Is it wrong to change the bible's words to a more simpler form??

SeekingGloryOnThisJourney said:

Wow, I did not know that.
May he Rest In Peace.
Yes, that was the comment I was referring too.

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On thing we learn from The Message is that one-man translations are not the best way of doing things. A translation from a group of people is often better.

At this point, the OP is not very good at restating the Bible, so he should pick a translation, or at least practice using an interlinear Bible and asking a trusted church elder to check his translation.

The Bible says that Jesus is humble toward the Father. I don't think the Bible says that Jesus is humble toward people.

Also, God (the father) is not humble, for he has no one above him.

Peter J Barban said:

At this point, the OP is not very good at restating the Bible, so he should pick a translation

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Exactly.

Doing your own translation (even with an interlinear) is something you shouldn't really do unless you know Greek (or Hebrew, as the case may be).

Peter J Barban said:

Also, God (the father) is not humble, for he has no one above him.

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Yeah, that was the biggest problem with the O.P.'s rewording, I thought.

I don't compare a paraphrase to a more literal translation. We all paraphrase. We all try to explain what God's word is saying. Most applications of our bible understanding amount to a paraphrase. Though intentions are to be sincere.

I'm going through The Message now. I need a different translation, once in awhile, even if only for reading purposes. For deeper word study I don't go to paraphrases. Peterson never wanted to paraphrase the whole bible, but was nudged on by the Navigators....

Eugene Peterson, author of The Message, says he was
“a servant to the text”

Putting the scriptures in your own words, is a great way to learn, especially so if you can bounce them off a few other folks in your faith community. What will happen, is you will see if you are getting the overall concepts down, or if maybe you are seriously missing something when you discuss with others. Doing this sort of thing in community is a great way to grow. Doing this in isolation otoh could lead you down paths which aren't so good though. Its all too easy to build a god/bible of your own making if you don't seek out others within your faith tradition to bounce stuff off of etc.

Beyond that issue, translations are tricky, as sometimes there aren't 1:1 conversions across languages. Thus, even the best English translations don't always reflect exactly what the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts stated. In a few places, it comes down to best guesses and compromises... and maybe there are 5 possible ways for a translator to roll, 2 seem equally valid, but you can only pick 1.

This is not to say translations are in error, but that there potentially could be a lot more to the story. The overall concepts in the translations are there for sure.. but if you are looking for highly accurate fine explicit detail, then you really need to either A, hang out with folks who are paid to do this sort of thing, or B invest some years in the study of Greek, Hebrew, and studies of the manuscripts themselves.

Animelover93 said:

For example, Psalm 25:8-9 (ESV) says "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way."
Would it be wrong of me to change it to this?
The Lord is good and upright, and he teaches sinners to be the same way. He leads them to do right and teaches them to be as humble as he is"

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The question here would be is your paraphrasing accurately convey what the text is actually saying; because no there's nothing wrong with paraphrasing something in order to help others understand easier, it is problematic if we are missing the point of the text ourselves and then pass on our own misunderstanding to others.

In this instance, I don't think your paraphrase is quite accurate in capturing the intended meaning of the text. The point instead here is that God is good and just and thus He instructs those who are wayward to walk the straight path of justice and goodness; it is the humble who can hear God's instruction and receive it; as the arrogant will stubbornly refuse God's correction.

If I wanted, for example, to point to God's humility and the calling upon us to be humble in imitation of God's humility, I would instead point to Philippians chapter 2, where St. Paul speaks of Christ's humility as the example we are to have. As Christ, though Himself truly and very God, willingly and with humility becomes man, becoming a slave, and is obedient even to the point of death on the cross. It is in the Incarnation that we encounter the humility and lowliness of God in His kindness and love toward us, in His throwing Himself away in love that we might be reconciled to Him, and here we see the example of the sorts of people we ought to be as servants and disciples of Jesus Christ. The One who made heaven and earth, and before Whom every knee will bow and tongue confess is the One who emptied Himself, humbled Himself, and bore the shame and suffering of the cross for us. If God the Son Himself did not exploit His glory for personal gain, but willingly became a slave, how much more should we follow this example and humble ourselves, lower ourselves, serve others with meekness and love?

But in Psalm 25:8-9, the point is instead that the humble will hear and receive the word of God; though I might also recognize that seeing as the Law condemns, then what we find here is the sad and tragic truth that we are not humble, but rather we are arrogant, for we do not obey God, we do not follow the straight path--and so we find that we have not humbled ourselves in meekness and so, as St. Paul says in Romans 7, the Law which is holy and is supposed to give life actually compounds our sin and breaths death to us. So wretched man that I am, who will save me? Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, and so therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

-CryptoLutheran

Animelover93 said:

For example, Psalm 25:8-9 (ESV) says "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way."
Would it be wrong of me to change it to this?
The Lord is good and upright, and he teaches sinners to be the same way. He leads them to do right and teaches them to be as humble as he is"

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There are many versions and translation of the bible. I do not believe it is wrong if the meaning remains the same

I grew up in what is commonly called the Open Brethren where there is a tremendous love of the Bible, and an emphasis on understanding and using types and symbols. These give a vast depth to the Word, and if paraphrases start replacing words and phrases, a gigantic part of the continuity and understanding can be lost. I cringe at the Passion and Message because they have removed many important types and symbols and rob people of the opportunity for revelation through them. I understand why you might want to simplify the Bible, but I would say don't, and ask for revelation and understanding, as well as exploring other reputable translations and studying. God's word doesn't need dumbing down, we need the Holy Spirit to understand spiritual things.