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Question #42 -
QUESTION:
Aren't modern English translations easier to understand?
ANSWER:
No. Some may seem easier to read, but none are
easier to understand.
EXPLANATION: One of
the primary advertising gimmicks used to sell modern English
translations is that they will be easier to understand for the
potential customers. The customer, having been assured that he/she
cannot possibly understand the "old archaic" King James
gratefully purchases the modern English Bible and unknowingly
condemns themself to a life of biblical ignorance. Modern English
translations may be easier to read but they are not
easier to understand.
Let's look at the equation in simple terms. If
the "archaic" language and the "thee's" and
"thou's" of the King James Bible really
do hamper the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit in communicating
His message to the Christians, then several things should be true
of one or all of the raft of modern English translations on the
Bible market today.
1. If modern English translations, such as the
New American Standard Version, New International Version, New King
James Version, and Today's English Version were easier to
understand, then the Holy Spirit's message to the Christian would
flow freer and accomplish greater spiritual victories in the lives
of God's people on an individual basis. Yet it is sadly evident
that this is not happening.
In fact it is only too evident
to any objective observer that today's Christians are more
worldly and less dedicated to Jesus Christ than
their nineteenth or even early twentieth century counterparts who
were raised on and read the King James Bible.
Surely a Bible that was "easier to understand" would
have dramatically increased successes in battling sin, worldliness
and carnality, but this JUST HAS NOT HAPPENED.
2. Secondly, if the modern English translations
were really easier to understand then I believe God would show a
little more gratitude for them by using at least one
to spark a major revival in this nation.
It is elementary to see that if the "old
archaic" King James Bible has been hampering the desired
work of the Holy Spirit, then God should be eager to bless the use
of any translation that would be easier for His people to
understand.
Again, it is all too obvious that no mass
spiritual awakening of any kind has been
initiated by any one of today's modern translations. Today's
modern translations haven't been able to spark a revival in a Christian
school, let alone expected to close a bar.
In fact, since the arrival of our modern
English translations, beginning with the ASV of 1901, America has
seen:
1. God and
prayer kicked out of our public school
2. Abortion
on demand legalized
3.
Homosexuality accepted nationally as an "alternate life
style"
4. In home
pornography via TV and VCR
5. Child
kidnapping and pornography running rampant
6. Dope has
become an epidemic
7.
Satanisrn is on the rise
If this is considered a "revival"
then let's turn back to the King James to STOP it.
In fact, the ONLY scale used
to claim success for a new translation is how well it
sells. This depraved Madison Avenue sales system should
set alarms ringing in the Christian. Instead, deluded by
television, they dutifully nod and remark that, "It must be
good, everybody's buying one."
Is there any "good" coming from
modern translations? Surely. The publishing companies are making
millions.
Today American Christians are spiritually
anemic. They turn instead to their favorite "Bible
psychologist" for help rather than Scripture. America as a
whole is as morally decayed as Sodom and Gomorrah. (Ezekiel
16:49).
Where is the spiritual help and hope that an
"easier to understand" translation should bring'?
Instead, perhaps we are in this desperate
condition because of those very translations.
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