Love, Joy, and Translations

I was reading the NLT Bible translation on my trip to India, because we have a small version that is easy to travel with. I have come to conclude that it is good to read different translations of the bible sometimes, especially with passages that you are familiar with. It seems that the wording often gives a new emphasis to get my attention. I'm obviously not the first person to think this as it's quite a common practice in inductive study methods, etc, but I just had a good, practical encounter with it.

As I was praying this morning, I felt a prompting to read John 17. Since I just got back from my trip, the NLT was sitting right next to me. So as I read John 17, I found a verse that I hadn't paid that much attention to in the past: John 17:23. In the NIV translation, I just blow right past, May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

That's great, the Father loves Jesus and he loves me too. But the NLT reads, May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

What a concept! Certainly the Father loves Jesus perfectly, as they are one. But to consider that he loves me just as is incredible! Hallelujah!

While on the subject, a while back I experienced another example where reading another translation was helpful. Technically, Eugene Peterson's The Message isn't a translation, but it can still help in this way.

Luke 10:20 tells us that our joy comes from the fact that our names are written in heaven, not because great things happen in our presence. Great things don't always happen in our presence, and if that's the thing that brings us joy, it's only fleeting joy. But if our joy comes because our names are written in heaven, or as the Message says it, All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Wow.

As for me, when great things happen in my presence, I'm going to practice thanking God for it, but also remembering that my joy comes from the fact that he brought me into his presence and wrote my name in the book of life.