The Recovery Version of the Bible is a unique translation and study Bible published by Living Stream Ministry. It contains numerous study aids designed to aid believers in their growth in the divine life and their understanding of the truths in God’s Word. Some key features of the Recovery Version include:
Translation Based on the Original Languages
The Recovery Version was translated directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. The translators sought to convey the original meaning of the text rather than utilizing dynamic equivalence translation principles. The result is a very literal translation that stays faithful to the original languages (2 Tim. 3:16).
Footnotes and Cross-References
Over 15,000 footnotes have been included throughout the Old and New Testaments to provide enlightening explanations, alternate translations, relevant cross-references, and other study aids. These footnotes help unveil the rich meanings in God’s Word and guide readers into the divine revelation (Matt. 4:4).
Definitions and Explanations of Key Terms
Key terms used in the Bible, such as spirit, soul, flesh, light, life, etc. have been defined and explained consistently throughout, based on their usage context in each verse. This aids readers in understanding crucial revelations that are unlocked by an accurate understanding of key terms used in the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15).
Book and Chapter Introductions
Introductions have been included for each book and for each chapter within each book that provide an overview of the content, background information, theme, and structure. This provides a helpful orientation for readers before they dive into the text.
Subject and Topic Indexes
A number of indexes have been added to assist in topical studies, research, and finding truths on various subjects. These indexes include an index of Bible topics that provides references where verses relate to specific topics, and a thorough index of commonly used words in their various forms and usages.
Recovery Version Only Contains the Bible Text
Unlike typical study Bibles, there are no articles or explanatory materials included in the text of the Recovery Version. It contains only the inspired Word of God, with footnotes that solely contain cross references, alternate renderings, explanations, and enlightening insights. This keeps the focus on God’s Word alone (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Translation and Footnotes Guided by Revelation from God’s Ministry
The translation of the Recovery Version and the numerous footnotes did not come out of scholarship but were guided by revelation given in the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. The truths unveiled in this ministry, focused on God’s economy and His desire to dispense Himself into man, unlock the divine revelation in God’s Word (Eph. 3:3-5).
Conveys the Divine Revelation, Not Mere Doctrines
The Recovery Version focuses on conveying the divine revelation in God’s Word, including His eternal economy and His heart’s desire, rather than on doctrines and teachings alone. The translation and footnotes open up the intrinsic revelations embedded in the pure Word of God (John 1:14, 18).
Aids for Pray-reading, Praying, and Ministry
Features like subject headings, paragraph marks showing context, boldface verses, and italics have been incorporated to aid readers in pray-reading and studying God’s Word. Outlines are provided for many books that can aid in preaching and ministry.
Produced by LSM According to the Ministry
The Recovery Version was translated and published by Living Stream Ministry according to the vision imparted through the New Testament ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. It is not an individual work but the product of the study of numerous Bible teachers and scholars raised up in the Lord’s ministry.
Old Testament Recovery Version
Currently only the New Testament Recovery Version is fully published, along with several books of the Old Testament. Work on the translation of the remainder of the Old Testament is still in progress. Footnotes have been completed for the entire Bible.
Additional Study Aids Produced by LSM
In addition to the Recovery Version itself, Living Stream Ministry has produced a wealth of accompanying study aids, including the Life-study of the Bible with Witness Lee, the New Testament Recovery Version with footnotes, the Old Testament Recovery Version with footnotes, topical teachings and expositions, and much more.
Trusted by Christians who Love the Lord and His Word
For over 40 years, the Recovery Version has been a trusted, treasured study Bible used by countless Christians who love the Lord and desire to dive into the depths of His living Word. Its translation and notes open up the divine revelation for believers to enjoy, experience, and minister to others.
The Advantages of the Recovery Version
Here are some key advantages and benefits of the Recovery Version for believers:
- Conveys the original meaning of God’s Word based on the original languages
- Contains over 15,000 footnotes that unlock the divine revelation
- Utilizes enlightening definitions for key terms according to their biblical usage
- Provides introductions for books and chapters for better understanding
- Indexes supply ease of research into various topics and subjects
- Focuses solely on the Bible text without additional articles or materials
- Guided by revelation in the ministry for an intrinsic view
- Aids in pray-reading, prayer, preaching, teaching, and ministry
- Produced by LSM according to the New Testament ministry
- Trusted by believers who cherish God’s living Word
The Recovery Version is an invaluable aid to believers who want to dive into the depths of God’s Word and unlock the divine revelations within. It supplies critical resources for growth in life and ministry. The translation and notes open up the intrinsic divine revelations in the pure Word of God.
The Vision for the Recovery Version
The vision for the Recovery Version originated from the burden of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee to provide believers with a study Bible based on the truth unveiled in God’s Word, not derived from human scholarship or traditional doctrines. Some key aspects of the vision behind the Recovery Version include:
- To convey the complete divine revelation in the holy Word of God
- To introduce believers into the divine economy of God’s eternal purpose
- To unlock the intrinsic meaning of the original languages through footnotes
- To open up subjective spiritual experience and enjoyment of Christ
- To crystallize truths and revelations found in God’s Word
- To impart understanding of God’s New Testament economy
- To foster growth and maturity in the divine life within God’s chosen people
- To equip believers for service in preaching, teaching, and ministry
This vision was imparted by the Lord through His faithful ministries, and it guides the translation work for the Recovery Version that is still continuing today.
The Need the Recovery Version Seeks to Meet
The Recovery Version seeks to meet some crucial needs among believers seeking to dive into God’s living Word:
- The need for a translation based on the original language texts
- The need for footnotes to explain and unlock key truths
- The need for spiritual enlightenment versus mere doctrines
- The need for study aids to open up subjective experience
- The need for understanding key terms according to biblical context
- The need for fellowship on divine revelation versus mere objective analysis
By providing an insightful translation and abundant footnotes and by focusing on the divine revelation in the Word, the Recovery Version seeks to supply believers with what they need to enrich their enjoyment of the holy Word of God.
