“To Bible readers who value biblical truth, the MEV literally translates God’s Word in a way that preserves the message but remains readable for today’s world.”
The Modern English Version (MEV) Bible, said to be the first update of the New King James Version (NKJV) Bible after 32 years, was launched by Christian publisher Charisma House in September 2014.
What the MEV brings to the table is a loyalty to the spirit, the beauty and the poetry of the King James tradition in updated language for modern readers. Also, some of the archaic idioms were updated for modern understanding.
The MEV translates the Textus Receptus (a printed Greek New Testament that was the textual base for vernacular translations during the Reformation period) and an edition of the Masoretic Text (the Hebrew text used for Old Testament translations).
An inter-denominational translation committee made up of 47 American and English chaplains and scholars began work in June 2005, and eventually completed it in May 2014.
They represented institutions such as the Fuller Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Originally meant to provide an update by military chaplains for the troops to understand the King James Version better, the target audience grew from the military to the entire English-speaking world.
“The MEV seeks to bring the scholarship and beauty of the King James together such that it passes the King James forward and brings in modern English without losing any of the beauty of the translation,” said Dr N. Blake Hearson, Editor-in-Chief, Old Testament, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
“To Bible readers who value biblical truth, the MEV literally translates God’s Word in a way that preserves the message but remains readable for today’s world,” said Tessie DeVore, Executive Vice President of Charisma House.
The MEV Bible is available for purchase from Cru Media, and comes in hard cover ($28.78) and imitation leather-bounded ($43.34) versions. Methodist Message readers can get a 30 per cent discount by presenting the below voucher at the point of purchase.
Sources:
• YouTube, (2014). The Modern English Version. [online] Available at: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-kxIdGivkY [Accessed 5 Nov. 2014].
• The Holy Bible, Modern English Version, (2014). p.Preface to the Reader.
• Tiansay, E. (2013). Charisma House Announces ‘Most Modern Version’ of KJV. [online] Charisma News. Available at: http://www.charismanews. com/us/38080-charisma-house-announces-most-modern-version-of-kjv [Accessed 5 Nov. 2014].
• Solagroup.org, (2014). What is the Textus Receptus? – Dr. Herbert Samworth.
[online] Available at: http://www.solagroup.org/articles/faqs/faq_0032.html [Accessed 5 Nov. 2014].
Chia Hui Jun is Editorial Executive of Methodist Message and worships at Foochow Methodist Church.