In today's society, the KJV is the most widely accepted version of the English version of the Bible. Find a good Southern Baptist, and you can almost guarantee their Bible of choice is a KJV. But just because it's one of the oldest English translations doesn't mean that modern English versions have added information to the Bible; matter of fact, many of them haven't. As of October 2017 the full Bible has been translated into 670 languages, the New Testament alone into 1521 languages and Bible portions or stories into 1121 other languages. Thus at least some portion of the Bible has been translated into 3,312 languages.
But why do we need a translation of the Bible and which is the best? Until the Jews were sent out into the nations there wasn't a real need for a translation of the Bible. It is in the 3rd century that Hebrew scriptures must be translated into Greek.
Earlier today, I pointed out that The King James Version (KJV), also known as the King James Bible (KJB) or simply the Authorized Version (AV), is an English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, begun in 1604 and completed in 1611. The books of the King James Version include the 39 books of the Old Testament, an intertestamental section containing 14 books of the Apocrypha (most of which correspond to books in the Vulgate Deuterocanon adhered to by Roman Catholics and Eastern Christians), and the 27 books of the New Testament.
Let's talk about translations a moment, then I'll compare them for you.
Why are there dozens of different English translations? It is because there are options as to how Bible translators carry the meaning of Greek and Hebrew texts into the receptor language. For example, some translations aim at rendering the meaning of texts word-for-word (sometimes referred to as “literal” translations). The upside to this approach is that the Bible reader can know the specific word choice and phraseology of the biblical authors. The downside is that Bible texts translated in this way can be more difficult to read. Until one gets used to the style, it can seem stiff, wooden, and unfamiliar—but one can certainly get used to it.
Another approach is to translate thought for thought. Translation done in this way will have language that is more familiar to English readers, and thus probably easier to read. Translating in this way can still be regarded as accurate, if the true meaning of the original text is carried across.
Then there is the method of free translation or paraphrase, the purpose of which is to give readers the flow of the biblical text idea by idea, oftentimes rendering the meaning of whole sentences in new ways, rather than carrying over the exact words of the Hebrew or Greek. A paraphrase may use the word flashlight instead of lamp, for instance.
Heated debates surround the issue of Bible translation. People who take the Bible seriously want translations that are accurate and faithful to what the writers of Holy Scripture intended to communicate. But the typical Bible reader can be assured that there is not just one accurate translation. In fact, for the serious believer, the best thing is to have and read different translations for devotional reading, but especially in studying the Bible or preparing to teach it.
Keep this in mind: the best Bible translation is going to be the one you will actually read. If you purchase the latest Bible translation but you don’t actually read through it, or if it gathers dust on the shelf, that Bible will be of less value to you than one that you consume because you understand it.
I can speak personally about this. As I was growing up, I tried many times to read the standard mainstream Bible I’d been given in church and failed. But when someone put a brand-new paraphrase of the New Testament in my hand when I was 17 years old, I started reading it and could not put it down. My life was changed that early summer. A year later, I started reading one of the most literal translations available. It was hard work, and it took me the better part of a year, but it was beneficial to me at a different level. In the decades that followed, I got used to referring to numerous translations as I prepared teachings and sermons. I have so much respect for the diligent experts who have given us these gifts.
Below is a list of some of the most popular versions of the Bible in English sold today.
When I have been asked, as a pastor, what version I would recommend, I tell people to use the one they will actually read. What do I read? While I am able to read the Bible in Hebrew or Greek, most of the time, like most people, I rely on good translations. Typically that means opening the English Standard Version or The New International Version, with an occasional peek into the New Living Translation.
New International Version—a standard translation using universally used English (thus, “International”)
King James Version—the classic 1611 translation that is a landmark in English literature, but far removed from contemporary English
New King James Version—a very literal translation, updating the language of the King James Version
**English Standard Version—an “essentially literal” update of the widely used Revised Standard Version
Common English Bible—a new translation blending word-for-word and thought-for-thought approaches
New American Standard Bible—widely seen as the most literal translation produced in the 20th century
The Message—a free translation by Eugene Peterson using everyday modern English, idea for idea
New Living Translation—an easy-to-read thought-by-thought translation from Hebrew and Greek
**By far my favorite translation
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