Hi again, Christine,
Living Stream Ministries (LSM) is the publisher of the works of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, believers who came to Christ in China.? Witness Lee went to Taiwan during the Revolution, while Watchman Nee stayed on the Mainland. Their stories make interesting reading.? Watchman Nee died in a CCP prison in 1972, while Witness Lee went to California in 1962 and died in 1997. Their prolific writings are very interesting and often inspiring. But you didn't ask that.
You asked about the Recovery Bible, which is annotated with some notes of Watchman Nee.??
Christine, did you happen upon Brother Yun from his ministry in Brisbane some years ago?? His story is truly inspiring, especially how he prayed for a bible.? One day a Bible was delivered to his door.? He then learned that much of the detail of what he had been taught by his mother, an early convert in her job as a servant to a Western Missionary (I hope I remember the story correctly after so many years), had been completely misunderstood because of the language problem.? But what hadn't been misunderstood was the spirit!? And the willingness to die for the Faith!
I mention that because I stand in awe of what those believers in China went through for Christ.? Their faith and perseverance in the face of evil was and is remarkable.? Their books and recollections are valuable contributions to Christian history and literature.? But we're talking about a particular Bible translation.? Watchman Nee is known to have become something of a mystic later in his career, the last decade or so spent in prison.
LSM's statement of beliefs had no surprises, either added or omitted.
Only the NT was available online, although there is an OT published.? I looked at the sample pages online and "tested" a few of my favorite checks within the text.? It seems to be a straightforward read in English, with voluminous footnotes in some places and none in others.? That by itself doesn't mean anything.? I also checked several of my "test" passages.? Mark 16:9-20 was included in full without an annotation (kudos) while the Johannine Comma in 1 John 5:6-8 was omitted (sigh!).? I checked a few other places as well, including the prefatory materials which generally explain the major sources used.?
This all pointed to the observation that the unnamed translators and authors of the Recovery Bible used the same core resources as other modern translations. The work was done in California.? In other words, this translation does not appear to be appreciably different from other modern Bible versions available in English.
This is not a study Bible in the strictest sense.? For study I would suggest sticking with the more traditional translations that are included in the serious Bible websites that facilitate quick checks of the original languages and cross-referencing with commentaries.
Blessings,
Ray
On Tuesday, 4 August 2020, 04:52:31 pm AEST, Christine <cjmcfadyen46@...> wrote:
I intended to include this question with the earlier two: ?Ray, with your extensive, detailed investigations into strengths and weaknesses of various English translations of the Scriptures, could you, please, comment on The Recovery Version?
I've been given a copy by a Christian, who in turn was given it by another Christian! It is disseminated by an American nfp organisation called Bibles for Australia. It's generous of this group to send us free Bibles - they are not to be sold - but l wonder if they are reaching the intended recipients!
This version appears to be linked with a Living Waters church and a Watchman Nee.
Thanks, Christine
Hi Ray and fellow RO9ers, Can anyone provide a short, simple definition of Replacement Theology and problems that may arise if following this school of thought?
Re the narrative of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Drs David Jeremiah and Chuck Missler, amongst others, including our Ray S, suggest that this is no parable, but that it actually happened. If so, it does shed light for me on problematic passages e.g. Christ's words to the thief on the cross. However, a reason given to exclude the story from parable status is that parables don't use given names - hence the poor man is Lazarus. Why, then, is the chief character not also named??
Furthermore, the narrative would indicate that judgement occurs at the moment of death, not at the resurrection and before ourJudge's Throne? I have some perhaps ideas on this, but would appreciate further thoughts.
PS Is the meaning of Lazarus' name significant in the context of the story?
Look forward eagerly to Ruth part 2.
Keep well, everyone, Christine
|
Thanks, Ray, for yr helpful and clear response.?
I probably was still living in NSW when the Chinese speaker you mention was in Brisbane.?
