It’s All In The Wording!

One verse, two versions and two different meanings. Is one right and the other wrong?

Here is a great lesson and two fascinating messages when we take Philippians 4:6 and compare the 1599 Geneva Bible version (GNV) with the 1611 Kings James version (KJV)

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (KJV)

“Be nothing careful, but in all things let your requests be showed unto God in prayer and supplication with giving of thanks.” (GNV)

We are going to focus on the terms, “Be careful for nothing” and “Be nothing careful”. The word “careful” in both versions means anxious, troubled with cares, full of anxiety. It comes from the Greek root word, “merizo” meaning to divide, separate or cut into parts and pieces.

In the King James Version of “Be careful for nothing”, it means don’t let anything have a negative affect on you. In other words, you are fine, except when you are involved with a particular person, place or thing. Then you experience the worry and unease of anxiousness and anxiety.

The 1599 Geneva Bible Version of “Be nothing careful” means don’t BE anxious. It isn’t that you are experiencing anxiety or that it is within you. It is the fact that you have become it. You are that negative, destructive emotion.

There is a big difference between experiencing anxiousness and anxiety and becoming it, or, allowing a particular thing to affect you negatively as opposed to being in that state of that negative condition constantly.

The KJV addresses how you are in regards to something particular. The GNV addresses who you are and how you are with everything.

So which version should we adhere to, the 1599 Geneva Bible or the 1611 King James Bible? I suggest both, and then some! Often times, different versions of the Bible will shed different light on the same subject. It’s not that one version is incomplete or that another version is adding something that isn’t there. Sometimes a word, a phrase, a verse or a passage from the Bible is pretty deep or complex. Breaking things down into its simplest form, which is generally what a Bible translator does, can sometimes be a challenge.

Bible translations are the result of the hard work put forth by many Bible scholars, expositors, theologians and Pastors. In my opinion, the further back in time we go the more strict attention to literal, actual and factual translation is given. Maybe it’s because the truth will stand the test of time whereas unsubstantiated works of popularity, fad and convenience tend to fade.

It is always best to revert back to the language scripture was originally written in to better understand what the intended message is. But be careful, using a Lexicon or Concordance strictly as a Dictionary can be misleading, for in so doing will give no clarity as to context, expressions, idioms, and the like.

For example, in the 1950’s the expression “Cool Cat Daddy-O” was popular. If you went strictly by the dictionary to try to figure out what it meant, you would determine that it was a reference to a sub-temperature male feline, which of course, it isn’t. 

We have all heard that we need to study our Bibles. Unfortunately a lot of folks think that means to simply read and re-read it, gaining nothing more out of scripture other than a better memory of it through repetition.

Folks also tend to stick with a version of the Bible that is easiest for them to read. This path of least resistance does not grow you, it slows you.

I encourage all to get to the root of the language whenever possible. Read different versions of scripture. Examine the language through Lexicons, Concordances and commentaries. Read the great expositors like Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon, Albert Barnes, John Wesley, John Calvin and Adam Clarke.

Take a hermeneutical approach to studying the Bible, which is a science and a method for proper interpretation.

But always remember. The Bible is the best source for biblical interpretation. It is the ultimate truth.

Studying and understanding the Bible is more than just a good thing. It is our responsibility.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Bill Hitchcock