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| Finding a Good Bible Translation |
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Some Christians prefer the King James Version only. It was a good translation in its time, but it has some disadvantages today. Its archaic language makes it difficult to understand. Also, the translators only had about half the original resources available to them that modern translators have. Modern translators have access to more reliable texts in the original languages.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of various Bible translations? ComparisonTranslations that were done by a team rather than an individual are usually better, because in a multitude of counsel there is safety. Bible translations range across a spectrum from word for word accuracy to thought for thought accuracy. Some phrases are better translated by a phrase in English rather than word for word, because a word for word translation between two languages may actually be misunderstood. For instance, if I translated the German phrase "on the wooden way" word for word it makes no sense in English, so I have to translate that it means "on the wrong path." Word-for-Word TranslationsThe most accurate translation word for word is an interlinear Bible, where you can compare the original languages with an English translation in between lines. Not everyone can read Hebrew or Greek, so the next best thing is an English-only word-for-word translation. The best these days is widely recognized as the New American Standard Bible (NASB). It was originally translated by a team of 32 scholars and is good for those times when you want to check the accuracy of the original words. The next best is perhaps the King James Version (KJV).
King James has a number of weaknesses. It uses language that is an archaic translation that is no longer easily understood by moderns. It has also translated from the Greek of the market place and from the Hebrew of an agricultural people into the posh English of poets and educated people. While we can see the motive to honor the Scriptures with highbrow and flowery language, the KJV has actually done a disservice to the intent of the Scriptures, which were written in language that the man on the street could easily understand. Some modern translations overcome this weakness. ParaphraseAt the other end of the spectrum are those very imprecise versions which translate the original languages with rather hip street language and colloquialisms. Because trendy words change from region to region and year to year, paraphrases may go out of date very quickly. However, some paraphrases are very good, as is the Message which uses contemporary idiom, the language which many modern people use everyday. Thought for Thought TranslationsIn the middle are those translations which some term as balanced or dynamic equivalent. Perhaps the most popular of these is the New International Version (NIV). The NIV was worked on by over 100 scholars and since 1987 has outsold the KJV. It has become a standard Bible in many modern churches.
Another very popular translation is the New Living Translation (NLT), which takes phrases and translates them into contemporary English phrases. This is not a paraphrase, but a translation which was completed by over 90 scholars and is a great improvement over the original Living Bible which was a paraphrase. Which Bible?In one sense it doesn't matter which Bible you read as long as you read one. If you are reading for accuracy and studying Christian doctrine, an interlinear Bible or a word for word translation such as the NASB or the KJV is best. If you are reading for just plain inspiration and personal encouragement, a paraphrase such as the Message is excellent. If you want the best of both, a balance between accuracy and personal inspiration, then a dynamic equivalent such as the NIV or NLT is good. ConclusionWhat did Jesus say about Bible translations? Nothing! Dividing the Christian church over a matter that Jesus did not think was important enough to command his disciples is crap. Do different translations of the Bible substantially alter the written record of Jesus ministry? No! Are any essential teachings of Jesus perverted by various Bible translations? No!
Those who worry about translations and minor inaccuracies need to only ask themselves if the essentials of the faith have ever been mistranslated. There is not a single Bible that mistranslates the Great Commandments to love God and neighbor for instance. While some twigs may be better translated in this or that version, the trunk of the tree, the essentials of Christianity have always been there for anyone to read. |
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| To add a comment to "Finding a Good Bible Translation" |
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| October 16, 2007 |
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| Thank you sir! |
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| October 16, 2007 |
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Grant,
Thanks for the exposition. I have a big thing that I use called the Parallel Bible with four versions. The one I have includes the KJV, Amplified, American Standard, and NIV. It really helps in gathering a better understanding of the text without using guides or aids.
So have you figured which translation it is that comes up in the references used by MyChurch? A common phrase comes out in a number of different ways (KJV is obvious):
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
3:16 For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
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| October 16, 2007 |
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I believe they are the American Standard Version, the Bible in Basic English, the King James or Authorized Version, and the Revised Standard Version. All of these are the basic freebies on the Internet and if My Church can ever afford them, there are better translations out there. I use a quad Bible too, but not as much as a computer Bible.
I prefer the NASB (New American Standard Bible), the NIV (New International Version) and the Message or NLT (New Living Translation). That gives me the broad spectrum all the way from word for word for accuracy, through dynamic equivalent for readability, to paraphrase for pure inspiration. They are all good for different reasons. |
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