An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The End of Moffatt

For the past month I have been starting my day reading Proverbs from the translation by James Moffatt.  I have had it on my shelf for years and thought it was time to crack the cover.  I probably got it in a yard sale and after reading the Introduction and Proverbs, it will probably go back to the yard sale.

The first reason I won’t bother with it again is that it seems more of a paraphrase than a translation.  I am not a child or a new believer.  Years ago I found the original Living Bible very useful for those special situations.  I don’t usually find them helpful now.  I don’t remember any rampant heresy, but it always seemed a little bit off to me.

The second reason is that reading the Introduction allowed me to get into the head of the translator.  He was a scholar and an academic.  In his own way he tried to be humble but there is something about education which often confuses the thinking.  I would consider him unassumingly arrogant.  As I looked through the book, I found that he had rearranged the chapters in some books.  There may be some scholarly reason for that.  Fine.  Share your wisdom at the next meeting of University Professors.  But don’t try to confuse us ordinary folks with issues that do nothing to strengthen our faith.

It was worth a read through but I would not recommend you spend the time looking for a copy.

2 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

Sounds like a well reasoned response.

Pumice said...

Thank you and thanks for your support.

Grace and peace.