New Bible translation has screenplay format

[Abiding in His Word]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new Bible translation tackles the challenge of turning ancient Greek and Hebrew texts into modern American English and then adds a twist: It's written like a screenplay.

Take the passage from Genesis in which God gets angry at Adam for eating the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil:

"Adam (pointing at the woman): It was she! The woman You gave me as a companion put the fruit in my hands, and I ate it.

"God (to the woman): What have you done?

"Eve: It was the serpent! He tricked me, and I ate."

Later, Eve bears her first son, Cain.

"Eve (excited): Look, I have created a new human, a male child, with the help of the Eternal."

Even people who have never read the Bible could probably guess that other translations don't say Adam pointed his finger at Eve when he blamed her for his disobedience. Neither do other Bibles describe Eve as "excited" about her newborn son.

That's pure Hollywood, but the team behind "The Voice" says it isn't a gimmick. They hope this new version will help readers understand the meaning behind the sometimes archaic language of the Bible and enjoy the story enough to stick with it.

The idea was a longtime dream of Chris Seay, pastor of Houston's Ecclesia Church. Seay had had success in helping church members relate to the Bible by dividing out the parts of the various speakers and assigning roles to church members who read them aloud.

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[daffodyllady]

This is more of an interpretation than it is a translation. I am sure it is interesting reading, but I wonder if it doesn't rob the reader of hearing the actual words of God. I'm sure God can use it... after all, he used a rooster and a donkey... Hey, he even used me a time or two!

[Abiding in His Word]

You know, I know several people who gave up on reading the Bible because they simply couldn't understand it. They had heard the 4 gospels read enough times in church so they posed no problem, but the rest just discouraged them. Maybe some of the easier-reading translations would have helped. I'm fairly certain some more mature believers and scholars might object, but if this type of Bible story leads to a desire for "meat," it may serve a purpose.

I think the article mentioned an 82 yr. old woman who said she'd never understood the Bible before.

There's more info on this blog.

[daffodyllady]

I have known and worked with the country old-time Pentecostals, who really don't have much education. Most of them are very intensely pro-KJV. Funny thing is, in those churches, (which I attended for about 5 years) I heard so much misinterpretation of King James English, that it was downright scarey!

And then you have the problem of people feeling more holy when a religious language is used. I say as long as people know what they are praying and reading, let them do it in whatever language they prefer.

But this little old lady that I am currently caring for keeps using made-up religious-style words and phrases. For instance, when she's hurting, she will pray loudly for God to "substain the pain."

At first, I thought, "perhaps I just never heard of that word before." So I went on a search in dictionaries... it just aint there, folks. I am certain that "substain" was an uneducated preacher's attempt at using "sustain." But why would you ask God to sustain pain? Sounds to me like asking for the opposite of what you really want.

... I am sure God knows the intent of her heart in the prayer. That that makes everything ok. But, to me, it just underscores the problem of an archaic religious language, especially when coupled with ignorance.

[laney]

From the OP link:

It does, however, take out the word "Christ," which many people have come to think of as Jesus' last name, rather than a title bestowed upon him by the Gospel writers to show that they believed he was God's "Anointed One" — the chosen translation in "The Voice."

In the Old Testament, translators of "The Voice" have rendered YHWH (commonly written as Yahweh), the Hebrew name for God, as "the Eternal" or "the Eternal One." One of the Bible's most famous passages, Psalm 23, reads, "The Eternal is my shepherd ..."

I don't know about this. Replacing Jesus' name and God, just irks me. Just thought about the scripture, (can't think of which one) about adding too or taking away...

[weepingwillow]

I don't know about this. Replacing Jesus' name and God, just irks me. Just thought about the scripture, (can't think of which one) about adding too or taking away...

This one?

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19

[GodsStudent]

I don't know about this. Replacing Jesus' name and God, just irks me. Just thought about the scripture, (can't think of which one) about adding too or taking away...

This one?

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19

I agree with you, weepingwillow. This scripture was the first thing I thought about when I read the OP.

[laney]

Yes, weeping, thats the one. Thank you for posting it.

[weepingwillow]

You're welcome.