John 3:56 Comparison

1

• (John 35-6) (Comparison)
• King James Version
• 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto
  thee, Except a man be born of water and of the
  Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
  God.6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh
  and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
• New International Version
• 5. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one
  can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of
  water and the Spirit.6. Flesh gives birth to
  flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
• The Message Bible
• 5-6. Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me
  say it again. Unless a person submits to this
  original creationthe 'wind-hovering-over-the-wate
  r' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a
  baptism into a new lifeit's not possible to
  enter God's kingdom. When you look at a baby,
  it's just that a body you can look at and touch.
  But the person who takes shape within is formed
  by something you can't see and touchthe
  Spiritand becomes a living spirit.

2

• (Psalm 231-4) (Comparison)
• King James Version
• 1. The LORD is my shepherd I shall not want.2.
  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures he
  leadeth me beside the still waters.3. He
  restoreth my soul he leadeth me in the paths of
  righteousness for his name's sake.4. Yea, though
  I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
  I will fear no evil for thou art with me thy
  rod and thy staff they comfort me.
• New International Version
• 1. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in
  want.2. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
  he leads me beside quiet waters,3. He restores
  my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness
  for his name's sake.4. Even though I walk
  through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
  fear no evil, for you are with me your rod and
  your staff, they comfort me.
• The Message Bible
• 1. God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing.2. You
  have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me
  quiet pools to drink from.3. True to your word,
  you let me catch my breath and send me in the
  right direction.4. Even when the way goes
  through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you
  walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook
  makes me feel secure.

3

• Act 124
• KJV And when he had apprehended him, he put him
  in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions
  of soldiers to keep him intending after Easter
  to bring him forth to the people.
• ASV And when he had taken him, he put him in
  prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of
  soldiers to guard him intending after the
  Passover to bring him forth to the people.

4

• Matthew 199
• KJV And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away
  his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall
  marry another, committeth adultery and whoso
  marrieth her which is put away doth commit
  adultery.
• Mat 199 ASV And I say unto you, Whosoever shall
  put away his wife, except for fornication, and
  shall marry another, committeth adultery and he
  that marrieth her when she is put away committeth
  adultery.
• NIV I tell you that anyone who divorces his
  wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and
  marries another woman commits adultery."

5

• Romans 83
• NIV For what the law was powerless to do in that
  it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by
  sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man
  to be a sin offering
• Rom 83 KJV For what the law could not do, in
  that it was weak through the flesh, God sending
  his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and
  for sin, condemned sin in the flesh
• ESV For God has done what the law, weakened by
  the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son
  in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he
  condemned sin in the flesh,

6
Translation Philosophy

• Can you see any problems with a word-for-word
  translation?
• Can you see any problems with a
  thought-for-thought translation?
• What about a paraphrase?
• Which translation would be better for study?

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(No Transcript)
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Dont Hate on the KJV

• Archaic renderings can be more accurate (i.e.
  2nd person plural)
• Any textual argument is purely opinion
• Most Bible study helps are based on the KJV

9
Concluding Remarks

• There is no perfect translation
• Any translation that utilizes dynamic equivalence
  inherently has some interpretation involved as
  well
• The best translation is generally accepted to
  be the ASV or NASV
• You will give up some literalness in order to
  have readability

10
Concluding Remarks

• For deeper Bible study, steer towards a Formal
  Equivalence translation
• Dont tie yourself to only one translation
• Learn to use Language Tools to help you develop
  your own understanding of the words (so you dont
  always trust a translation)

11
Concluding Remarks

• Using an Interlinear can be helpful or finding a
  literal translation (like YLT)
• Words matter, but it is the Greek (or Hebrew)
  words that really matterdont get hung up on a
  specific English rendering.
• Whatever translation you use, know its
  weaknesses and how to deal with them.

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Questions

• What study tools do you have around your house?
• How do you evaluate what things are helpful and
  which are not?
• Are commentaries good or bad?

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