(I think Joyce Myer has occasionally mentioned Watchman Nee's writing. )
I still don't get why these Bibles are being handed out to folk who likely already own several Bibles!?
Thanks again for answers to?my questions today - and Peter, too
Hi again, Christine,
Living Stream Ministries (LSM) is the publisher of the works of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, believers who came to Christ in China.? Witness Lee went to Taiwan during the Revolution, while Watchman Nee stayed on the Mainland. Their stories make interesting reading.? Watchman Nee died in a CCP prison in 1972, while Witness Lee went to California in 1962 and died in 1997. Their prolific writings are very interesting and often inspiring. But you didn't ask that.
You asked about the Recovery Bible, which is annotated with some notes of Watchman Nee.??
Christine, did you happen upon Brother Yun from his ministry in Brisbane some years ago?? His story is truly inspiring, especially how he prayed for a bible.? One day a Bible was delivered to his door.? He then learned that much of the detail of what he had been taught by his mother, an early convert in her job as a servant to a Western Missionary (I hope I remember the story correctly after so many years), had been completely misunderstood because of the language problem.? But what hadn't been misunderstood was the spirit!? And the willingness to die for the Faith!
I mention that because I stand in awe of what those believers in China went through for Christ.? Their faith and perseverance in the face of evil was and is remarkable.? Their books and recollections are valuable contributions to Christian history and literature.? But we're talking about a particular Bible translation.? Watchman Nee is known to have become something of a mystic later in his career, the last decade or so spent in prison.
LSM's statement of beliefs had no surprises, either added or omitted.
Only the NT was available online, although there is an OT published.? I looked at the sample pages online and "tested" a few of my favorite checks within the text.? It seems to be a straightforward read in English, with voluminous footnotes in some places and none in others.? That by itself doesn't mean anything.? I also checked several of my "test" passages.? Mark 16:9-20 was included in full without an annotation (kudos) while the Johannine Comma in 1 John 5:6-8 was omitted (sigh!).? I checked a few other places as well, including the prefatory materials which generally explain the major sources used.?
This all pointed to the observation that the unnamed translators and authors of the Recovery Bible used the same core resources as other modern translations. The work was done in California.? In other words, this translation does not appear to be appreciably different from other modern Bible versions available in English.
This is not a study Bible in the strictest sense.? For study I would suggest sticking with the more traditional translations that are included in the serious Bible websites that facilitate quick checks of the original languages and cross-referencing with commentaries.
Blessings,
Ray
On Tuesday, 4 August 2020, 04:52:31 pm AEST, Christine < cjmcfadyen46@...> wrote:
I intended to include this question with the earlier two: ?Ray, with your extensive, detailed investigations into strengths and weaknesses of various English translations of the Scriptures, could you, please, comment on The Recovery Version?
I've been given a copy by a Christian, who in turn was given it by another Christian! It is disseminated by an American nfp organisation called Bibles for Australia. It's generous of this group to send us free Bibles - they are not to be sold - but l wonder if they are reaching the intended recipients!
This version appears to be linked with a Living Waters church and a Watchman Nee.
Thanks, Christine Hi Ray and fellow RO9ers, Can anyone provide a short, simple definition of Replacement Theology and problems that may arise if following this school of thought?
Re the narrative of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Drs David Jeremiah and Chuck Missler, amongst others, including our Ray S, suggest that this is no parable, but that it actually happened. If so, it does shed light for me on problematic passages e.g. Christ's words to the thief on the cross. However, a reason given to exclude the story from parable status is that parables don't use given names - hence the poor man is Lazarus. Why, then, is the chief character not also named??
Furthermore, the narrative would indicate that judgement occurs at the moment of death, not at the resurrection and before ourJudge's Throne? I have some perhaps ideas on this, but would appreciate further thoughts.
PS Is the meaning of Lazarus' name significant in the context of the story?
Look forward eagerly to Ruth part 2.
Keep well, everyone, Christine
|
Ray