« | 1 Thessalonians 4 | » |
1 Christian brothers, we ask you, because of the Lord Jesus, to keep on living in a way that will please God. I have already told you how to grow in the Christian life.
2 The Lord Jesus gave us the right and the power to tell you what to do.
3 God wants you to be holy. You must keep away from sex sins.
4 God wants each of you to use his body in the right way by keeping it holy and by respecting it.
5 You should not use it to please your own desires like the people who do not know God.
6 No man should do wrong to his Christian brother in anything. The Lord will punish a person who does. I have told you this before.
7 For God has not called us to live in sin. He has called us to live a holy life.
8 The one who turns away from this teaching does not turn away from man, but from God. It is God Who has given us His Holy Spirit.
9 You do not need anyone to write to you about loving your Christian brothers. God has taught you to love each other.
10 You love all the Christians in all the country of Macedonia. But we ask you to love them even more.
11 Do your best to live a quiet life. Learn to do your own work well. We told you about this before.
12 By doing this, you will be respected by those who are not Christians. Then you will not be in need and others will not have to help you.
13 Christian brothers, we want you to know for sure about those who have died. You have no reason to have sorrow as those who have no hope.
14 We believe that Jesus died and then came to life again. Because we believe this, we know that God will bring to life again all those who belong to Jesus.
15 We tell you this as it came from the Lord. Those of us who are alive when the Lord comes again will not go ahead of those who have died.
16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a loud call. The head angel will speak with a loud voice. God's horn will give its sounds. First, those who belong to Christ will come out of their graves to meet the Lord.
17 Then, those of us who are still living here on earth will be gathered together with them in the clouds. We will meet the Lord in the sky and be with Him forever.
18 Because of this, comfort each other with these words.
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.