Why the BeST Bible?

My name is Betty Sue Tracy, so my initials are BST or BeST. I am not saying there are no better commentaries/translations out there. I'm just putting my name on my work. :-)

This work began when my church was studying the Book of Daniel. I did a lot of research, finding some really neat historical information. I wrote up my findings with each accompanying chapter and sent to my pastor (who just happens to also be my Dad.) He was so excited at what I had found!

Later, I got to looking at the massive document that had turned into and realized it was close to the same size as my first two books, Homeschool: Why What How and Rubies, Silk, and Chocolate Covered Peanuts.
So I went through and added the chapters I had left out, did a bit of polishing, and it was a book!

Later, I was trying to organize what I had learned about the first part of Genesis in my own head, and remembered how writing out the verse by verse notes had helped me so much in Daniel. So I did the same with Genesis. 

After that, one thing led to another, and here we are :-)

I do intend to cover the whole Bible some day, but I am a homeschooling mom of 9, Worship Leader for our church, and all, so it's taking time.

The more I study the Bible the more convinced I am that God makes sure everyone who wants to can understand it.

What I have learned about King James English

I do believe the King James is the most accurate of the English translations, but it still has some flaws. And the language is outdated, interfering with our understanding of what it says. 

An updating is needed. 

Of course, others with more scholarly credentials have undertaken that job. The New King James is good, as is the Living Translation. These are currently my favorites.

I'm not fond of the NIV, but the truth is that The Truth comes through in the most important areas no matter what translation you use.

The English language has no gender-neutral pronouns. So when the words man, he, him, etc are used, they mean "Generic human being" unless the context specifically says otherwise. Only women get words devoted just to them.

Thou, Thee, and Thine are singular pronouns. You and Your are plural in the 16th Century English the King James Bible was translated into. This actually makes the message clearer than our habit of using "you" as both a singular and a plural. So I have left them. 

I have started with the King James and put each verse into my own words, checking the original meanings to many words in the Strong's Concordance. 

I do check other translations for ideas for wording when my own prose seems inadequate, but try to still arrange them in my own words, and I stay true to the original meanings.

Spelling and Grammar rules were not yet solidified when the KJV was translated, and uses English rules anyway. So most of my spelling differences are actually just using Modern American spelling, and adding in the right state of being verbs. I also switched out archaic words for modern equivalents.

I hope this site is a blessing to you. Please feel free to read any of it you want. Let me know if you have  any questions or concerns. You reach me through the comments or email me at MrsBettyTracy@gmail.com 

You have a blessed day!