IDEA: The proper translation of a passage depends on several variables.

TEXT: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

PURPOSE: To help listeners understand why translations differ from one another.

When you study the Bible, does it help you to look at different translations? Why? Can it be confusing?

I. The opening sentence of Hebrews 11 has been translated in different ways.

The NKJV states, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

The NLT states, "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see."

The NIV states, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see."

How do these translations differ from one another?

II. Translators at times differ about the translation of a particular word or sentence. Why might that happen?

Sometimes the Hebrew or Greek word has a range of meanings that can lead to different translations.

For example, in English what does the word convict mean?

a. prisoner

b. the work of the Holy Spirit

c. the verdict passed against someone accused of a crime

That range of meanings is true in any language—English, Greek, Hebrew.

The translators may disagree about which word in a particular passage makes the best sense. How might they make that decision?

Sometimes the same phrase in the original language has different meanings.

For example, "The love of Christ compels me." What can that mean? Could what the translators decide make any difference in understanding a passage?

Here in Hebrews 11:1 the translations differ because the words being translated can have different meanings.