Wednesday, February 02, 2011

I'll Take the 1984 Version, Please

***Note: You need to read this with a tongue-in-cheek tone.***

Do you know anyone (usually of the more 'senior' persuasion) who thinks the only REAL Word of God comes in the King James Version of the Bible?
I have met those folks on more than one occasion, and have tended to shrug off their comments. Essentially, I have just considered them 'set in their ways', and have actually felt a little sorry for them - 'cuz I think the KJV is so hard to understand. But secretly, I have been thankful that I am not as set in my ways as those folks.
Nosiree.
I know the Word of God is the Word of God whether it's filled with 'thou' and 'shalt' OR 'you' and 'shall'.

'Course I preferred my NIV, but I wasn't about to hold it higher than any other version.

And then something weird happened.

I was using Biblegateway to print off Psalm 139 to do a study with the residents at Edgewood. And right away I noticed something was wrong.
In verse one, "O" was missing and "LORD" was in the wrong place. And the same thing happened in verse four. A couple words were different in verse 5, and "O" was missing from verse 17, as well.

After a little investigating, I discovered what happened. In 2010 - as I was memorizing Psalm 139 - someone else was creating a new copyright of the New International Version of the Bible. While they didn't REALLY change anything, some things are different (as cited above), and now I fear I may be starting to fall into the 'set in my ways' camp. Whenever I read the 2010 version and I notice a difference, I think, Wait a minute. This isn't right!
OK, I know that isn't true, but the only Bible I've had since I became a believer 21 years ago is the NIV, copyright 1984. That's the version I've been memorizing, and now someone is changing it on me. Not nice.

Oh, dear.

I thought I might be able to get over it, but I just checked on something.
Second Corinthians 5:17 is my life verse and it goes like this: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! I have had that verse hidden in my heart for over 20 years. Yes - it is SET there.
But in the NIV, copyright 2010, MY verse reads, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!

That's it!

You can't go changing the wording of MY verse.

No further questions necessary. The NIV, copyright 1984 is the only version for me!

*wink*

Karen

14 comments:

Leah Adams said...

Bahahaha! This is one of my husband's pet peeves...thinking that the KJV is the one version approved by God. Most people don't realize that the KJV was not even around when Jesus was on the earth...it did not come into being until the 1600s, I think.

Anyway, this is a good reminder to all of us to not get too set in our ways, huh?

Leah

Karen Hossink said...

Leah - When we get comfortable, it's easy to get 'set', isn't it...

TheUnSoccerMom said...

Love this! I'm set in my ways on MANY things, but this isn't one them... yet...

Right now, my favorite is HCSB. My Pastor introduced this to me. I only have this version on my Blackberry for now, but plan to buy a Bible in this translation soon. :o)

RYC: I would LOVE to make that picture available, but I didn't take that photo. Someone with 365 Sports took it. Christen was playing in Sweden during that shot. BUT, I do plan on taking as many pictures as I can of her this season! :o)

Patricia said...

This made me chuckle as I too am set in "some" ways (not this one...yet! *wink*)...

It's still a PERFECT verse though, right? :)

Karen Hossink said...

Jodi - Maybe that's part of my 'set-ness'. The Bible I have is one given to my by my husband (then-boyfriend). He gave it to me for my 19th birthday, and I've been reading it ever since. I know where certain verses are located on each page. I can't imagine buying a 'new' Bible!
A bit of sentimental, and a whole lot of familiar is pulling me this way. *wink*

Patricia - You're right. No matter how you say it, being a new creation in Christ is a wonderful thing!

Nichole said...

This made me have to go 'check' my verse..hehe!!!

Sara K. said...

I totally get what you're saying -- I too noticed the NEW New International Version on biblegateway. I can't figure out why they felt the need to do that? It was fine the way it was... and besides, if someone wanted more modern language, they could just read the New Living Translation (my personal fav right now). *sigh*

Yep. Easy to get stuck in one's ways. Same goes for church music... [controversial topic!]

BrittanY! said...

HAHAHAA!!! too funny : ) that is great! I cannot wait to get to know my bible well enough to point those things out CHEERS!

Karen Hossink said...

Nichole - And? What did you discover???

Sara - I haven't done too much looking, but (based upon my 2 Cor. 5:17 discovery) I'm guessing one of the things they did was get rid of the gender references that were aimed at male AND female. Don't know why that really matters...
Oh, dear. Music. That IS a touchy subject. So many things we can argue about. Sad. :(

Brittany - I pray God will lead you through His Word, that you may know HIM very well!

Anonymous said...

That is too funny!! If you knew how many times I was questioned over the reasons to why I continue to study the KJV. When I tell them that this is my own personal preference and I am perfectly comfortable...for some reason they find it very hard to believe! Go figure..."grin"

Blessings my friend... Debby Ann

Karen Hossink said...

Debby Ann - I was chuckling as I read your comment, and had to explain myself to my hubby. I commented that the KJV is so hard for me to read - trying to understand what it SAYS before you can even try to figure out what it MEANS.
He informed me the NIV was written for a fifth grade reading level. *gulp* (Don't know if he's teasing, or not.) Isn't there a TV show called, "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader"? Guess I won't be going there. LOL!

Ronel said...

I can so imagine your facial expression when reading this post. I guess there is a benefit in me reading several different translations of the bible. I just memorized my first verse and I also memorized which translation :) so much work!!

gianna said...

I love this post! I think the exact same thing about myself, too! I'm not judgemental.
Oh, wait!
I'm totaaly judgemental!

Karen Hossink said...

Ronel - So, in your imagination, do I look cute, or ornery? *wink*
I do like to look at different translations to get a fuller understanding of a verse. (That's why I think Biblegateway is so cool - all those translations available at the click of a mouse!)

Gianna - It's OK to be judgmental on some occasions. Right?