« | 2 Corinthians 10 | » |
1 I, Paul, ask you this myself. I do it through Christ Who is so gentle and kind. Some people say that I am gentle and quiet when I am with you, but that I have no fear and that my language is strong when I am away from you.
2 Do not make me speak strong words to you when I come. Some people think we want the things of the world because of what we do and say. I have decided to talk to these people if I have to.
3 It is true, we live in a body of flesh. But we do not fight like people of the world.
4 We do not use those things to fight with that the world uses. We use the things God gives to fight with and they have power. Those things God gives to fight with destroy the strong-places of the devil.
5 We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.
6 We are ready to punish those who will not obey as soon as you obey in everything.
7 You are seeing things only as men see them. If anyone feels sure he belongs to Christ, he should remember that we belong to Christ also.
8 I am not ashamed if I say this of myself. The Lord gave me the right and the power to help you become stronger, not to break you down.
9 I do not want you to think I am trying to make you afraid with my letters.
10 They say, "His letters are strong and they make us think. When he is here with us, he is weak and he is hard to listen to."
11 What we say in our letters we will do when we get there. They should understand this.
12 We do not compare ourselves with those who think they are good. They compare themselves with themselves. They decide what they think is good or bad and compare themselves with those ideas. They are foolish.
13 But we will not talk with pride more than God allows us to. We will follow the plan of the work He has given us to do and you are a part of that work.
14 We did not go farther than we were supposed to go when we came to you. But we did come to you with the Good News of Christ.
15 We take no pride in the work others have done there. But we hope your faith will keep growing because of help from others. Then we will grow because of you.
16 We hope to preach the Good News in the countries on the other side of you. Then we would take no pride in work done by another person in another country.
17 If anyone wants to be proud, he should be proud of what the Lord has done.
18 It is not what a man thinks and says of himself that is important. It is what God thinks of him.
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.