Old Habits, Old Translations

Old Habits, Old Translations


Old habits die hard for me. Except for those eight-track tape players from the 60s and 70s. I was glad when they finally faded into obscurity. Today I bit the bullet and walked into Lifeway Christian Book Store to purchase a new Bible that will replace my forty-three-year-old Scofield King James version. I have other Bibles of different translations, but my Scofield has become like an old friend to me. It’s been there through a lot enlightening and trying times.

After much consideration I decide to get the latest translation of the English Standard Version Gospel Transformation Study Guide. It was a big deal for me. Change is not my forte. I couldn’t find one with black leather. Dark brown was as close as I could find. - Another bigger change than I had anticipated. – And there was no red-letter edition, either. Gee. I wonder if I’ll be able to handle this change, too. Like I said before, old habits die hard for me.

I found a packet of book marker tabs to make the transition easier for me to find my way through this strange new journey I’ve begun and made my way to the checkout. There, I found a young lady behind waiting. I placed my purchase on the counter and dryly quipped, “Is this a ‘Good Book’?” She looked at me with one of those looks only a person from a younger generation could give an old man. She hesitated a moment, not catching my intended humor, and replied, “Yes, Sir! Its’s a very good book.” She went on to explain that it was the most recent translation from biblical experts who had researched the original scrolls and languages of the day. She explained that it was her translation of preference and a lot of pastors were switching to The English Standard Version.

That was nice to hear. And I did appreciate her taking her job seriously. However, I was a tad bit disappointed that my “Good Book” humor flew right over her head.

When I made it home, I plopped down in my chair and began the task of peeling those sticky little tabs from the sheet they were attached to and started placing them at the beginning of each book. My wife walked in while I was fiddling with them in the Old Testament and asked what I was doing. I explained that I had finally broken down and bought a new Bible and was in the middle of putting new tabs in it.

I said that it was the latest and best translation of the Bible and it even had a new book they had added called Zephaniah. I purposely mispronounced it with a bit of Southern drawl. She was impressed until I finished with the tabs and handed it over for her to inspect. She quickly looked at the table of contents and realized I had tried to pull one over on her. She had once been a Bible drill teacher at our church and can easily rattle off all the books of the Bible without blinking.

Once again today, my humor failed me and took flight. Like I said, old habits die hard. Except for eight-track tape players. I still think that was a good thing.

_______________
Rick Algood
April 30, 2019

Archive


Return to eAlgood.com