Translation or interpretation?

I recently had reason to compare some texts from the CEV alongside the KJV, and think about them from the knowledge I have of both evangelical interpretations of Scripture, and Christian Science.

Excerpts from Colossians, chapter 3:

CEV:  Christ gives meaning to your life, and when he appears, you will also appear with him in glory.

KJV:  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

I see a big difference between "gives meaning to," and "is."

[Insert standard joke about the meaning of the word, "is"...]

CEV:  ...you have given up your old way of life with its habits.

KJV:  ...ye have put off the old man with his deeds.

Mary Baker Eddy's discovery was built on the consistent support she found for the understanding of life as eternal and spiritual, rather than finite and material.  In Christian Science, the "old man" is mortal, not spiritual.  One's lifestyle does tend to improve as one's comprehension of spiritual reality grows deeper, but to put off the old man is different from merely giving up a previous way of life, no?

CEV:  Each of you is a new person.  You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will undertand him better.

KJV:  ...and have put on that new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

There is a wide gulf between the meaning of these two renderings.  The CEV version sees one as an individual who is becoming more and more like the Creator.  It ends with a weak, "you will understand him better."  Gee.  That's nice.  I could use salvation, redemption, healing... but I guess if I understand him better, that will have to do.

Come on.  No man can understand God. 

The KJV is the underpinning of Christian Science thought:  the new man, renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.  The new man is spiritual, not material.  Knowledge is gained by observation, study, and deep thought.  The image of God is what man is.  There is no understanding of God to be found in that verse.  The knowledge is that you are the reflection of God, your Creator.

CEV:  God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people.  So be gentle, kind, humble, meek and patient.

KJV:  Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;...

To tell someone to be gentle and kind is pointless if they don't know what "gentle" and "kind" are like.  And how can they understand the "God loves you" thing if they've never encountered love in their lives?  Sadly, there are more of those every day as families disintegrate and toxic behaviors are taught as the norm.

And it is tiresome to be told to do it all oneself. 

The KJV version is the transformative step after putting off the old man.  We leave behind materiality and a sense of our limited mortal selves, until our very bowels are understood to be spiritual, not material... until we realize that the material world is transitory, and unreal, and only God is eternal and real.  Our role is to reflect God.  He does the rest. 

CEV:  Love is more important than anything else.  It is what ties everything completely together.

KJV:  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

In today's English, the word "love" is meaningless because it is used promiscuously.  Charity is more specific, still understood as giving to others who need what we can give.  The bond of perfectness can be understood in the sense of a bond guaranteeing performance, as a bail bond, where the bondsman promises to bring the bailed one to court, or a school bond, where the issuing authority promises to pay back the bondholders.  Jesus told us that we are to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.  That seems impossible... and it is, if we are trying to be perfect from a material, limited standpoint, doing it all ourselves.  Instead, our charity is our bond - our proof that we are becoming a clearer reflection of God.  This verse is an answer to the controversy in evangelical circles about the Epistle of James, in which he seems to advocate "works."  He is saying what Paul said, here.  We say, "his word is his bond," and know what it means.  This means, "his charity is his bond," and that is clear.

In contrast, the CEV's version seems like mere platitudes.

While not a member of the Christian Science church, I would venture to say that the CEV is not the best version to use when helping others grow in their understanding of Mrs. Eddy's discovery.

The Pill is bad for your sex life

Or so says this article.

Of late it has been fashionable to deprecate men and pretend they're worthless.  I wonder how many of the women who find men "useless" have had their perceptions altered by the very drug they're taking to liberate their sex lives?

We have the right to see ourselves and others in the best light possible.  For me, that light comes from the Creator of light itself.

A comforting thought

Sometimes a citation in the Christian Science Bible Lesson will prove to be one which stays in my thought for days.  This week it was the very first one:

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me:... (from Psalm 138:8)

As I read this on Monday morning, it was just what I needed for this week.  A work assignment the previous week required me to release a software update that was guaranteed to pose challenges, no matter how must testing could be performed.  Worse yet, I had scheduled a trip out of town on the day of release, and would not be back until Monday.

When I checked my email on Friday afternoon, the reports were disheartening.  However, the team rallied and did a great job of logging reports of issues, finding and applying fixes.  The verse above reassured me that, no matter what the appearance, God's goodness cannot be eclipsed by a few software bugs.  I went into my day in peace instead of in the anxiety which has plagued me of late.  And so it proved:  relationships with co-workers were normal.

In my life I've had many examples of the Lord perfecting the situations that concern me.  The word "concern" in that sentence could mean one of two things:  about me, or worry me.  In either case, God's care has been evident during difficult times.

As one formed in the image or likeness of God, I can be sure of approaching perfection only when I faithfully and consistently reflect God.  When I'm distracted or deluded by not-God thoughts, the reflection becomes blurry at best, and I'm subject to the consequences of those mistakes:  pain, sorrow, or confusion.  It is a great comfort to know that the Lord will perfect all that I know so long as I keep my gaze on Him, looking for His reflection in all that I encounter.

This week has provent to be markedly better than those before it.  It's the Lord's week, and He is perfecting it and allowing me to reflect His love and care and intelligence along the way.