In the beginning was the Word…

My question today is this: What Bible translation do you read? I just spoke with a man who believes that only a specific King James Bible is the true Word of God. He quoted MANY bible verses to me but would not hear what I had to say. In the end of our long conversation, he told me I had to refer to book, chapter and verse in the Bible to backup what I was saying. Hmm? It was a very one-sided “conversation”. And, very frustrating! I can’t quote the Bible, but I believe in the only true God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! 

The man had a lot of good points and a lot of knowledge about God and the Bible, but…did he have the agape love of God? Agape (Ancient Greek ἀγάπη, agapē) is a Greco-Christian term referring to love, "the highest form of love, charity" and "the love of God for man and of man for God". I don’t know. God knows we as humans cannot achieve perfection, only Jesus was/is perfect. Any “perfection” we have only comes through Jesus. He died for us sinners before we even knew him. Everything we do should be done in love because we love God.

I don’t read any version of King James; the Old English language is hard for me to comprehend. I read from several different translations, and I read the study notes, including the Life Application study notes. I don’t believe that makes me less of a child of God. And, I don’t believe that will keep me out of Heaven. I know the one who paid the price for my sins, and I know Who I belong to.

Whether you’re a King James Bible reader, or you read NASB, NRSV, NIV, NLT or a different translation, please share your thoughts. How does God speak to you???