Nature of the Bible Discussion

Week 2

Week 2

by Audrey Morris -
Number of replies: 4

What aspect of biblical inspiration is most difficult for you to understand or explain?

The divine inspiration of God's word to be maintained faithfully over time and cultures amazes me. The multiple languages that the Bible has been through in order to become the translations that we are familiar with, as an interpreter this just shows me how awesome God is! Language is continually changing and shifting. I loved learning about the variety of languages of the original texts. Growing up I had always heard that the Bible was written in Greek, Aramaic, & Hebrew. But I've always wondered about the languages of the Bible. 

Do the number and consistency of the biblical manuscripts give you confidence in the Bible? Why or why not?

I've never questioned confidence in the Bible. I grew up in a church that frequently recited the following prior to the teaching: "This is my Bible. It is God's word. Inspired by the Holy Spirit." I can't remember the rest, but that's okay. The number & consistency of the manuscripts is an additional testament to the awesome way God's word. Prior to this video I sadly didn't know how many manuscripts were in existence. This honestly excites me more than anything. 

Which translation of the Bible do you prefer and why?

I grew up with King James & New King James, so if I recite a verse it is from that tradition. However, I typically read the NIV or ESV as they seem to be the most commonly known & accessible to people. For our Kids church we utilize the NIRV Bibles and I enjoy that version when working with my Kindergarten and First graders as it is easily accessible. 
In reply to Audrey Morris

Re: Week 2

by Ashley Duval -
Hi Audrey,

It is incredible to me to interact with people who grew up with steadfast faith, having not had that life experience before. Was there any point in your childhood or adulthood where you found yourself interacting with people who had questions or poised arguments about the validity to the Bible? How did you typically find yourself answering or responding to those questions?

Also - PROPS! I have not been able to delve into King James as easily myself, so the fact that you are able to recite from that translation by heart and understand the depth of the verse is impressive. I honestly have not heard of the NIRV Bible...I'll have to key into what we use currently in our kids ministry.
In reply to Ashley Duval

Re: Week 2

by Jorden Gemuend -
Hey Ashley, I can also say that I really enjoy the NIrV when working with elementary age kids as well. It is essentially a translation akin to the NIV, but designed at the 3rd grade reading level. While we are clearly older than 3rd graders, I often find myself admiring the simplicity of this translation.
In reply to Audrey Morris

Re: Week 2

by Jorden Gemuend -
Audrey, I love that you view the biblical languages and translations through the unique perspective of interpretation! Only knowing English and some moderate Spanish (it has certainly faded over the years), I often wonder what kind of thinking I might be missing out in with a limited vocabulary. When you interpret English into ASL, do you find that your brain works in a particular way in order to achieve the efficiency and yet clarity needed? Does that trained form of thinking come into play at all, or has it impacted you at all, when reading different translations of the Bible?
In reply to Jorden Gemuend

Re: Week 2

by Audrey Morris -
Hey Jorden! Yes. When going between languages it is my responsibility to be as accurate to the intent of the message while being efficient in reaching the person at their linguistic & cognitive needs. So interpreting is very individualized to the person that is receiving the language. One of the greatest challenges of interpreting Scripture to ASL is figurative and poetic language. The interpreter needs to have a decent grasp of the meaning of the text in order to provide an accurate interpretation. This does impact how I read. This also allows me to be flexible with reading different translations because I can see the interplay of the wording/phrasing and their connections.