« | 1 John 4 | » |
1 Dear Christian friends, do not believe every spirit. But test the spirits to see if they are from God for there are many false preachers in the world.
2 You can tell if the spirit is from God in this way: Every spirit that says Jesus Christ has come in a human body is from God.
3 And every spirit that does not say Jesus has come in a human body is not from God. It is the teaching of the falsechrist. You have heard that this teaching is coming. It is already here in the world.
4 My children, you are a part of God's family. You have stood against these false preachers and had power over them. You had power over them because the One Who lives in you is stronger than the one who is in the world.
5 Those false teachers are a part of the world. They speak about the things of the world. The world listens to them.
6 We are a part of God's family. The person who knows God will listen to us. The person who is not a part of God's family will not listen to us. In this way, we can tell what is the spirit of truth and what is the spirit of false teaching.
7 Dear friends, let us love each other, because love comes from God. Those who love are God's children and they know God.
8 Those who do not love do not know God because God is love.
9 God has shown His love to us by sending His only Son into the world. God did this so we might have life through Christ.
10 This is love! It is not that we loved God but that He loved us. For God sent His Son to pay for our sins with His own blood.
11 Dear friends, if God loved us that much, then we should love each other.
12 No person has ever seen God at any time. If we love each other, God lives in us. His love is made perfect in us.
13 He has given us His Spirit. This is how we live by His help and He lives in us.
14 We have seen and are able to say that the Father sent His Son to save the world from the punishment of sin.
15 The person who tells of Him in front of men and says that Jesus is the Son of God, God is living in that one and that one is living by the help of God.
16 We have come to know and believe the love God has for us. God is love. If you live in love, you live by the help of God and God lives in you.
17 Love is made perfect in us when we are not ashamed as we stand before Him on the day He judges. For we know that our life in this world is His life lived in us.
18 There is no fear in love. Perfect love puts fear out of our hearts. People have fear when they are afraid of being punished. The man who is afraid does not have perfect love.
19 We love Him because He loved us first.
20 If a person says, "I love God," but hates his brother, he is a liar. If a person does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God Whom he has not seen?
21 We have these words from Him. If you love God, love your brother also.
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.