For regular readers of Interruptions (yes, they do exist), you might notice verses of the Bible I list as “OGV” after the verse.
For example, in Interruptions #594, you can read 2 Peter 1:4:
God has given us promises through which we can have fellowship with Him and experience all that He desires for us. And escape the decay that comes from deceptive strong desires (OGV).
Many (at least three people) have asked for an explanation of OGV. They say, “I’ve looked in various translations and I can’t find this version.” Are they right? Let’s look at different translations.
Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust (NASB1995).
HHHHMMMHHHM… not the same as OGV.
By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire (ESV).
Again, not the same.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (KJV).
Whereby unto us and still not the same!
Let’s have the reveal: NASB1995 is the New American Standard Version 1995 edition; ESV is the English Standard Version; KJV is the King James Version; and finally, OGV is the Old Guy Version. Okay, who is the nut naming a version of the Bible the Old Guy Version?
That would be me, Pastor Grant.
Having a personal translation has been done before. Many of us remember the bestselling Living Bible published in the early 1970s. It was a paraphrase (current language) and not literal (Greek to English as closely as possible) and was created by Kenneth Taylor. Taylor explained that he created this translation because the KJV wasn’t understood by his children.
Let’s see what the Living Bible has to say about 2 Peter 1:4:
And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised; for instance, the promise to save us from the lust and rottenness all around us, and to give us his own character (TLB – The Living Bible).
Eugene Peterson also published The Message. The Introduction to The Message describes the version as a “contemporary idiom that keeps the language of the Message [Bible] current and fresh and understandable.”
I think the only non-understandable part of The Message is the Introduction as nobody knows the meaning of idiom today. Let’s read 2 Peter 1:4:
We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you – your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust (MSG).
The question “Why does Pastor Grant write his own version?” – should be turned upside down to, “Why can’t Pastor Grant write his own version?”
When I quote a passage of scripture in Interruptions, I examine the Greek, which is the starting point for all translations. I’m looking for a word nuance that has been lost by other translations. When I studied Greek in seminary, my professor once said, “The Greek language has images while the English is more linear.”
Greek words are often artistic with sentences proceeding from image to image, while English words are literal with sentences as linked chains of thought. Like going to a museum and looking at several paintings by Van Gogh and then reading a book describing the paintings (OGV translation of my professor).
Remarkably, the scholars do very well in translating the Bible. You have just read six versions (translations) of 2 Peter 1:4 and though different, they all say the same thing.
I use OGV when an image word in the Greek can be translated in a way as to be helpful to those reading Interruptions. I translated “partaking in the divine nature” in NASB1995, ESV, and KJV as:
“… fellowship with Him and experience all that He desires for us” (OGV).
The Greek word translated partaking can also be translated as fellowship. I wanted to bring the relational image of fellowship into our walking with God in His promises.
I do this work of writing and translating for you – free of charge. You could say that you get what you pay for.