QUESTION: Aren't modern English translations easier to understand?

ANSWER: No. Some may seem easier to read, but none are easier to 
understand.

EXPLANATION: One of the primary advertising gimmicks used to sell 
modern English translations is that they will be easier to understand 
for the potential customers. The customer, having been assured that 
he/she cannot possibly understand the "old archaic" King James, 
gratefully purchases the modern English Bible and unknowingly condemns 
himself to a life of biblical ignorance. Modern English translations 
may be easier to read but they are not easier to understand.

Let's look at the equation in simple terms. If the "archaic" language 
and the "thee's" and "thou's" of the King James Bible really do hamper 
the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit in communicating His message to 
the Christian, then several things should be true of one or all of the 
raft of modern English translations on the Bible market today.

1. If modern English translations, such as the New American Standard 
Version, New Intemational Version, New King James Version, and Today's 
English Version, were easier to understand, then the Holy Spirit's 
message to the Christian would flow freer and accomplish greater 
spiritual victories in the lives of God's people on an individual 
basis. Yet it is sadly evident that this is not happening.

In fact it is only too evident to any objective observer that today's 
Christians are more worldly and less dedicated to Jesus Christ than 
their nineteenth or even early twentieth century counterparts who were 
raised on and read the King James Bible. Surely a Bible that was 
"easier to understand" would have dramatically increased successes in 
battling sin, worldliness and carnality, but this JUST HAS NOT 
HAPPENED.

2. Secondly, if the modern English translations were really easier to 
understand then I believe God would show a little more gratitude for 
them by using at least one to spark a major revival in this nation.

It is elementary to see that if the "old archaic" King James Bible has 
been hampering the desired work of the Holy Spirit, then God should be 
eager to bless the use of any translation that would be easier for his 
people to understand.

Again, it is all too obvious that no mass spiritual awakening of any 
kind has been initiated by any one of today's modern translations. 
Today's modern translations haven't been able to spark a revival in a 
Christian school, let alone be expected to close a bar.

In fact, since the arrival of our modern English translations, 
beginning with the ASV of 1901, America has seen:

1. God and prayer kicked out of our public school

2. Abortion on demand legalized

3. Homosexuality accepted nationally as an "altemate life style"

4. In home pornography via TV and VCR

5. Child kidnapping and pornography running rampant

6. Dope has become an epidemic

7. Satanism is on the rise

If this is considered a "revival" then let's turn back to the King 
James to STOP it.

In fact, the ONLY scale used to claim success for a new translation is 
how well it sells. This depraved Madison Avenue sales system should 
set alarms ringing in the Christian. Instead, deluded by television, 
they dutifully nod and remark that, "It must be good; everbody's 
buying one."

Is there any "good" coming from modern translations? Surely. The 
publishing companies are making millions.

Today American Christians ue spiritually anemic. They turn instead to 
their favorite "Bible psychologist" for help rather than Scripture. 
America as a whole is as morally decayed as Sodom and Gomorrah 
(Ezekiel 16:49).

Where is the spiritual help and hope that an "easier to understand" 
translation should bring?

Instead, perhaps we are in this desperate condition because of those 
very translations.

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