« | Genesis 15 | » |
1 And after these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I [am] your shield. Your reward shall be very great.
2 And Abram said, Master and Lord, what shall You give me? Seeing I am departing without a child, but the son of Masek my home-born female slave, this Eliezer of Damascus [is my heir].
3 And Abram said, [I am grieved] since You have given me no seed, but my home-born servant shall succeed me.
4 And immediately the voice of the Lord came to him, saying, This shall not be your heir; but he that shall come out of you shall be your heir.
5 And He brought him out and said to him, Look up now to heaven, and count the stars, if you shall be able to number them fully, and He said, Thus shall your seed be.
6 And Abram believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 And He said to him, I am God that brought you out of the land of the Chaldeans, so as to give you this land to inherit.
8 And he said, Master and Lord, how shall I know that I shall inherit it?
9 And He said to him, Take for Me a heifer in her third year, and a female goat in her third year, and a ram in his third year, and a dove and a pigeon.
10 So he took to Him all these, and divided them in the midst, and set them opposite to each other, but the birds he did not divide.
11 And birds came down upon the bodies, even upon the divided parts of them, and Abram sat down by them.
12 And about sunset a trance fell upon Abram, and behold, a great gloomy terror fell upon him.
13 And it was said to Abram, You shall surely know that your decendants shall be sojourners in a land not their own, and they shall enslave them, and afflict them, and humble them four hundred years.
14 And the nation whom they shall serve I will judge; and after this, they shall come forth with much property.
15 But you shall depart to your fathers in peace, nourished in a good old age.
16 And in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the sins of the Amorites are not yet filled up, even until now.
17 And when the sun was about to set, there was a flame, and behold, a smoking furnace and lamps of fire, which passed between these divided pieces.
18 In that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your seed I will give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river Euphrates.
19 The Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites,
20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC)
The Apostles’ Bible Complete (ABC) is a modern translation of the Bible that strives to offer a clear and faithful rendering of the scriptures in contemporary language. This translation is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, providing an easy-to-read yet accurate version of the biblical text. The ABC translation aims to bridge the gap between the ancient languages in which the Bible was originally written and the modern vernacular, making it an ideal choice for both personal study and public reading.
One of the notable features of the Apostles’ Bible Complete is its dedication to maintaining the integrity of the original manuscripts. The translators of the ABC worked meticulously with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts to ensure that their translation accurately reflects the original meaning and intent of the scriptures. By employing a balance of formal equivalence (word-for-word) and dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought) translation techniques, the ABC aims to preserve the nuances and richness of the original languages while ensuring readability and clarity for modern readers.
The ABC also incorporates extensive cross-references and study aids to enhance the reader’s understanding of the biblical text. These tools include footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, as well as explanations of difficult or ambiguous passages. This approach helps readers to grasp the deeper meanings of the scriptures and to see how different parts of the Bible interconnect. The inclusion of these study aids makes the ABC particularly useful for those who are new to the Bible, as well as for more experienced readers who are looking to deepen their understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the Apostles’ Bible Complete has faced some criticisms. Some readers feel that the translation could benefit from further refinement in certain passages, as the balance between formal and dynamic equivalence can sometimes lead to inconsistencies in style and tone. Others have noted that while the study aids are helpful, they can occasionally overwhelm the main text, making it difficult to focus on the scripture itself. Nonetheless, the ABC remains a valuable and respected translation, appreciated for its commitment to accuracy, clarity, and accessibility, and for its ability to bring the ancient words of the Bible to life for contemporary readers.