Bible Versions and Mercy

Many churches today use newer versions of the Bible in the pulpit and in their literature for Bible studies and Sunday schools.  The more conservative groups tend to disdain these versions.  I have heard the statement from preachers who stand against newer versions that “anything with new attached to it is from the devil.”  I wouldn’t go that far.  That is an emotional statement and plays on the ignorance of people in the pew.  Personally, I prefer many passages, especially in the Psalms, from the old King James Version, and in my published book, “All Things”, and the one I am working on now, I use the King James Version exclusively, giving the historical times.  On the other hand, my overall preference is the New King James Version.

If some church goers ignorantly swallow the notion that “new” means “from the devil”, those who flock to the newer versions may be allowing themselves to remain ignorant of the depth of meaning in certain phrases and descriptive words of the older version. 

A good example is the over-use of the word “love” that replaces many of the citations of “mercy” in both the King James and New King James.  Mercy is such a rich word.  Mercy means compassion and pity for the undeserving and the guilty.  I experienced the “mercy of the court” when I had to face the judge for a speeding violation.  He could have thrown the book at me, because it was a repeated offence.  He let me go with a fine.  That was merciful.  God’s mercy is withholding just judgment on those who deserve the book to be thrown at them.  It is the restraint of His wrath against our sinfulness.

Both of the King James Versions utilize an abundance of mercy words: mercy, mercies, merciful.  I reviewed five other versions, and none came close to that of the old versions.  The alternatives are words such as compassion, kindness, loving-kindness, favor, and especially love.  Indeed mercy is all of this, yet using these other words dumbs-down the impact of God’s mercy.

Like mercy, the word “love” has a broad meaning; however, love is a shallow pool, whereas mercy is an ocean depth.  My friend, Marcia, tells me that in the book “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd, one of the characters states that there are thirty-two words for love in the Eskimo language.  Perhaps mercy has even more.

Don’t misunderstand me: God’s Word cannot “be returned void” (Isaiah 55: 11)…cannot be ineffective.  Even if it is transliterated to accommodate the modern language-challenged crowd, God’s Word penetrates the heart of human kind.  I appreciate the several versions of Scripture in my collection.  I use them for study and comparison.  If, however I wish to plumb the ocean depths of God through His Word, I fish with the heavy pole of the King James Version…old or new.