Thoughts About Christmas Stories

We've all heard the song about the twelve gifts given by "my true love," in the days leading up to Christmas.  I love my wife and daughter...they are my true loves, and I can think of no better Christmas gift than to pass on to them a love for the Christmas stories, told in short, memorable segments, full of Biblical detail, integrity, and wonder.  Did I mention songs?  With three songs included in the Bible's stories of Christmas (Zacharias, Mary, and a host of angels), songs are definitely a big part of telling the Christmas stories.  The Christmas story as a whole is, I believe, best understood by learning to stand in awe of the Messiah who is the heart and soul of the stories (and there are well over a dozen) of which it is comprised.  This year, my goal is to learn to retell about a dozen Christmas stories leading up to Christmas, and one afterwards.  In learning to retell a story, the first step is to read the passage aloud in multiple versions or translations of the Bible, and then I do it again.  The goal is to learn all of the Biblical detail, without memorizing any translation verbatim, and to learn that Biblical detail with a wider vocabulary and grammatical flexibility.  For those of you who are bilingual, you'll want to include translations in other languages to the Bible translations that you read.  Here you'll get to read the ESV, NASB, KJV, NIV, GNT, ICB, THE CHILDREN'S NEW TESTAMENT (which has no acronym), and more.  I've never read from the ICB or THE CHILDREN'S NEW TESTAMENT before now, so it's kind of like an unboxing for me.  As I'm reading many different translations/versions, I may share observations about any contrasts I see.  For example, the first passage I've ever read in the ICB stands in contrast to most translations; Gabriel said that Zecharias would not be able to speak until the day these things happen, but the ICB has Gabriel merely state that Zecharias would lose his speech.  I am likely to replace the ICB with another version that I haven't read before, like maybe The Message.  Notice that my list of translations/versions starts with four that are generally regarded as being accurate, with varying qualities.  I'm not afraid to read a few versions that aren't regarded as being as true to the original source; where they differ, I trust versions like the ESV and NASB more, and Bibles like The Message and The Children's New Testament less.  Workers who were teaching English to college students in Cambodia introduced me to the GNT.  It has been one of my pocket-sized Bibles ever since, and the biggest difference that I can see is that it uses simpler English.  The time to read a new translation/version is while also reading multiple others that are known for accuracy, and are trusted by scholars.  With globalization and the spread of English, there are huge populations that speak English as a second (or third, etc.) language.  For these populations, I need to be learning God's Word in colloquial English that they can understand.  

Matthew 28:16-20 NKJV, ESV, NIV, NASB, GNT, KJV, CEV

Matthew 28:16-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [b]Amen.

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 28:19 M omits therefore
2. Matthew 28:20 NU omits Amen.

Matthew 28:16-20 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Great Commission

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 28:19 Or into

Matthew 28:16-20 New International Version (NIV)

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Great Commission

16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 [a]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always, even to the end of the age.”

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 28:19 Or Having gone; Gr aorist part.
2. Matthew 28:20 Lit all the days

Matthew 28:16-20 Good News Translation (GNT)

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

16 The eleven disciples went to the hill in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, even though some of them doubted. 18 Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20 King James Version (KJV)

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matthew 28:16-20 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

What Jesus' Followers Must Do

16 Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him. 17 They saw him and worshiped him, but some of them doubted.

18 Jesus came to them and said:

I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19 Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

Psalm 23:1-6 NKJV, ESV, NIV, NASB, GNT, KJV, CEV

Psalm 23 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Lord the Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not [a]want.
2 He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures;
He leads me beside the [c]still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will [d]dwell in the house of the Lord
[e]Forever.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 23:1 lack
2. Psalm 23:2 Lit. pastures of tender grass
3. Psalm 23:2 Lit. waters of rest
4. Psalm 23:6 So with LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT return
5. Psalm 23:6 Or To the end of my days, lit. For length of days

Psalm 23 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]
    for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c]
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
    forever.[g]

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
2. Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths
3. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
4. Psalm 23:6 Or Only
5. Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love
6. Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
7. Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days

Psalm 23 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of the shadow of death

Psalm 23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd,
I [a]shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside [b]quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the [c]paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the [d]valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no [e]evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You [f]have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 [g]Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will [h]dwell in the house of the Lord [i]forever.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 23:1 Or do
2. Psalm 23:2 Lit waters of rest
3. Psalm 23:3 Lit tracks
4. Psalm 23:4 Or valley of deep darkness
5. Psalm 23:4 Or harm
6. Psalm 23:5 Or anoint
7. Psalm 23:6 Or Only
8. Psalm 23:6 Another reading is return to
9. Psalm 23:6 Lit for length of days

Psalm 23 Good News Translation (GNT)

The Lord Our Shepherd[a]

23 The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have everything I need.
2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass
    and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water.
3 He gives me new strength.
He guides me in the right paths,
    as he has promised.
4 Even if I go through the deepest darkness,
    I will not be afraid, Lord,
    for you are with me.
Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.

5 You prepare a banquet for me,
    where all my enemies can see me;
you welcome me as an honored guest
    and fill my cup to the brim.
6 I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life;
    and your house will be my home as long as I live.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 23:1 HEBREW TITLE: A psalm by David.

Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

(A psalm by David.)

The Good Shepherd

23 You, Lord, are my shepherd.
    I will never be in need.
2     You let me rest in fields
    of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water,
3     and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,
    and you lead me
    along the right paths.
4 I may walk through valleys
as dark as death,
    but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
    and your shepherd’s rod[a]
    makes me feel safe.

5 You treat me to a feast,
    while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
    and you fill my cup
    until it overflows.
6 Your kindness and love
will always be with me
    each day of my life,
    and I will live forever
    in your house, Lord.

Footnotes:

1. 23.4 shepherd’s rod: The Hebrew text mentions two objects carried by the shepherd: a club to defend against wild animals and a long pole to guide and control the sheep.