Galatians 1 | » |
1 From the apostle Paul and from all the Lord's followers with me. I was chosen to be an apostle by Jesus Christ and by God the Father, who raised him from death. No mere human chose or appointed me to this work. To the churches in Galatia.
2 (SEE 1:1)
3 I pray that God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
4 Christ obeyed God our Father and gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins to rescue us from this evil world.
5 God will be given glory forever and ever. Amen.
6 I am shocked that you have so quickly turned from God, who chose you because of his wonderful kindness. You have believed another message,
7 when there is really only one true message. But some people are causing you trouble and want to make you turn away from the good news about Christ.
8 I pray that God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from our message to you! It doesn't matter if that person is one of us or an angel from heaven.
9 I have said it before, and I will say it again. I hope God will punish anyone who preaches anything different from what you have already believed.
10 I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. Do you think I am trying to please people? If I were doing that, I would not be a servant of Christ.
11 My friends, I want you to know that no one made up the message I preach.
12 It wasn't given or taught to me by some mere human. My message came directly from Jesus Christ when he appeared to me.
13 You know how I used to live as a Jew. I was cruel to God's church and even tried to destroy it.
14 I was a much better Jew than anyone else my own age, and I obeyed every law that our ancestors had given us.
15 But even before I was born, God had chosen me. He was kind and had decided
16 to show me his Son, so that I would announce his message to the Gentiles. I didn't talk this over with anyone.
17 I didn't say a word, not even to the men in Jerusalem who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went at once to Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.
18 Three years later I went to visit Peter in Jerusalem and stayed with him for fifteen days.
19 The only other apostle I saw was James, the Lord's brother.
20 And in the presence of God I swear I am telling the truth.
21 Later, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22 But no one who belonged to Christ's churches in Judea had ever seen me in person.
23 They had only heard that the one who had been cruel to them was now preaching the message that he had once tried to destroy.
24 And because of me, they praised God.
The Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The Contemporary English Version (CEV) is a modern Bible translation that aims to make the scriptures accessible and understandable to a broad audience, including children and those with limited English proficiency. Published by the American Bible Society in 1995, the CEV emphasizes clarity, readability, and ease of comprehension. Unlike more literal translations, the CEV uses a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, which focuses on conveying the original meaning of the text in a way that is clear and straightforward for contemporary readers.
One of the key features of the CEV is its use of everyday language and simple sentence structures. The translators avoided theological jargon and archaic terms, instead opting for language that is commonly used in daily conversation. This makes the CEV particularly well-suited for public reading, educational settings, and outreach programs where the audience might not be familiar with traditional biblical language. The translation strives to communicate the essence of the biblical message without the barriers that complex language can sometimes create.
The CEV also pays special attention to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. The translators sought to avoid expressions and idioms that might be misunderstood or offensive in different cultural contexts. Additionally, the CEV includes gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to make the text more inclusive while still remaining faithful to the original manuscripts. This approach helps ensure that Bible teachings are accessible to a diverse global audience, promoting understanding and acceptance across different cultures and communities.
Despite its strengths, the CEV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more literal translations. Critics argue that the CEV emphasises on simplicity and readability which can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Some theologians and scholars believe that the thought-for-thought approach may oversimplify complex theological concepts. Nevertheless, the Contemporary English Version remains a valuable resource for many readers, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that is particularly effective for those new to the scriptures or those seeking a more accessible way to engage with the biblical text.