I have a Bible sitting on the corner of my desk at the office. It’s a very nice, leather bound volume with gold edged India paper. I’ve had this particular Bible for more than 35 years. I only read from it occasionally, though it was my daily Bible for many years. Sometimes I share statements from it with folks in my office. This Bible is a King James Version.
On my reading table at home, I have a smaller, newer Bible. It too is leather bound, with quality paper and gold edges. I read from it a little more often, but not as much as I once did. I’ve only had it just over 20 years. It is a New King James Version.

This morning, as I do most mornings, I read several chapters from the Bible before leaving the house. But I didn’t use either of those—nor any of several other Bibles I have. Nor did I read either of those translations. Today, I continued reading through Matthew, using a version called the Common English Bible. And I read some other passages using the English Standard Version. Yesterday, as I was reading, I came across a phrase that caught my attention, so I quickly compared the verse in the New American Standard Version, the New Living Translation, the New Century Version, and—just for possible application—The Message. Sometimes, I even struggle to understand the Greek, with lots of help from reliable sources.

For what it’s worth, I do most of my Bible reading on my smart phone, which makes it easy to keep bookmarks in several different passages, allows quick comparisons of various translations, and is always with me. I rarely carry an actual printed Bible—even when teaching, but from my Bible app I can share verses with folks on Twitter, Facebook, and email. And I can read passages to people of different ages, backgrounds, and understanding levels from a translation that they can understand. At the moment, I have 28 different English language translations on my phone.

So, what is the point of this true confession about my reading habits?

In about 1990, I began to travel frequently to other countries, often teaching and sometimes leading mission projects among groups who spoke other languages. Many of those I spoke to understood no English and had never heard of King James or his Authorized Version. The excellent translators I relied on when speaking would have struggled to understand many of the archaic words of the King James Version, and certainly could not directly translate those into another language.
Whatever I read or said was processed by the translator into something he or she could express in the language of the local people. So, to make the translator’s job easier – in fact, to attempt to make my message and God’s Word clearer to the translator, to enable a more accurate translation to others—I put my King James aside and adopted the New King James Version as my teaching translation. Today I might use yet another.

It has been God’s intention since the Garden of Eden that men and women know Him. Toward that end, God has spoken clearly and simply throughout history. When Jesus came, he spoke in the common language of the people. When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, he enabled the apostles to speak in many languages precisely so all the people could hear and understand. It should not be necessary for people to learn a special language to be able to understand what God says; rather, it is the Christian’s responsibility to make God’s Word understandable in the language of the people.

There is certainly nothing wrong with the King James Version of the Bible—for those who understand it. Almost all the Scripture I’ve memorized is KJV. I grew up with it, I love it, and I enjoy reading it. But I don’t teach from it, because very few people younger than me, and no one who has no church background, can easily understand it.

Let me challenge you.

For many years, I’ve read from a particular translation throughout the year. This year, I’m reading the English Standard Version for the second time. Last year, I read the New Living Translation. I find that by reading different translations, I gain new insights and glean new understanding of timeless and unchanging Truth.

First challenge: Read the Scriptures. Daily. Consistently.

Second challenge: Read a translation that is new to you. See if that doesn’t make God’s written word vibrant and fresh, and give you new understanding.

Go ahead. Read the Bible. I dare you.

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.Nehemiah 8:8 New Living Translation

Re-run from original religious column on 10/21/11.