I am not sure how many of you know this, but one of the most highly read translations of the bible has been updated. This was the work of a group of scholars, who re-examined the original intent of the language behind our scriptures. There have been some changes, that may challenge some ideas in your mind. Here is an example
1984 NIV: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.”
2010 NIV: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.”
The root word for this “something to be grasped” part is harpagmos, this word has been long debated and studied. This passage always confused me a bit, because I was thinking… Jesus didn’t grasp what equality with God was, but He is God? Don’t get me wrong, I never questioned the deity of Jesus. I just took it as the new version states, Jesus was not in this world for himself, but for the Father. Through more study of the word and context the scholars believe that the 2010 version, “did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage”, to reflect the true meaning behind harpagmos. There are many other examples from many well known, often memorized passages that have been changed. The changes reflect, in a more accurate way, the original language behind these scriptures. Personally, I am a big fan of the new translation. Mostly because it captures the original texts in a more accurate way.
What do you think about these changes?
