Bible Translations

INTRO

Good morning, friends, we’re so glad you have tuned in to hear God’s Precepts and Promises this morning brought to you by the Rome Church of Christ.

We’re examining Christianity systematically--taking all the Bible has to say on a subject and putting it together as best as possible. Letting the Bible speak

How do we select a reliable translation?

Chief concern: is it reliable?

Some argue that translations are not inspired, but Translations are inspired if faithful

NT writers often cited the Greek Septuagint.

Ease of reading ought to be a secondary concern

Overview

1.Greek texts

2.Translation Philosophy

3.Translational Issues in Certain Passages

DISCUSSION

Two Main Greek Texts

1. Textus Receptus (Received Text)/ Majority Text/Byzantine Text

2. Critical (Eclectic) Text: Nestle-Aland

Textus Receptus

1.King James Version (1611)

2.New King James Version (1982)

Critical Text

1.English Revised Version (1881)

2.American Standard Version (1901)

3.Revised Standard Version (1952)

4.New American Standard (1971, 1995)

5.New Revised Standard Version (1989)

6.New International Version (1978, 1984, 2011)

7.English Standard Version (2001, 2016)

ID and Q & A

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Q: Why do you still use the KJV?

A: 1) Still a reliable translation. 2) I prefer the reverent style of the KJV 3) I have always used it and memorized it.

Translation Philosophy

1.Formal equivalence (Literal or word-for-word translations)

2.Dynamic equivalence (thought–for-thought translations)

3.Paraphrases

Philosophies

•Difficult to pin one philosophy on a translation

•Even the KJV has some “thought-for-thought” renderings (Mt 27:44; Rom 6:2)

“No translation is completely formal—even translations considered formal, such as the KJV, NKJV, and NASB, contain dynamic translations, for at times there is simply no way to make sense of an entirely literal translation. Likewise, even the most dynamic translations contain some formal elements.” (James White in KJV Only, 47)

Formal Equivalence

1.Young’s Literal

2.American Standard

3.New American Standard

4.King James

5.New King James

6.English Standard

7.Lexham English Bible

Dynamic Equivalence

1.New International Version

2.New English Bible

3.Good News Bible/Today’s English Version

Paraphrases

1.The Living Bible

2.Amplified Bible

3.Cotton Patch

4.The Message

Translational Issues

Matthew 19:9 (KJV 1900)

9And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery. NASB

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (RSV)

Psalm 51:5

Psalm 51:5 (KJV 1900)

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (NIV)

Acts 12:4 (KJV 1900)

4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Acts 12:4 (ESV)

4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people.

CONCLUSION

The perfect translation does not exist

•Some cannot be recommended because they can mislead

•When I compare translations, I use the Lexham English Bible and occasionally the ESV and NIV

Next Week: Continue our discussion on the Bible

Until then, We encourage you to hear His precepts and trust His promises