Some questions frequently asked in our day are: Which translation of the Bible should we use? Which translation is best for our churches? Shouldn’t we use a translation of the Bible that people can easily understand? Is it right to read other translations?
I want to look at the Bible as a whole and how it relates to Christians filled with the Holy Spirit and those who read the Bible without the Holy Spirit. We know that the Jews had the Book of the law, and they had written prophecies for them to read and memorize. They had the first Bible, and some still missed the meaning of it all. They had the law and prophets written in their own language that did not need to be translated. No one questions the authenticity of the Old Testament scripture. Yet the Jews still missed Jesus and His coming.
The men who walked with Jesus and the people who heard Jesus had pure scriptures. Jesus told them they still didn’t understand. When Jesus taught, He constantly asked them, "Do you not understand?" He told them He would speak plainly so they would understand, but they still understood little.
Once Jesus died and rose again, they began to understand what Jesus had done; what His teachings were about; and what they were to do. Imagine going back over every story, every parable, and it finally made sense.
The Ethiopian eunuch could not understand what he was reading. He needed someone to guide him.
Acts 8:27-31 King James Version (KJV) And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
First Corinthians 2:9-16 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
It is amazing how the Truth convicts the hearts of sinners and leads them to repentance, even in the King James version. It is true that there are other versions with more current English expressions. While one of these new translations may be helpful in some ways, we do not need a simpler translation so that others can understand it and be saved. No matter what translation you read, you will not understand it if you do not have the Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit is there when a sincere seeker opens the Word and desires to know God. The Spirit leads us through difficult matters to understand one step at a time. Upon conversion, a seeker will receive the Holy Spirit more completely, and then he will be able to read any translation of the Bible in his language, and the Spirit will help him understand.
We must be careful what some translations teach through the wording they use. It is not wrong to use a simple version to help someone understand. We will still need to guide and teach what the Word means. Perhaps instead of focusing on getting a simpler version of the Bible for the world to read, we should put more effort into being there to teaching them what the Scriptures mean. We should also illustrate the Bible with our lives. Will we be available for the person who is reading and needs help to understand? Do we make contacts and then follow up to see how they are doing?
Second Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Second Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
When we use a Bible in church, it should be a translation that we have all agreed on. I like it best when the speaker uses the HST Translation. When the Holy Spirit interprets through man, then we can understand what the scripture is saying. When you read a portion of scripture it is always best to let the Spirit do the teaching. This way, we know the one listening will understand and learn from it. Sometimes the Scripture is a mystery, and we need to pray and wait until Christ reveals to us what He meant.
Since the scriptures came from God, I hope that we can all agree that the best translation is the HST.