One of the basic commitments of living the Christian life is to be a Bible reader. Although I would argue that consistent prayer is the greater struggle, the habit of spending time in the Bible is often a real one in our busy world. It is not my attempt here to convince you that the Bible is worthy of your time. I am guessing if you are reading my posts, that is a given. But even Christians who would acknowledge the power and influence of the Scriptures can often be guilty of having dusty unread (unpracticed?) Bibles.
A readiness to believe every promise implicitly, to obey every command unhesitatingly, to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, is the only true spirit of Bible study. – Andrew Murray
I agree with Andrew Murray, that what we read in the Bible should be directive to our hearts and lives. It is one of my daily joys to read the Bible in tandem with several people via the Bible app. We follow the Discipleship Journal study plan that alternates between the Old and New Testaments, one book at a time (PLAN). As I write this we are finishing with 2 Chronicles and Obadiah and about to read 2 Corinthians. I appreciate the variety this plan offers and the sprinkling of the Gospels throughout the year. It’s not the only approach, but it’s the one that I like best for me. And nothing has helped me to be more consistent in my reading than using the Bible app and having a community of friends reading along with me.
The time I spend with God determines both the direction and quality of the time I spend elsewhere. – Randy Alcorn
There are more translations available today than ever before. Some seem to speak more openly to our hearts than others. I was raised on the King James Version, but I am not one of those who think it is the ONLY version allowed by God (what did God’s people do before 1611?). But I’m not a hater of KJV. No matter what version someone is reading, in certain passages, I hear it in King James English. Whether it is the Beatitudes, Psalm 23, or the Lord’s Prayer.
I’m grateful that, from my mother’s example, I had found the base for this worship - that I had found a love of sitting and reading the Bible for myself and looking up things in it. How many of us Southern writers-to-be of my generation, were blessed in one way or another, if not blessed alike, in not having gone deprived of the King James Version of the Bible? Its cadence entered into our ears and our memories for good. The evidence, or the ghost of it, lingers in all our books. - Eudora Welty, One Writer’s Beginnings
I trade out versions pretty regularly. That’s not helpful for memorizing. My good friend Mignon Riley who is an expert at memorizing Scripture holds to one translation because all of her memory work is there. I admire that, but still, I will read (and preach) most frequently from three: the New International Version, English Standard Version, or the New Living Translation. Recently I’ve added a fourth, though.
The Legacy Standard Bible is put out by the Lockman Foundation - the people who have provided the excellent New American Standard Bible. The problem I’ve always had with the NASB is that (in my opinion) it is clunky to read. That is also it’s greatest strength - the effort to be as literal a translation as possible while still maintaining English understanding is a big task. The “Legacy” of the LSB is that it builds on the good work of the NASB - and is a revision of that translation.
There are a few quirky things about the LSB - and they are intentional. The use of distinct names of God can catch your attention (Yahweh, Yah) in the Old Testament. While the term “slave” is a loaded term culturally, it is a more accurate understanding that the softened “servant”. It does catch your eye when you read and expect Paul to call himself a servant of God, but instead calls himself a slave of God. One thing I do not really care for is the use of ancient units of measurement and currency. Most modern translations turn those into equivalent but familiar terms. There are guides in the back, in case, like me, you do not know what a drachma or omer references. But, as their introduction notes, this avoids using the measurements of one country over another, and ensures international appeal. One thing I really like is that in the New Testament, obvious Old Testament references are in small caps, so you realize when you are reading a section that it is a quote from the Old Testament. All of that and more can be read in the introduction to the LSB.
What I like most of all, though, is how easy it reads aloud. I like to read Scripture aloud and the flow of this translation has provided a readable and technically accurate Bible that really does honor the legacy of the Lockman Foundation.
One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it and believe it. – Leonard Ravenhill
I didn’t know about the Legacy Standard Bible, so I was glad when someone mentioned it to me. You can read it free online and in the Bible app. I have enjoyed reading several books of the Bible in this translation and wanted to share it with you.
As has been stated by many, the most important translation is the one you will actually read. Thanks for spending this time with me, I truly appreciate it.
My resource for some of the quotes was this post from Deeper Christian HERE.
When people ask me what the best translation is to read the Bible with, I always respond by saying, “The one that you’ll read.” I respond that way because I know that every translation has its strengths and weaknesses but more importantly, regardless of what valid criticisms there are for any particular translation, every translation is good enough to teach us how to live as followers of Jesus. The only rare exception is when a translation is so egregious that it attempts to change the core tenets of the Christian faith, such as the New World Translation produced by the Jehovah’s Witness denomination.
Don't wish to offend anyone, if you enjoy it, fine; but I have a deep dislike for old King James. It is all I had to learn from growing up. Did not understand the language. And did not appreciate. As I grew older that people had to tell me what it meant. Often (in my understanding).it was wrong what they taught me. HELLS fire 🔥 and brimstone only discouraged me of any chance of being with God when I died. So I walked away from God for 14 years. Until a preacher started teaching me the Love of Christ.