« | 1 Corinthians 3 | » |
1 Christian brothers, I could not speak to you as to full-grown Christians. I spoke to you as men who have not obeyed the things you have been taught. I spoke to you as if you were baby Christians.
2 My teaching was as if I were giving you milk to drink. I could not give you meat because you were not ready for it. Even yet you are not able to have anything but milk.
3 You still live as men who are not Christians. When you are jealous and fight with each other, you are still living in sin and acting like sinful men in the world.
4 When one says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I am a follower of Apollos," does not this sound like the talk of baby Christians?
5 Who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only servants owned by God. He gave us gifts to preach His Word. And because of that, you put your trust in Christ.
6 I planted the seed. Apollos watered it, but it was God Who kept it growing.
7 This shows that the one who plants or the one who waters is not the important one. God is the important One. He makes it grow.
8 The one who plants and the one who waters are alike. Each one will receive his own reward.
9 For we work together with God. You are God's field. You are God's building also.
10 Through God's loving-favor to me, I laid the stones on which the building was to be built. I did it like one who knew what he was doing. Now another person is building on it. Each person who builds must be careful how he builds on it.
11 Jesus Christ is the Stone on which other stones for the building must be laid. It can be only Christ.
12 Now if a man builds on the Stone with gold or silver or beautiful stones, or if he builds with wood or grass or straw,
13 each man's work will become known. There will be a day when it will be tested by fire. The fire will show what kind of work it is.
14 If a man builds on work that lasts, he will receive his reward.
15 If his work is burned up, he will lose it. Yet he himself will be saved as if he were going through a fire.
16 Do you not know that you are a house of God and that the Holy Spirit lives in you?
17 If any man destroys the house of God, God will destroy him. God's house is holy. You are the place where He lives.
18 Do not fool yourself. If anyone thinks he knows a lot about the things of this world, he had better become a fool. Then he may become wise.
19 The wisdom of this world is foolish to God. The Holy Writings say, "He is the One Who gets them in a trap when they use their own wisdom." (Job 5:13)
20 They also say, "The Lord knows how the wise man thinks. His thinking is worth nothing." (Psalm 94:11)
21 As a Christian, do not be proud of men and of what they can do. All things belong to you.
22 Paul and Apollos and Peter belong to you. The world and life and death belong to you. Things now and things to come belong to you.
23 You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.