In writing this blog, I searched for an online version of the Bible that is both visually appealing and easy to read as I wanted the ability to offer any readers a place where they could go to read the Bible, or at least one of the gospels.
Of course, there are places like BibleGateway and Bible Hub that offer many different translations, along with commentaries and other resources. These are great and serve a significant purpose. I myself use them regularly. But they certainly are not visually appealing. And if the Bible is not something you are familiar with they are not easy to navigate, simple to use, and their lack of visual appeal is, to me, a significant turn off for those who, perhaps, have less invested in reading what the Bible has to say.
I could not find what I was searching for. I asked around, but no one I asked was be able to point me to such a thing. And so a conversation with my Dad ensued. He suggested that perhaps the only solution was to create this myself. To provide a place where people could easily find and access one of the accounts of Jesus life, in a way that left them hungry for more. And in a way that removed potential barriers from them doing just that. So, I wondered, was this possible?
But as I dug deeper, I found there was a more significant problem. One of which I am sure most people are entirely ignorant. You see, the Bible is under copyright. That sounds ridiculous. But it is true. It is illegal to reproduce large portions of the Bible in any form. Well almost. You can use the few translations which are out of copyright. The problem with that is that for a translation to be out of copyright; it has to be old. Really old. And the language with it. And for most people, reading the Bible in archaic English is neither easy nor enjoyable. I suddenly understood why so many free versions of the Bible use the old King James translation.
I am not trying to suggest that those who produce translations of the Bible shouldn’t be paid for their efforts – to write a translation well requires a great deal of time and effort. And those who tirelessly work at this need to eat, just like the rest of us. But, as I have thought about this, it has both surprised and frustrated me. What could be more important than making the Bible, the book that records God’s story, freely available for all those who are seeking? And in this age where so much is available online, shouldn’t we find it there? Particularly in a form that is both appealing and engaging, whilst removing jargon that hinders rather than aids understanding?
I am sure there are many Christians in this world who would help fund such a project if they knew that such a need existed. I think that the difficulty lies in our ignorance; we simply assume that the Bible is freely available because it is the Bible, after all.
In my research, I found only one translation of the Bible written in modern English, that I could use. The Open English Translation. It is not yet complete. But the creators should be applauded in that they are seeking to produce a bible that is entirely free of copyright.
My Father is a brilliant man. He has spent his life teaching the Bible and is profoundly gifted at doing just that. He has the ability to approach a passage and unpack it in such a way that the listener is inspired, challenged and convicted. And he has done this year after year, for longer than I have been alive. His is a gift that is rare and precious. One that I have benefited from immeasurably and, I suspect, in more ways than I am aware. It was only a couple of years ago that both my parents stepped down from more than thirty years of leadership in my church to pursue the next challenge that God has placed before them. They are the kind of people that will never retire; they will simply, and wonderfully, follow God wherever he is leading.
And so, with all his years of preaching and teaching the Bible, my Father offered to translate the book of Luke for me. And that is part of what he has been doing this year. He has been slowly and meticulously working with the Greek (the original language of the New Testament) and producing a beautiful and compelling translation that is free from all the problems and difficulties I have found.
As he has done so, he has told me how the Bible has come alive for him in new ways as he has grappled with the language and sought to faithfully render what Luke recorded. A month or so ago he was telling me of one such passage.
As my Father was translating the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-8, 11-15). He was struck by the incredible generosity of the sower. For he scatters seed far and wide. Into places that will see the seed grow and places where it won’t. Much of the seed does not result in any crop; it is eaten by birds, or shows some growth but eventually dies off. But, the seed that grows, flourishes and produces a crop makes it all worthwhile. For that seed yields a crop 100 times that which was initially sown.
My Dad noted that people often criticize this parable for they ask why the sower was so wasteful? Why didn’t he instead only sow the seed in the good soil? Surely, that would make so much more sense. But, how are we to determine what and where the best soil lies? How do we know where fruit will be produced? For in Jesus ministry, it was often those people others would least expect who responded. And those who would have been expected to respond who were the strongest in opposition.
Furthermore, my Dad said, what we do is like the sower. We scatter our seed and we spread it far and wide. We do that which God places before us. And we say yes to what he asks of us. We don’t know what will bear fruit or what will simply lie on the ground. And it’s not our job to make that happen (for further discussion on fruitfulness see Fruitfulness? Significance? Where do I set my sights). But the seed that bears fruit produces so abundantly that it is all worthwhile. And it is humbling and amazing to see. We are left marvelling at the goodness of God and the way that sometimes he uses the small things we do in surprising and mind-blowing ways.
This has been the encouragement that I need to hear, and last night God brought it to my mind. Sometimes I wonder, what am I doing? What am I thinking? Who do I think I am anyway? But last night God reminded me that my job is to say yes. To faithfully take up that which is at before me, to throw the seed in my hands far and wide. For maybe, just maybe, the next seed that I throw will produce that which I can only dream of. And maybe what I see as good and bad soil, is just the opposite, and fruit will be found in the most unlikely of places.
Lord, Jesus, this parable that you told so many years ago speaks to us today. It speaks to us here, and now. Thank you that you sow far and wide, that you call to all who will have ears to listen, and that you have called and are calling even me, here and now. Teach us to do likewise. To follow you closely. To listen to you keenly. And always to respond when you call us. May we sow generously. And may you bring your fruit to bear in our lives as we follow you. May we see it growing where we would never dream of planting. And may we marvel at your goodness and your grace in our lives. Amen
Do you sometimes wonder what you are doing? Do you too wonder if what you have to offer is of any value? How and where are you following Jesus today? What is he, or has he, asked you to do?
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I look forward to reading the Luke translation you mentioned.