I’m an NIV girl most days, my main bible is NIV, my study bible is NIV, at 6th form the bible I had at the bottom of my rucksack getting tattier by the day was TNIV. But I also have a copy of The Message, which I like to use to get almost a different perspective on a passage sometimes. At the moment I’m going through the Psalms in it, as they’re quite poetic, it seems to work really well. (Although there was one time I compared a bit to the NIV and have absolutely no idea where they got it from – so a pinch of salt is often handy!).
This is just a passage we read at housegroup last week to help with the study, the second part is familiar to most, but in the first part some of the words were a bit complicated, so I grabbed my Message as well to help. And I just thought merging the two versions across both halves of the passage may be an interesting experiment – let me know what you think!
Galatians 5 vv 19-23 (NIV in bold, The Message in italic)
The acts of the flesh are obvious: It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: sexual immorality, repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; impurity a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; and debauchery; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; idolatry trinket gods; and witchcraft; magic-show religion; hatred, paranoid loneliness; discord, cutthroat competition; jealousy, all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; fits of rage, a brutal temper; selfish ambition, an impotence to love or be loved; dissensions, divided homes and divided lives; factions small-minded and lopsided pursuits; and envy; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; drunkenness, uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; orgies, ugly parodies of community. and the like. I could go on.
I warn you, as I did before, This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.
But the fruit of the Spirit is But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like love, affection for others, joy, exuberance about life, peace, serenity. forbearance, We develop a willingness to stick with things, kindness, a sense of compassion in the heart, goodness, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. faithfulness, We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, gentleness not needing to force our way in life, and self-control. able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Against such things there is no law. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.
What do you think? Confusing? A list of definitions? Something to think about? Is it helpful?
Original versions split out here.
ineke.co.uk 