Scriptures Plain & Simple (Luke 4:16-30)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 4:16-30:

Jesus — now a grown man — returned one day
to his hometown of Nazareth,
       where he attended synagogue on a Sabbath.
He was handed a Bible and instructed to read from Isaiah:

       The Spirit of the Lord has descended upon me
       and has chosen me to proclaim great news for the poor,
              to set prisoners free, to heal blindness and suffering,
              and to announce this is the Lord’s chosen time.
Jesus closed the Bible and handed it to the leader,
then sat down, and with everyone staring at him, said,
       “These words have all come true today.”

Though completely amazed at the teaching of Jesus,
the entire congregation was puzzled and questioned,
       “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”

So Jesus responded:

       “You think I’m really the one in need of help,
       and you challenge me to work in my own hometown
              the same miracles you heard I worked in Capernaum.
       Need I remind you — prophets are rejected at home!

       “During the time of Elijah the prophet,
       there was a drought for three years,
              and people were starving everywhere.
       But God sent Elijah to help only a foreign widow.

       “During the time of Elisha the prophet,
       many men in our nation suffered from leprosy,
              but God healed only Naaman, who lived in Syria.”

At this, everyone in the synagogue became furious.
They threw Jesus out of their town,
       dragged him to the edge of a cliff,
       and started to throw him down from there.
But Jesus slipped through the crowd and disappeared.

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Matthew 7:21-23)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Matthew 7:21-23:

Watch out for false prophets!
They’re sheep-skinned wolves waiting to attack.
       But you can recognize them by their deeds.

Grapes and figs don’t grow on thorn bushes, good trees don’t produce bad fruit,
       nor bad trees good fruit.
Trees covered with bad fruit
       will be chopped down and burned.

Not everyone who swears that I’m the Gatekeeper
       will enter into the Kingdom of God.
Only those who obey my Father above
       will be allowed to enter the Ultimate Kingdom.

Although some liars may claim to have worked miracles
       or forced out demons in my name,
I’ll have nothing to do with those evil people —
       Instead, they’ll be sent far away.

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Luke 22:1-6)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 22:1-6:

Passover was near, and the religious authorities
were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus,
       but they were afraid of what the people might do.

About this time, Satan influenced Judas
to approach the religious authorities
       with an offer to betray Jesus.
They were very glad and agreed
       to pay Judas some money.
Right away he began looking
for a chance to betray Jesus
       when the crowds were not around, of course.

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Mark 1:29-39)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Mark 1:29-39:

At the conclusion of the synagogue service,
Jesus left with James and John
       for the home of the brothers Peter and Andrew.
When Jesus arrived, he learned
       Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever.

As soon as Jesus helped her up by her hand, the fever left,
       and she prepared a meal for her guests.

That evening after sunset,
everyone sick or demon-possessed was brought to Jesus,
       until the front door was swamped with people.

Jesus healed all kinds of horrible diseases
and forced out many demons —
       they recognized him, but he refused to let them speak.

Very early the next morning, Jesus slipped away
       to a place where he could be alone.
But Peter and the others kept looking
until at last they found him and said,
       “Everyone’s looking for you!”

“Let’s go to the nearby towns,” replied Jesus.
       “That’s why I’ve come.”

So they traveled to every synagogue in Galilee,
       with Jesus teaching and forcing out demons.

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Matthew 5:43-48)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Matthew 5:43-48:

From ancient times, it’s been said: “Love friends. Hate enemies!”

But I tell you to love your enemies
       and pray for everyone who mistreats you.
That’s how to behave like children of your Father above,
       who provides rain and sunshine for everyone, good or evil.

Do you love only those who love you?
       Are you good only to your friends?
So what? Even the worst of people are good to their friends.

I tell you to always behave like children of your Father above!

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Luke 7:1-10)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Luke 7:1-10:

Jesus was back in Capernaum,
where a Roman army officer’s favorite servant
       was at the point of death.
So when the officer heard Jesus was in town,
he sent some Jewish leaders with a request
       for Jesus to come and heal his servant.

The leaders went to Jesus and begged him to help —
       “This man is truly deserving,” they stated.
“He loves our nation and even built us a synagogue.”
       So Jesus went with them.

As Jesus approached the officer’s house,
       the officer sent some friends with a message:
       “Sir, please don’t trouble yourself on my account!
       I’m not worthy for you to stand under my roof,
              and I’m certainly not worthy to look you in the face.

       “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
       I myself am under orders,
              and I have men under my command.
       If I say ‘Jump!’ they jump;
              if I say ‘Sit down!’ they sit down.”

When Jesus heard this, he was so surprised
that he said to the crowd following him,
       “I’ve never seen such faith!”

The officer’s friends returned and found the servant well.

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Matthew 7:24-29)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Matthew 7:24-29:

If you obey my teachings, you’re wise —
       you’ve built your house on solid rock.
Neither drenching rains, nor floods, nor hurricanes
       can shake that house from its solid foundation.

If you disobey my teachings, you’re foolish —
       you’ve built your house on shifting sands.
Drenching rains, floods, or hurricanes can shake that house,
       and it will collapse with a loud crash.

Jesus surprised everyone by teaching with such authority
as they had never witnessed before —
       not even from the most renowned biblical scholars!

Scriptures Plain & Simple (Mark 1:40-45)

Barclay Newman, a translator on the teams for both the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version, translated passages of the New Testament into English and published them in 2014, “in a publication brief enough to be non-threatening, yet long enough to be taken seriously, and interesting enough to appeal to believers and un-believers alike.” The following is the translation of Mark 1:40-45:

A man with leprosy came and knelt down to Jesus,
begging, “Your power can make me well,
       if only you are willing.”

Jesus felt sorrow for the man.
So he placed his hand on him and said,
       “I’m willing—now you are well.”
At once the leprosy disappeared!

Jesus sent the man away with a warning,
“Don’t tell anyone except those you must
       to be pronounced free of leprosy.
Then do what the Bible teaches
by offering a gift at the temple,
       so everyone else will know you’re well.”

But the man instead told everyone he met —
so many that Jesus had to stay away from the towns.
       But crowds still flocked to him in the desert.