Friday, May 18, 2007

Memorization Tip

Here’s a piece of advice on memorizing Scripture: pick a translation and stick with it. Confusion can set in very quickly if you get the paraphrase mixed up with the essentially literal.

Although I own more Bible translations than I care to count, I really only use NIV, KJV, and ESV with any regularity -- ESV being my preference when possible. Even limiting my exposure to three versions, ask me to quote a very famous Bible passage. What you'll get is an amalgam of two or three translations that never appears together in any one translation...

If you are in any position that requires you to read, recite, study, or teach the Scriptures, Confessions, or any other translated document— and that should cover pretty much everyone—keep translations in mind. If possible, try to use one translation of a text for a long period of time (decades, if possible).
Of course, memorization is encouraged frequently on this blog. See here, here, here, and here.

[HT - ESV blog]

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