I want to invite to you join me on a journey. I finished reading through the ESV (English Standard Version) of the Bible yesterday. And today, I started reading through the HSCB (Holman Christian Standard Bible). Of course, some people jokingly refer to the HSCB as the Hard-Core Southern Baptist version of the Bible!
While I usually read five chapters per day, I'm planning to read three chapters a day this time which should be easier for you to read along with me if you like. It should only take you about 20-30 minutes a day. This isn't much time at all. I'm not "preaching to you" when I say this, but it's just the truth: For about the time it takes to watch a television sit-com, you can complete your daily Bible reading.
Of course, the big struggle you may have if this is your first time reading the Bible all the way through is consistency and discipline. So let me give you a little encouragement at the outset. Try to read in the morning if you can. It's not that there's anything necessarily more "holy" about the morning. Rather, it's just that you'll read at the beginning of your day and have Scripture in your heart and mind for the remainder of the day. But, listen, if you miss the morning, don't give up for the day. Carve out some time during the day or in the evening, and read your chapters. It's fine. Just keep on keeping on, okay?
Now, I want to share some thoughts along the way as I'm reading through the Scriptures. So here goes...
Wow! God is powerful to create everything out of nothing, isn't He? And did you notice that everything God made is "good" (see Genesis 1-2)? Of course, we know from James 1 that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights (see James 1:17). Yes, indeed, God is good and what He does is good (see Psalm 119:67-68).
But then sin enters the picture (see Genesis 3:1ff). And everything goes south from here. In fact, my wife shared with me an interesting thought. Before Genesis 3, there's no sin, but then sin crashes in like a flood once Eve gives into temptation and Adam follows in her steps. I mean, think about it: In the very next chapter (see Genesis 4), we're going to see one brother, Cain, kill another brother, Abel, and by Genesis 6, the entire world is going to be swept away in the flood because of the devastation of sin.
Yet, there's hope! Yes, indeed, in the very chapter sin enters the picture, Jesus enters in the picture. Of course, you may be asking: Wait a minute, I didn't see the names "Jesus" mentioned in Genesis! Well, while the name "Jesus" isn't mentioned, His death is foreshadowed in Genesis 3:15. In fact, scholars call this the protoevangelium which means the "first Gospel". Here we see the promise that Jesus will one day be born, and while Satan will strike at His heel, He'll crush Satan's head. In other words, Jesus will suffer for sin, but He'll destroy the Devil's devastating work through sin (see 1 John 3:8).
This is how the Bible opens: God's Goodness, Sin's Devastation, and Christ's Redemption! Buckle your seatbelts because we're in a for ride through the revelation of God's Word. Let's keep going...
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This may sound juvenile but:
ReplyDeleteWhat makes the HCSB different from other bibles? Why is it called the Baptist version? I thought the bible was the same basically except for a few differences in words here and there.
Thanks
Hey Aaron,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, and you've asked some great questions.
Let me first say that I (and others) have jokingly referred to the HCSB version as a "Baptist" or "Hard-Core Southern Baptist" translation of the Bible. Actually, the official website for this translation says, "100 scholars and English stylists from 17 denominations, prayerfully, translated what is one of the most significant Bible translations available, the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Taking into account the significant advancements in scholarship, translation theory, and contemporary English usage, the HCSB will satisfy both those new to the faith and seasoned scholars" (see http://www.hcsb.org/pages/hcsbpages/About.aspx).
Four goals are listed for this new translation: "To provide English-speaking people across the world with an accurate, readable Bible in contemporary English. To equip serious Bible students with an accurate translation for personal study, private devotions, and memorization. To give those who love God's Word a text that has numerous reader helps, is visually attractive on the page, and is appealing when heard. To affirm the authority of Scripture as God's Word and to champion its absolute truth against social and cultural agendas that would compromise its accuracy" (see "The Minister's Bible," HCSB (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2005), v).
Also, when it comes to the actual name for this translation, it's explained this way: "The name, Holman Christian Standard Bible, captures these goals [stated above]: 'Holman' Bible Publishers presents a new 'Bible' translation, for 'Christian' and English-speaking communities, which will be a 'standard' in Bible translations for years to come" (see "The Minister's Bible," HCSB (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2005), v).
So while many Baptist theologians/scholars have worked on this particular translation, it's really not a "Baptist" Bible as I (and others) again have jokingly referred to it.
As far as your thought that "the bible was the same basically except for a few differences in words here and there," I would say yes and no. In other words, some translations are basically the same as you characterize them here. Others, however, are very different and compromise the meaning of the original texts they pretend to translate.
In terms of the HCSB, it attempts to blend the best of translation theories with a solid commitment to translate accurately the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts which are the foundation for this contemporary English translation.
I hope this helps with your questions, Aaron. Again, your questions are great ones, and I appreciate you taking the time to share them! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Blessings...