« | Romans 10 | » |
1 Christian brothers, the desire of my heart and my prayer to God is that the Jews might be saved from the punishment of sin.
2 I know about them. They have a strong desire for God, but they do not know what they should about Him.
3 They have not known how God makes men right with Himself. Instead, they have tried to make their own way. They have not become right with God because they have not done what God said to do.
4 For Christ has put an end to the Law, so everyone who has put his trust in Christ is made right with God.
5 Moses writes that the man who obeys the Law has to live by it.
6 But when a man puts his trust in Christ, he is made right with God. You do not need to ask yourself, "Who will go up to heaven to bring Christ down?"
7 And you do not need to ask, "Who will go below and bring Christ up from the dead?"
8 This is what it says, "The Good News is near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart." (Deuteronomy 30:14) This Good News tells about putting your trust in Christ. This is what we preach to you.
9 If you say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved from the punishment of sin.
10 When we believe in our hearts, we are made right with God. We tell with our mouth how we were saved from the punishment of sin.
11 The Holy Writings say, "No one who puts his trust in Christ will ever be put to shame." (Isaiah 28:16)
12 There is no difference between the Jews and the people who are not Jews. They are all the same to the Lord. And He is Lord over all of them. He gives of His greatness to all who call on Him for help.
13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved from the punishment of sin.
14 But how can they call on Him if they have not put their trust in Him? And how can they put their trust in Him if they have not heard of Him? And how can they hear of Him unless someone tells them?
15 And how can someone tell them if he is not sent? The Holy Writings say, "The feet of those who bring the Good News are beautiful." (Isaiah 52:7)
16 But they have not all listened to the Good News. Isaiah says, "Lord, who believed what we told them?" (Isaiah 53:1)
17 So then, faith comes to us by hearing the Good News. And the Good News comes by someone preaching it.
18 And so I ask, "Did they not hear?" For sure they did. The Holy Writings say, "Their voice was heard over all the earth. The Good News was told to the ends of the earth." (Psalm 19:4)
19 Again I ask, "Did the Jews not understand?" First of all, Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation. I will make you angry with a foolish nation of people who do not understand." (Deuteronomy 32:21)
20 Isaiah says even stronger words, "I have been found by men who did not look for Me. I have shown Myself to those who were not asking for Me." (Isaiah 65:1)
21 This is what God says about the Jews, "All day long I held out my hand to a people who would not obey Me and who worked against Me." (Isaiah 65:2)
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.