Epilogue: Amen!
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. – John 13:34
Love is the greatest theme of the Bible. In fact, if you were to condense the content of the Bible to its bare minimum, you might only see the words ‘love of God, love of neighbor.’
The Bible clearly defines the love of God as ‘This is love for God: to obey his commands. – 1 John 5:3.’ Central to these commands is ‘love of neighbor,’ thus the guiding principle for life taught in the Bible becomes solely ‘love of neighbor.’ In the Old Testament, Deuteronomy teaches ‘love your neighbor as yourself. – Leviticus 19:18.’
Jesus once again urges his disciples to love one another, emphasizing this as a new commandment. Apostle Paul of Jesus asserts, ‘Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13,’ and defines love specifically as follows:
‘Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-5)
The type of love highlighted in the Bible isn’t limited to grand, holy sacrifices or laying down one’s life. In Deuteronomy, a book attributed to Moses, love for one’s neighbor is presented in a straightforward and accessible manner:
‘When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. – Deuteronomy 24:19)
The English Bible verses we have cited so far are primarily based on the New International Version (NIV) produced by the International Bible Society (IBS), with references to the World English Bible (WEB) and the King James Version (KJV). The Korean Bible quotes come from the Revised Version created by the Korean Bible Society.
The Old Testament was mostly written in Hebrew, with some parts in Aramaic, while the New Testament was written in Greek, with a few instances of Aramaic. The fact that the Bible has been translated into the languages of various countries suggests the immense challenge of producing a version that stays true to the original texts while fitting modern language use well. There are dozens of types of English Bibles, and debates over Bible translation continue today. For example, there’s debate over the TNIV (Today’s New International Version), known as the ‘Gender-neutral NIV.’ Supporters argue that the language in the Bible should not discriminate between genders. Opponents, however, warn against distorting the Bible’s original meaning to align with cultural shifts.
Determining the right and wrong in this matter is beyond our scope. It’s important to note that the Bible we are reading has been translated and revised multiple times, a phenomenon that arises because no language can perfectly convey the Word of God.
People read the English Bible for various reasons. One reason I read the Bible in English is that it allows me to grasp the meaning of the Word more accurately. No language can perfectly convey the author’s intent. Reading the Bible in two languages can reveal small but significant differences in meaning. Acknowledging the limitations of language, reading the Bible in more than one language could lead to better understanding or new insights.
Different verses resonate with us depending on the situation. By memorizing a few Bible verses and keeping them in mind while applying them to daily life, they gradually become a habit and eventually a source of strength. Although I started with the intention of organizing the rules of the English game and writing something helpful for reading the English Bible, I end this writing with gratitude for having come closer to the Word, even if just a little.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. – Revelation 22:21
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