Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What is in an interpretation or translation., August 7, 2007
This review is from: Clear Word Bible (Hardcover)
Some people writing reviews on The Clear Word must not have read the Preface. It clearly states " The Clear Word is not a translation, but a devotional paraphrase of Scripture expanded for clarity. It is intented to build faith and nurture spirtual growth. It should not be considered a study bible. Excellent translations of the Scriptures are avaliable for such purposes." Meaning other translations exist to be a study bible, like the King James Version or the New King James Version or whatever your choice maybe. A paraphrase uses current language to make the text more understandable. This is Webester's defination of paraphrase " a rewording of the meaning of something spoken or written".
Unless you can read Hebrew for yourself, then any Bible you read is someone elses interpretation. The Bible writers didn't write in english, spanish, french, etc. They didn't even use punctuation in their writings. Someone else translated the Bible into these other languages and added the punctuation marks ( the periods, question marks and commas, etc.). Here is an example of how one comma can make a sentence read completely different. Luke 23:43 - Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Suppose the interpreter put the comma in the wrong place and it actually belongs this way - Verily I say unto thee To-day, thou shalt be with me in paradise. The position of that one comma completely changes the interpretation doesn't. So how do you know their interpretation is correct? Unless you can read Hebrew yourself, you don't. Your only taking someone elses word that your choice of the Bible is translated correctly.
Some Churches have their own Bible. The Seventh Day Adventist do not. They use the same Bible most people use, The King James Version. And as for Ellen G. White, her writings are nowhere to be found in The Clear Word.
Just for your information, there is a book out by Paula Begoun called The Beauty Bible. Just because it says that it is a Bible doesn't make it so, nor was this book intended to be one. Neither was The Clear Word Bible intended to be one. Just a devotional, to help build faith and help with understanding.
So PLEASE people, know what you're talking about before you leave negative comments. All Christian denominations worship the same God and most use the same Bible, so please don't critcize others because their ways are different from yours. There is not going to be only one denomination of Christians in Heaven, but a mixture of believers. Try to remember that God has sheep in other folds.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
33 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Paraphrased Devotional! A Salute to Freedom of Religion!!!, September 6, 2005
This is an awesome and inspiring paraphrased devotional!! Blanco obviously is a man of research who uses history to assist in helping navagate through passages that are sometimes difficult to understand. Put it side-by with the King James . . . I see accuracy, harmony, some personal interpretations when the Bible doesn't go into detail. But, most importantly, the love of the Father and sacrifice of His Son shines through the paraphrased words of this book. Blanco must be a man of God! I loved it, and my husband and son (age 12) are getting ready to study it together.
A word to all of those negative reviews . . . they are obviously NOT inspired as they are using their own critical views to trash other people's ideas. There are millions of books that share millions of ideas, many that may not be what you believe (especially OTHER paraphrased "Bibles" which are VERY different from the Word of God!), yet we are to be focused on Jesus and share what we believe in our hearts, NOT spend all of our time trying to be critical of other's ideas! That is from Satan. If you look at the web sites on these reviews, and names of the critical reviewers, they all have a common theme - their purpose is to trash a specific belief (not a very noble "cause" I might add). To me, this goes against the very core of the reason our founding fathers came to America - for freedom to worship and believe the way their conscience dictates. For those who don't know anything about the Seventh-day Adventist people, you will see them on the list of those who have a major part in the relief of disasters (yes, including Katrina), have led in missionary efforts for over 100 years, are cosidered a Protestant religion whose theological differences are no more profound than the difference between Lutherans and Baptists. So why the negativity from these other "reviewers?" My guess is that they are too insecure to allow others to read and make judgements for themselves! My guess (based on my experience from reading their sites and discussing with some of them) is that most of them were SDAs at one time and they have been hurt because they chose to live a lifestyle that is not in harmony with SDA beliefs (such as sex outside of marriage, consumption of alcohol, living a "fast lane" lifestyle) and their actions were not accepted by the church.
At any rate, fortunately I did not let their negativity influency my choice in reading material, and my life was completely blessed by the Clear Word!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
60 of 78 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent "Devotional" (Not for Bible Study), March 19, 2003
As a theology student, I regularly do exegetical research looking at the original Greek and Hebrew of the Bible. I also use paraphrase Bibles so that I can get a quick overall understanding of the passages that I'm studying...
I have compared the New Living Translation, the Message Bible, and the Clear Word. These represent different levels of paraphrasing the Bible.
The New Living Translation is the most accurate of the paraphrases. The NLT is a "thought-for-thought" translation.
The Message Bible is a more looser paraphrase in very upbeat contemporary language and is an inspiring devotional because it puts messages in a new light. But I found that it is actually the worst when it comes to reinterpreting passages and putting the translator's own preconceived understandings into the passage.
That's why I enjoy the Clear Word. Yes, Jack Blanco elaborates on some passages to explain what he thinks they mean--and that is why this is a "Devotional" Bible (its not meant for serious Bible study)--but I find that Blanco is far more faithful to what the text originally meant than the Message Bible.
The Clear Word deserves five stars for *faithfully* communicating what the Bible is trying to say in modern, contemporary language and for its excellent readability. It has pretty much the same goal as the Message Bible, but I think the Clear Word is more faithful.
However, for studying the Bible and preaching, never use a paraphrase Bible. I continue to recommend the following as the most accurate contemporary translations:
* New American Standard Bible (NASB) is perhaps TOO accurate sometimes, though it can be inconsistent;
* New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) is also accurate and I like its language choice better than NASB;
* New International Version (NIV) continues to be very good;
* New King James Version (NKJV) is a classic, but its word choice can be poor sometimes
Of course, the best way to read the Bible is in the Greek and Hebrew! :)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
