Perspective

When I am not at school, I am a bible seller.

I sell all sorts of Christian things really: books, music, figurines, plaques, church supplies, and even corny t-shirts.  But they aren't important right now.

What matters are the conversations I had with several customers about using multiple versions of the bible.

The bible was written by many people a very long time ago, in Greek and Hebrew.  Not English.  But, since the majority of the world does not read Greek or Hebrew, the bible has been translated into just about every language on the planet so that it can be read by everyone.

When something is being translated, there are different ways to interpret the original text.  This is why there are different translations to the bible.  Each is written from a different perspective.  That is why I think they are all very important.

Let me explain.

Imagine a sculpture.  It is utterly amazing, and you want to take a picture to share with your family.  Sadly, you have just one picture left on your camera.  So, you pick the best perspective you can find, snap a shot, and display it proudly.

Your friend Joe looks at the same sculpture, and wants to take a picture.  Unfortunately, he too has only one shot left on his camera.  So, he picks what he thinks the best perspective is, and takes a picture, again displaying it for all to see.

Susie likes the sculpture too.  She wants a picture too, but has the same problem.  She can only take one, but she takes it from her favorite perspective for all to see.

You, Joe, and Susie each have a photo showing one side, one viewpoint of the same sculpture.  Each is true, each is equally valid, but none can create a complete rendering of the sculpture in the minds of people who cannot see the sculpture for themselves. But, when all three pictures are seen together, Mary, who has never seen the sculpture, is able to imagine a more complete idea of what this sculpture looks like.

The more perspectives there are, the more complete the sculpture becomes.  In the same way, the more bible translations one reads, the better understanding they can get of what the original text says.

(Side Note: I'm not saying that every single translation of the bible is certainly valid.  Not every person on the planet is qualified to translate Greek and Hebrew into English, the same way almost anyone can take a picture.)

For this reason, I own an NLT, ESV, NRSV, NIV, and part of The Message bible.  For that reason too, I have all of them currently open to Jeremiah 1:17, to try and understand exactly what God means there.

I think, that with these multiple perspectives, I can better understand the beautiful wisdom in the book God has given us.

P.S. This same concept was applied in my Global and Urban Ministries class, but with an emphasis on cultural perspectives as opposed to bible translations.  Regardless, I think it applies.