Keep On Keeping On
It’s interesting to read different translations of the Bible. Reading different translations can help you gain different perspectives or insights in to a verse. However, you have to be careful there are translations that are inaccurate. To really get an accurate translation and deeper insight in to the Word it is always better to go back to the Greek or Hebrew and do a word study. Some translations are accurate, but they may only get across a concept or basic meaning. Other translations may pull out more of the correct tense and definition of the words. For example, take a look at the verse we looked at yesterday, Matthew 7: 7-8.
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (NIV 2011)
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (New King James)
7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (NIV 1984)
7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
All four versions are basically ok, but two, NIV 2011 and New King James, give us the concept and two, NIV 1984 and Holman, give us the original intended tense. The original Greek wording and tense deepens the instruction being taught in this verse. We aren’t just to ask, we are to keep asking. We aren’t just to seek/search, we are to keep seeking/searching. We aren’t just to knock once, we are to keep knocking. As the old saying goes, we are to “Keep on keeping on”. Be persistent. Be like the persistent widow in the parable in Luke 18: 1-8.
