Recently I said “read the bible, in any one of its acceptable forms”. That in itself is worthy of a discussion as we do not all read the same bible translation. Who is to say what is acceptable and what is not?

The original writings were Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. Who among us are fluent in all three?

Every translation into another language requires a linguistic understanding that goes far beyond mere swapping one word for another. Hebrew is cultural, the original meaning meant something different to those that lived in the time of Moses because up until Moses it was a verbal tradition. Most of those people did not even know how to read.

Aramaic was a regional language very similar in design to the Phoenician alphabet, a writing system that developed out of the North Semitic alphabet and was spread over the Mediterranean area by Phoenician traders. It is the probable ancestor of the Greek alphabet and, hence, of all Western alphabets.

The Greek language was one of conquering heroes, one that advanced wisdom and controlled a wider range of influence outside the areas of Israel.

Then there came Rome and that brings us up to the time of the birth of Jesus, Latin.

I speak English and if you listen to some of my “friends” not all that well. So my choices are many as offered up by my favorite bible app, The BibleGateway. It covers hundreds of English translations beginning with the Tyndale in 1535 to the Simplified King James Version in 2022.

So what are the acceptable forms? Well for me it is those translations that the Holy Spirit most clearly speaks to me. What was written on my heart is the KJV. I write mostly in the ESV simply because it is not archaic like the KJV and is free of any copyright restrictions.

I am led from time to time to delve into the original languages but as I do not speak those languages, I rely on linguistic experts and seek the help of the Holy Spirit to understand how those efforts are relevant to the truth He wants me to see.

When doing a deep dive one must rely on the breath of life to remain there for any length of time.

Note closely that no bible quotes were given here today.