REB Bible Translation: What 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Teaches
Short answer: The Revised English Bible (REB) is a modern translation of the Bible into contemporary English, published in 1989. It is not Scripture itself but a translation of Scripture; the authority belongs to the God-breathed writings, not to the version. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. A faithful translation like the REB aims to carry that God-breathed message accurately into modern English. The REB is useful for reading and study, but it should be checked against other translations and examined carefully, as the Bereans examined the Scriptures daily. It is not a replacement for the original texts or for careful, prayerful reading in community.
What the Revised English Bible actually is
The Revised English Bible is a translation of the Bible into modern English. It was produced by a committee of British scholars and published in 1989, growing out of the earlier New English Bible. Its goal was to present the Scriptures in clear, contemporary English while reflecting the best available scholarship of its time. It is not a paraphrase and not a study Bible with notes, but a translation. It includes the Apocrypha in some editions, which is a point of difference among Christian traditions.
Readers should understand that a translation is not the same thing as the inspired text. The God-breathed writings are the Scriptures in their original languages. Translations such as the REB, the King James Version, the New International Version, and many others are efforts to render those writings faithfully. They differ in style, in the manuscripts they use, and in how literally or freely they translate. None of them is perfect, and each must be evaluated by whether it conveys the meaning of the original.
Second Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is God-breathed. That applies to the writings themselves, not to any particular English rendering. A good translation serves the church by making those writings understandable. The REB has been used in British churches and by individual readers for decades. It is not as widely known as some other versions, which is a practical point to consider if you want a version that matches the pew Bible in your congregation.
The REB's approach to translation
The REB generally follows a meaning-based approach. That means the translators tried to convey the sense of the original text in natural English rather than reproducing the exact word order or grammar of the Hebrew and Greek. This can make it easier to read and understand, especially for those who are new to the Bible. It often reads smoothly and avoids the awkwardness that comes with overly literal translations.
However, a meaning-based approach also means the translators made interpretive decisions. Every translation does this, but the more freely a text is rendered, the more the translator's understanding shapes the result. This is not a reason to reject the REB; it is a reason to read it alongside other translations. Comparing the REB with a more literal version such as the New American Standard Bible or the English Standard Version can help you see where interpretive choices were made.
The REB is known for its literary quality and readability. It is often recommended for public reading and for personal devotion. But for detailed word studies or for checking the precise wording of a verse, a more literal translation or the original languages are better tools. The REB can be part of a healthy study diet, but it should not be the only version you use.
How Scripture describes its own authority
Second Timothy 3:16 describes Scripture as God-breathed. That means it originates from God himself. It is not merely human words about God, but God's words through human authors. The verse goes on to say it is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. These are the purposes for which God gave his word. Any translation that helps readers understand that word is serving this purpose.
The authority, then, rests in the message God gave, not in the version. If a translation distorts the meaning, it fails at this point. If it faithfully conveys the meaning, it is useful. The REB should be evaluated on this basis. Does it help you understand what God has said? Does it lead you to repentance, correction, and training in righteousness? Those are the tests that matter.
Psalm 119:105 says, Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path. The word of God guides. A translation is a tool that brings that guidance into a language you can understand. But the tool is not the light. The light is the word itself. We should be thankful for good translations while never confusing the translation with the thing it translates.
Reading the REB with a Berean mindset
Acts 17:11 describes the Bereans as more noble than the Thessalonians because they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. They did not simply accept what they heard; they checked it against the Scriptures. This is the right posture for anyone reading any translation. We should eagerly receive the word, but we should also examine it carefully.
Practically, that means when you read the REB, you should compare it with other translations when a verse is difficult or when a rendering seems unusual. You should look at the context of the passage and consider the whole of Scripture. You should be part of a local church where the Scriptures are taught and where you can ask questions. The Bereans did not examine the Scriptures in isolation; they did so daily, likely in community.
The REB, like any translation, has strengths and weaknesses. It can be a helpful tool for reading and study. But it should not be treated as the final authority. Only the God-breathed word is that. A Berean mindset protects us from both gullibility and cynicism. We receive with readiness, and we examine carefully.
Distinctive features of the REB
The REB uses inclusive language in some places. For example, it may render masculine terms in ways that are meant to include both men and women. This is a point of contention among Christians. Some appreciate the attempt to communicate clearly to modern readers; others believe it obscures important theological distinctions or changes the meaning of the text. Readers should be aware of this and evaluate it against their own convictions and the original languages.
The REB also reflects certain textual choices. Like many modern translations, it uses manuscripts that are older than those available to the translators of the King James Version. This sometimes results in shorter readings or different wording in places. These differences are usually minor and do not affect major doctrine, but they are real. A person who wants to understand these issues should study them; it is not enough to assume that one translation is simply right and another wrong.
Another feature is the REB's treatment of the divine name. In the Old Testament, where the Hebrew text has the personal name of God, the REB sometimes uses Lord and sometimes uses other renderings. Different translations handle this differently. Again, this is a matter for careful study, not for quick judgments. The goal is to understand what the text says and to be shaped by it.
