A recent incident reminded me that I absolutely hate using the so called "Good News Bible" for private Bible study or public worship.Sadly, at some misguided point in the past, most of the churches in our circuit bought a set of GNB's as the pew Bible and a big edition to be used for reading the lessons.
Week after week I prepare using the NIV or RSV only to find the meaning of the text I intended to develop in the sermon completely mangled and made meaningless as the readers wade through the apologetic near gibberish passing for "everyday natural English" of the GNB.
The AV says simply "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Few other English versions differ from this.
The GNB renders the verse as "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them".
In my "everyday natural English" there is a big difference between being "happy" and being "blessed". The two words are not always capable of substitution. And where does the idea come from that spiritual poverty is exclusively self diagnosed?
It is time for us all grow up and become Biblically literate. That won't happen if we continue to depend on the Good News Bible.
It comes from the same muddled thinking that regards swaying "meaningfully" to that drivel Kum Ba Ya whilst looking at a candle as somehow a modern, cool expression of Christian worship. This stems from the time when Methodism and other mainstream denominations had our collective nervous breakdowns in the second half of the last century.
Let's consign the GNB and the nonsense it represents to the dustbin of history.
6 comments:
I seem to remember reading a pamphlet some years ago by Rev Ian Paisley suggesting the same sort of thing.
Thanks FP. It is interesting to know that someone else has already picked up on this in writing, I've just heard the occasional grumbling in the pew.
I haven't seen Ian's pamphlet and we never discussed the GNB when we used to meet. I recall him saying that his favourite version for private study was the "Bible in a Year" which enabled him to refresh his understanding of the entire Bible on an annual basis.
Perhaps the idea of having a "pew Bible" - period - is something that should be revisited. In this world of modern technology (yes, even down here in "darkest Africa"), many churches are using data projectors (or even the good old OHP) to display Scripture readings, hymns, etc. on a wall or screen.
In the long run, given the cost of printed Bibles, hymn books, etc. this is not only a less expensive way to go, but doing away with pew Bibles in favour of projecting the verses also means that when preachers prepare their messages, they can use whatever Bible version they deem appropriate and have this projected onto the screen, rather than having half the congregation wading through their pew Bible trying to find Habakkuk, while the other half misses the message completely because their version is different to that of the preacher.
And let us not be swayed by those who would utter the "last six words of a dying Church", which sadly I guessed correctly when Fat Prophet first mentioned publishing them.
Blessings,
Steven
Good point. I must admit to feeling re-assured when a congregation turn up clutching their own Bible. That way you can be fairly certain its read mid week - not just on Sundays - they can make notes and place book marks and generally wear the thing out.
But you are right about new technology. It does though need people of a certain age to manipulate it - I was at a church event on Saturday evening where it was in the capable hands of a 15 year old - not all churches have that resource!!!
I think MP is right about the operation of thsi type of technology. I suppose in keeping with many circuits we have churches where this might well cause great distress - we have one church where Mission Praise is referred to as 'The Funny Book' so I wonder what a projector and screen would be called and how well they would be received.
There's an interesting take on the AV (or KJV as the Americans say) on this link:
http://www.deepbiblestudy.net/?p=399
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