out, flat out.

Esv, it's more of a classroom.

It's accurate to the text.

It can feel cold, it can feel academic.

I kind of like the ESV in a way.

I don't know why.

Even though it can feel cold.

I guess because it's English standard.

So I personally have not had difficulty reading.

I know some people have had difficulty reading.

The NRSV is more of a scholar and the standard for most universities.

It's inclusive language.

It can feel dry.

That's what some people have said that it.

It comes out dry to them.

I have not read this one.

I should pick it up.

I love Bibles, by the way.

Have too many.

Want more?

Bibles are like shoes to me.

That's the best way I can describe it.

I have.

This is really a side note.

I may have maybe about 20 for no freaking reason.

And some are duplicates.

Like I didn't need another King James, but I have one that's a study.

I have one that's regular.

I have one that's like.

Like a pocket size.

Yeah.

People are into shoes and purses.

I'm into Bibles and I like how they smell and open up.

But anyways, missing the point.

And then the message.

The message is like a coffee shop.

It reads like a modern letter.

The con is it paraphrases.

I never really got into the message.

I never really read the message.

But another one that I do enjoy is also the Christian standard, the csb.

That one's like poetry.

It can be a bit hard to get through to read because it's like poetry.

But that's another one.

But there are so many more.

I do have a video where I had a guest and he made his own translation.

And that was a nice translation to read.

It was very easy to read, very comfortable to read.

And it also really took home the message of what the Lord said.

So really at the end of the day when it comes to translation, the goal is to just get you to a Bible that you like.

Once you're in there, man, just you are just going to enjoy it.

You're going to read it.

That Bible needs to be use so much that the book is falling apart.

Okay.

A Bible that falls apart is a person that is together.

All right?

A Bible that falls apart is a person that is together.

And once you are really into your word, go explore other translations.

But right now it is to get you into the word.

So strategy finding the right one that works for you.

This is such a short podcast.

I'm talking so fast I need to slow down.

I just realized that.

But I am.

I just want to be able to just give you this info to digest and for you to move on.

So finding the one that fits you.

So don't feel guilty for using the nlt.

Don't feel guilty if you pick one up and people say, well, that's for kids.

Oh my God, that reminds me.

The Action Bible, that is a really good one as an adult.

I enjoyed that one.

I even sent it to my brother because he was looking at that one and we're grown adults.

The NLT is a really fun one.

And I say that because it's like, it's colorful.

It's.

It really just.

It's a really.

Another translation, but in a comic book form.

Beautiful.

Anyways, don't feel guilty by picking up a translation that may be different from everybody else.

All right?

Action Bible, nlt, who cares?

All it is is about you and your relationship with the Lord.

At the end of the day, it's you and your relationship with the Lord, okay?

Don't have anybody stop you from your relationship with the Lord.

God will have a conversation with them about that.

Trust and believe.

All right, so the multi lens strategy, as we said, some.

Let's think about glasses.

Near.

Far.

Nearsighted.

Farsighted.

All right.

Don't get discouraged.

I have too many Bibles because I enjoy Bibles.

So if you pick up one and it's not working for you, pick up another one.

Pick up another one and have them with you at the same time.

That's what studying is.

All right?

When you research, you have multiple sources.

And so think of it that way.

So don't be discouraged.

You may end up enjoying that one.

I know when it came to the esv, I actually carried that with me a lot.

It was a paperback book.

It was easier to carry around.

And the fact that it was a paperback book, people didn't really look.

See it as a Bible.

So it was really a great way for me to kind of sneak the word in in places that is outside of church and home.

I need to find that book again.

I think I know exactly where it is.

But anyways.

But don't get discouraged.

If there's a version of a Bible that you're just not comfortable with.

Just keep at it.

Keep studying.

There's a version that's out there for you.

Trust and believe.

There's so many translations out there, it's not even funny.

Another way is if you don't want to spend money, there are websites out there.

The Bible Gateway is a great website that has all the translations.

So if you even want to get a taste, the Bible Gateway, it's a free resource.

You can also have a subscription.

The subscription is really making notes and if you want to do some deep studying.

But the Bible Gateway is a great resource for you to read different versions and compare another one.

That's a good one.

More.

So like pastors use, it is logos L O G O S. If I'm saying that correctly, that's another great resource.

It has same thing, all the different translations and then there's a subscription and then you can get other books and etc etc.

But that's a really good one.

That's both of them you can have as apps.

But anyways, multi lens.

Don't get discouraged with one read others and just take your time really when it comes to it, just take your time.

Just pray.

Be in the spirit, be in discernment, and God will guide you.

So action.

I know this is a quick podcast, but we're going to get into some good stuff soon.

I know we will.

So action is what version are you enjoying?

Okay, what version speaks to you the most and why?

Once you understand the why, what you really like from one book to another.

Because like the last one, I was like, I like psalms better than proverbs.

You know, psalms is poetry.

You know, it, it goes deep.

Proverbs, it's wisdom.

But it's very direct.

You know, don't do this.

If you do that, you're not going to live a long life.

You know, it's very direct.

So really understand who you are and what is speaking to you in order to get you into the Word.

All right, so next time, and I say next time because I'm going to have some guests in between, but next time when we get together, we're going to talk about really the meat of the Bible.

So once you find your Bible, once you find your translation, we're going to learn about the history and context who, what, who wrote what, what each book is.

And we're gonna go just a little bit deeper into the context of the Bible.

All right, this was a short one, but I am praying for you to be able to get back into the Word with the Lord.

All right, thank you for watching.

And remember, God is love and God wants you to show his love to the world.

Until next time.

Later.