« | John 2 | » |
1 Three days later Mary, the mother of Jesus, was at a wedding feast in the village of Cana in Galilee.
2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited and were there.
3 When the wine was all gone, Mary said to Jesus, "They don't have any more wine."
4 Jesus replied, "Mother, my time hasn't yet come! You must not tell me what to do."
5 Mary then said to the servants, "Do whatever Jesus tells you to do."
6 At the feast there were six stone water jars that were used by the people for washing themselves in the way that their religion said they must. Each jar held about twenty or thirty gallons.
7 Jesus told the servants to fill them to the top with water. Then after the jars had been filled,
8 he said, "Now take some water and give it to the man in charge of the feast." The servants did as Jesus told them,
9 and the man in charge drank some of the water that had now turned into wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants did. He called the bridegroom over
10 and said, "The best wine is always served first. Then after the guests have had plenty, the other wine is served. But you have kept the best until last!"
11 This was Jesus' first miracle, and he did it in the village of Cana in Galilee. There Jesus showed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
12 After this, he went with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples to the town of Capernaum, where they stayed for a few days.
13 Not long before the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem.
14 There he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves in the temple. He also saw moneychangers sitting at their tables.
15 So he took some rope and made a whip. Then he chased everyone out of the temple, together with their sheep and cattle. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and scattered their coins.
16 Jesus said to the people who had been selling doves, "Get those doves out of here! Don't make my Father's house a marketplace."
17 The disciples then remembered that the Scriptures say, "My love for your house burns in me like a fire."
18 The Jewish leaders asked Jesus, "What miracle will you work to show us why you have done this?"
19 "Destroy this temple," Jesus answered, "and in three days I will build it again!"
20 The leaders replied, "It took forty-six years to build this temple. What makes you think you can rebuild it in three days?"
21 But Jesus was talking about his body as a temple.
22 And when he was raised from death, his disciples remembered what he had told them. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words of Jesus.
23 In Jerusalem during Passover many people put their faith in Jesus, because they saw him work miracles.
24 But Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and he would not let them have power over him.
25 No one had to tell him what people were like. He already knew.
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.