In 1971, Kenneth Taylor produced The Living Bible in an effort to help his kids understand Scripture in everyday language. I'm so glad he did! I read the Living Bible every day, along with a billion other Bible translations. I enjoy TLB for its:
- conversational tone.
- easy-to-understand English.
- fresh perspective on overly familiar passages.
- ability to supplement all the other translations I read.
Of course, the Living Bible is merely one man's paraphrase, one man's interpretation. It doesn't always reflect the original Hebrew and Greek precisely. It's always wise to compare paraphrases against translations grounded in direct engagement with the biblical languages. That said, here are a couple of absolutely unforgettable renderings from Rom. 12 that I stumbled upon today.
In 12:1, Paul urges us to give our bodies to God. And why? "When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?" (the Living Bible).
And in 12:9, Paul tells us that our love should be sincere. "Don't just pretend to love others," writes the Living Bible. "Really love them."
So thankful for Ken Taylor!