Translation, Commentary, or Paraphrase. Which one should I use?
More and more these days, students of the Bible have begun to suggest that the Bible has been changed, despite the fact that they are unable to provide a single shred of evidence to support that conclusion. Of the few who have attempted to make the case that the Bible has been changed, it has become increasingly more apparent that many of them are simply unaware of the differences between a translation of the Bible, a paraphrasing of the Bible, and a mere commentary on the Bible. Whenever individuals read bible texts and find differences in the way these three written forms (translation, paraphrasing and commentaries) express the same thought for the same biblical passage in which they are unable to comprehend or reconcile, many of them just conclude that the Bible has definitely been changed.
Then, based solely upon the many years of translations, paraphrasing and commentaries of the Bible combined with its years of existence, they draw this conclusion, but such responses only reinforce the notion that people are unable to determine the difference between these texts.
What Are the Essential Differences Between Translations, Paraphrases. & Commentaries of the Bible?
The word “translation” refers to a process of translating words or text from one language into another. This means that a translator must have a good working knowledge of words and their equivalences from one language (the original language translated from) to another (the donor language being translated to). Translation does not mean to change the meaning of the original text. It means to change the words into another language while preserving the original meaning. There are some translations that are better than others, however, no matter how good of a translation you are reading, it is always good to study using “The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, generally known as Strong’s Concordance, is a Bible concordance, an index of every word in the King James Version (KJV). The purpose of Strong’s Concordance is not to provide content or commentary about the Bible, but to provide an index to the Bible. This allows the reader to find words where they appear in the Bible. This index allows a student of the Bible to re-find a phrase or passage previously studied. It also lets the reader directly compare how the same word may be used elsewhere in the Bible. In this way Strong provides an independent check against translations, and offers an opportunity for greater, and more technically accurate understanding of text.
For example, Luke 14:26 says the following:
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
This goes against many biblical principles taught throughout the bible. 1 John 2:9 said “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” Or what about 1 John 3:15 which said “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.”
People without proper biblical training in hermeneutics understand the word hate to mean an intense or passionate dislike. The bible sometimes APPEAR to contradict itself. However, when you look in the Greek dictionary of the Strong’s Concordance, you’ll discover that the translator for whatever reason used a word that does not quite express the thought of the original writer.
According to #3404 of the Greek dictionary of the Strong’s Concordance,
μισέω miséō, mis-eh’-o; from a primary μῖσος mîsos (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less:—hate(-ful).
Luke 14:26 is not telling you to hate your family, but it is saying that you must love me, the savior over all else or you will not follow me. If a person told you to sell your things, and follow me and learn for three years traveling the country, how many people would do it? How many would leave their wife, husband and kids and commit to learning? If your love for your family is greater than the love and or passion that you have for the one that is asking you to leave with them, you will not fully commit.
A paraphrase expresses the meaning of (the writer or speaker or something written or spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity. This requires a more intensive investment in the study of the changes in words over time because it is key toward determining whether or not the Bible’s message has or has not been changed. To be clearer, it is a rewording of something written or spoken by someone else. Someone is retelling of something in their own words. Because of this, the true meaning may be changed or distorted.
Finally, a Bible commentary is a written, systematic series of explanations and interpretations of Scripture.
Commentaries often analyze or expound on individual books of the Bible, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Some commentary works provide analysis of the whole of Scripture. Because it is a secondary source, it message may or may not reinforce the Bible’s intended message. Two main types of commentaries are Expository and Exegetical commentaries
Expository commentaries are typically written by pastors and expository Bible teachers who teach verse by verse through the Bible. These commentaries usually include teaching notes, outlines, illustrations and practical applications of the authors’ study and teaching on the books of the Bible. Exegetical commentaries are typically written by Bible scholars and theologians. They are more technical or academic in nature. The problem with commentaries is that the individual giving the commentary is doing so based off of their research, interpretation and understanding, which may not necessarily be correct. This is why no two commentary bibles are alike.
It is best when studying the bible to stick with a good translation such as the King James Version along with one of the Concordances such as the Strong’s Concordance.
