Bible Translations: Old & New May 6, 2013 Issue

A way to love

Janet Hegarty

When we love someone, we want to know everything about them. Though God is not a person, we long to know more about Him, and to have a more lively sense of His presence in our lives. Studying the Bible in many different translations is one of my favorite ways to love God—to grow closer to the glorious Principle that governs my being.

Many years ago, after I had been elected to be the Second Reader in a branch Church of Christ, Scientist, a dear friend recommended I purchase The Word: The Bible from 26 Translations. In The Word each verse of the King James Version is followed by concurrent verses from 25 other Bible translations that differ from the King James Version. 

This book expanded my insight into passages in the Bible that had previously been difficult to understand. Even though an individual translator may at times be influenced by his or her theology, I believe that the translators were motivated by their individual desire to love and serve God. 