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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