Comments on: NLT and “In The Spirit” (Revelation 1:10)

By: Gary Zimmerli

Gary Zimmerli — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:31:54 +0000

Brent, Rev. 1:10 may be one of those verses I was talking about, where they don’t leave room for any other interpretations. While I love the NLT for its clarity in conveying the Word to those who don’t speak “Biblish”, there’s a lot to be said for translations which don’t add words for clarity and leave ambiguities alone.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:49:29 +0000

I like consistency. Revelation 4:2, 17:3, and 21:10 are all rendered as “in the Spirit”. There is no note as to why 1:10 is rendered differently. Maybe someone reading this can let us know how they came to that decision ;-)

By: Brent Kercheville

Brent Kercheville — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:49:03 +0000

Hey Gary,
I see your point, but I think you don’t mind the NLT because that is what you think Revelation 1:10 is saying. I would probably like it more if that was also my point of view. But since I see it as being placed into a vision by the power of the Holy Spirit, I think the NLT misses the mark. Thanks for your comments.

By: Gary Zimmerli

Gary Zimmerli — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:54:14 +0000

Brent, I share your concerns about the NLT. Sometimes I think they go with an interpretation that doesn’t allow for any other interpretation. But I honestly don’t think they’ve gone too far on this one. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day…” It sounds too ordinary, too typical for John the Apostle to be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, like it was something he normally did. My personal opinion agrees with the NLT people, that he is probably referring to his custom of worshiping in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. We really can’t tell anything from the Greek; what the interpreters say is just that – an interpretation.

So I’m not going to worry about the way the NLT does this one. I think it’s just fine.

IMHO.