Using the REB for teaching and correction
Second Timothy 3:16 says Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. If you teach from the REB, you should ensure that your teaching is faithful to the original meaning. That means doing the work of checking the text, not just reading a smooth English sentence. A translation that reads well can still be misleading if its interpretive choices are off. Teachers have a greater responsibility because they influence others.
For reproof and correction, the REB can be useful, but it must be handled carefully. Correction should come from the text, not from the translator's preferences. If you are correcting someone, make sure the correction is based on the clear teaching of Scripture, not on a particular rendering that may be disputed. This is true with any translation. The goal is not to win an argument but to help people understand and obey God's word.
For instruction in righteousness, the REB can serve well. Its readable style may make it easier for new believers to understand ethical teachings and commands. But again, the standard is the original text. A paraphrase or a dynamic translation may capture the sense, but it may also miss nuances. Use the REB as one tool among others, and always submit your reading to the wider church and to the original languages where possible.
Why translation differences are not a crisis
Some Christians worry that having many translations undermines confidence in the Bible. But the existence of translations is a good thing. It means people can read God's word in their own language. Nehemiah 8:8 describes Ezra and the Levites reading from the book of the law distinctly and giving the sense so that the people understood. Translation and explanation have always been part of how God's people receive his word.
Differences between translations are usually minor. They rarely affect the core message of the gospel: that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day. When differences are significant, they usually involve texts that are not central to the faith. This should not make us complacent, but it should keep us from panic. We can trust that God has preserved his word and that faithful translations help us understand it.
Of course, we must avoid translations that deliberately distort the text to fit a theological agenda. Revelation 22:18-19 warns against adding to or taking away from the words of the prophecy. That warning is about the book of Revelation specifically, but the principle applies more broadly: we must not tamper with God's word. A translation that is faithful and honest is a blessing. One that is not should be rejected.
Practical guidance for choosing a translation
If you are considering the REB, use it alongside at least one more literal translation. Read the same passage in both and note the differences. This will help you see where the REB is interpreting and where it is simply translating. It will also help you avoid being overly dependent on one version. A good practice is to read a passage in a formal-equivalence translation for study and a dynamic-equivalence translation for devotional reading.
Consider your context. If your church uses a particular translation, you may want to use that one for corporate reading and memorization. But you can still use the REB for personal study. The goal is not uniformity but understanding. The word of God is living and active, and it can speak through faithful translations in many styles.
Finally, remember that no translation is inspired in the way the original writings are. Second Timothy 3:16 applies to the Scriptures, not to any English version. We should be grateful for the REB and other translations, but our confidence must rest in the God who breathed out his word and who preserves it for his people.
Biblical fidelity check
The passage in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 establishes that the Scriptures are God-breathed and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. It does not say that any particular translation is God-breathed. It does not say that the church should use only one English version. It does not say that translations are unnecessary or that reading the original languages is required for every believer. The passage is about the God-given nature and purpose of Scripture.
A common misreading is to treat the statement every Scripture is God-breathed as if it applied to the preacher's words, the church's traditions, or even a favored translation. That is wrong because the verse speaks of the writings themselves, the God-breathed texts given through the prophets and apostles. Another misreading is to think that because Scripture is God-breathed, any translation will do. But the purpose is teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. A translation that obscures or distorts those things is failing at the very purpose for which Scripture is given.
Other passages that speak to 2 Timothy 3:16
Several other passages help us think about Scripture and its transmission. The Bereans in Acts 17:11 examined the Scriptures daily to see whether what they heard was so. Psalm 119:105 describes God's word as a lamp and a light. Isaiah 40:8 declares that the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Nehemiah 8:8 shows the importance of reading distinctly and giving the sense so that people understand. These passages underscore that God's word is authoritative, enduring, and meant to be understood. For more on related themes, see 1 Timothy 1: Grace, Mercy, and Sound Doctrine, 1 Timothy 3: Overseers and Servants in God's House, 1 Timothy 4: Guarding Faith and Godliness, and Honoring Widows and Elders in 1 Timothy 5.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Revised English Bible a good translation for study?
The REB can be a good translation for reading and devotional study because it is clear and readable. However, for detailed study, it is wise to compare it with a more literal translation. Its meaning-based approach means the translators made interpretive choices that are not always obvious. Reading it alongside the ESV, NASB, or KJV will help you see where those choices occur. It is best used as one tool among several, not as your only translation.
Does the REB change the meaning of Scripture?
No translation is perfect, and any translation that aims for natural English will at times smooth over details. The REB does not set out to change the meaning, but its inclusive language and dynamic style mean that some nuances may be lost or adjusted. Faithful Christians differ on how significant these adjustments are. Readers should compare it with the original languages or with more literal translations when a passage is important for doctrine or practice.
Can I use the REB for memorizing and teaching?
You can, but you should be aware of its interpretive choices. For memorization, you may want a version that is more literal if precision matters to you. For teaching, always check the text against other translations and the original languages where possible. The authority is in the God-breathed word, not in the translation. Using the REB is fine as long as you handle it carefully and do not treat it as the final word.