Standing on the Shoulders of OtherTranslations
The Recovery Version stands on the shoulders of other excellent Bible translations that have sought faithfully to convey God’s Word into English. Some of the translations whose work was consulted and considered in producing the Recovery Version include:
- American Standard Version (ASV)
- Darby Translation
- English Revised Version (ERV)
- King James Version (KJV)
- New American Standard Bible (NASB)
- New King James Version (NKJV)
- Young’s Literal Translation
The labor, scholarship, and proven work of these translations was respected and built upon in the production of the Recovery Version. The Recovery Version seeks to convey the most accurate understanding of the original text based on thorough consideration of these translations.
Future Work on the Recovery Version
The New Testament Recovery Version stands complete today, conveying the pure Word of God with enlightening footnotes opening up the divine revelation. Work on the Old Testament is still in progress, with several books completed and more upcoming.
Believers today can enjoy the blessing of the New Testament Recovery Version. And they can look forward to completion of the Old Testament in the coming years. This monumental work of translating God’s Word continues steadily, guided by the vision to unlock the intrinsic divine revelation for God’s seekers.
Living Stream Ministry stands behind this work and warmly invites all who love the Lord and His Word to open the Recovery Version and dive into the depths of the divine revelation. This translation and accompanying study aids supply what is needed to unlock the holy Word for subjective experience and growth in life.
A reliable companion in studying the Bible – Our evaluation of the Recovery Version Bible
As believers pursuing growth in the truth and the divine life, we consider the Recovery Version to be a unique and invaluable companion in studying, enjoying, and ministering God’s living Word. Here are some key factors in our positive evaluation of this excellent study Bible:
- Faithful to Original Languages – The Recovery Version is based on a meticulous consideration of the original Hebrew and Greek texts, conveying the original meanings versus dynamic equivalence.
- Enlightening Footnotes – The 15,000+ footnotes unlock key truths and open up the divine revelation throughout the Bible.
- Divine Economy Focus – The translation and footnotes emphasize the divine economy, God’s eternal purpose, more than mere doctrines.
- Key terms consistency – Definitions for key recurring terms unlock the divine thought and revelation.
- Revelation-focused – The translation and footnotes are guided by revelation in the ministry, not mere scholarship.
- Experience-opening – The Recovery Version aids subjective experience and growth in life, not just objective understanding.
- Bible Text Only – No extra materials or articles. Just the pure Word of God.
- Readability – The Recovery Version is highly readable while still literal.
Based on decades of abundant use, we wholeheartedly recommend the Recovery Version as the most insightful and revelation-opening study Bible available today. It supplies believers with what they need to unlock God’s living Word for growth and ministry.
Some Key Verses Related to the Recovery Version
Here are some key verses from the Recovery Version that relate to why this translation is so beneficial for believers:
John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and reality.
2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, That the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
Ephesians 3:3-5 – That by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I have written previously in brief, By which, in reading it, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ, Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in spirit.
These verses help convey the emphasis in the Recovery Version on the divine revelation, the spiritual significance of God’s Word, and the profitability of gaining insight for growth in life.
The Recovery Version Brings Focus to God’s Complete Salvation
A unique emphasis in the Recovery Version is that the divine revelation in God’s Word relates not only to redemption but also to God’s complete salvation, including regeneration, sanctification, renewing, transformation, conformation, and glorification. God’s full salvation encompasses far more than mere forgiveness of sins – it includes experiencing His riches and His life for our growth and maturity unto full sonship (Rom. 5:10, Heb. 7:25).
This complete salvation is a focus in many Recovery Version footnotes. Here are some verses highlighting this emphasis on God’s complete salvation in Christ:
Romans 5:10 – For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more we will be saved in His life, having been reconciled.
Hebrews 7:25 – Hence also He is able to save to the uttermost those who come forward to God through Him, since He lives always to intercede for them.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit.
This insight opens up how vast God’s salvation is in imparting Himself into His redeemed people for His corporate expression.
The Recovery Version Carries the Truth without Distortion
Among the recovery from the degradation of the church, the Recovery Version stands as a monument to the pure word of the Bible without the distortion of teachings and practices that have strayed from the divine revelation. The Recovery Version resets the focus on the pure Word and opens believers to the Spirit’s enlightenment (Eph. 3:9, 5:26). Some relevant verses include:
Ephesians 3:9 – And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things.
Ephesians 5:26 – That He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word.
The Recovery Version carries this pure word without the mixture of human teachings and doctrines. It recovers the intrinsic divine revelation for God’s people to apprehend.
The Recovery Version Biography and Background
Some key events in the biography of the Recovery Version Bible:
- 1962 – Watchman Nee first conveyed the vision for the Recovery Version in training in Taipei, Taiwan.
- 1970 – Witness Lee headed up the work on the Recovery Version in Anaheim, California.
- 1971 – The New Testament draft was completed.
- 1985 – The New Testament Recovery Version was finally published, with over 15,000 footnotes.
- 1999 – The Recovery Version including footnotes for the entire Bible was published.
- 2021 – The Old Testament Recovery Version was published online with footnotes.
This monumental work continues today under the guiding vision to open up the divine revelation in the pure Word of God for His loving seekers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Recovery Version of the Bible is a unique and invaluable study Bible produced by Living Stream Ministry according to the vision unveiled through Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. It conveys the original languages through an insightful translation and enlightening footnotes focused on opening up the divine revelation. The Recovery Version supplies believers with crucial resources to unlock the depths of God’s living Word for growth, ministry, and enjoyment of Christ.