Bible Translations
With well over 11,000 Bibles that are currently available today and in over 120 different translations, choosing a Bible can seem like a daunting task.
This section is prepared for those who do not have much knowledge concerning the manifold options that are available today for Bible purchase.
Here are some basic questions to ask yourself:
-Who is the Bible for? Will it be for yourself, a loved one or a gift for someone you barely know? Will this be a Bible for an adult a child or a teenager? Do you or the person you are buying for need large or giant print?
-Which translation do you prefer? KJV, NIV, NASB, NKJV, NLT, AMP, and NRSV are among some of the more popular translations that are available today.
-Do you prefer a study Bible, Reference Bible or a Text only Bible?
Before we get started, I want to make it abundanlty clear that the Holy Spirit can speak through any translation that is available today. Instead of agruing about which translation of the Bible is the best, we should embrace the manifold blessings that we, as English speaking people, have through our more than 120 different translations and over 10,000 Bibles. We must remember to pray for those who are less fortunate, like the 2000 people groups across the world that have yet to receive one single translation into their native language.
There are two basic translation philosphies that are prevelant today when it comes to the English Bible. These two are known as literal (sometimes called word-for-word) or dynamic equivalence (sometimes called thought-for thought). What exactly are the difference in these Bibles?
The Literal translations are slightly more difficult to read because the translation philosphy that the scholars used in translating the original manuscripts into English derives from what the theological world calls a word-for-word method. This means that they chose the closest English equivalent to the word in question from the original languages (Hebrew-Old Testament and Greek-New Testament). While these Bibles may be slightly harder to read, they are much closer to the original languages than the alternative option.
The Dynamic Equivalence method is one that has become increasingly more popular in the past few decades. In this method the scholars were less concerned with trying to come up with an English equivalent word for every original word. Here, the scholars were focused on preserving what they felt the writers original thoughts or intention were. When they translated the main thought, then they were free to construct the other necessary words around that thought to make the passage flow smoothly. Now, surely I don't need to spend much criticism on why this should not be acceptable when it comes to having this as a primary Bible. Think about this: If you were a lawyer and you went into the court room battling a dispute between two parties over a contract and you told the judge that you had an original document that preserved the main thought behind the agreement, what do you suppose would happen? You would be laughed out of the court room. Why? Because the judge is not concerned with what you feel the original thought was behind the transaction, he wants the original wording, so he can determine who is right and who is wrong. Jesus said..."Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds from the mouth of the Father. (Matt.4) Now if Jesus says that every word is important don't you think we should believe Him?
This is not to say that these versions (Dynamic Eq.) do not have their place. Actually, this method of translating the scriptures was developed for missionaries on the mission fields where the natives spoke little of no English. The missionaries needed a Bible that could impart as many essential truths as quickly as possible, and for people groups who had no formal training in the English language. While this translation method was quite helpful in these foreign countries the technique is not required in a land where most people have had training or speak the English language fluently.
Here is a small list of Literal Bibles:
KJV (King James) Literal 12th grade reading level
NKJV(New King James) Literal 9th grade (Removes the "thees" and the "thous" while maintaining a literal text)
NASB (New American Standard) Literal 11th grade
RSV (Revised standard) Literal 10th grade
ESV (English Standard) Literal 10th grade
HCSB (Holman Christian Standard) Literal 8th grade
AMP (Amplified) Literal 8th grade **Note**The Amplified Bible is a Literal translation but it is in and of itself a study Bible. Let me explain. The Amplified Bible is considered an Expanded Translation. What does that mean? An Expanded translation gives you the exact rendering of the English word in question according to great scholars such as James Strong (Strong's Concordance) and W.E. Vine (Vine's Expository Dictionary). This is done with words of great theological significance, for example John 3:16. ...that whosoever believeth (trusts in, clings to, or relies on) in Him shall be saved. (Taken from Amp. Version copyright 1954, Lockman foundation) When you read the Amplified version you see that many of the English words do not convey a stong enough definition to the original languages; this is where the Amplified Version comes in handy. The word "Believeth" does not just mean that "oh, yeah, I believe in God", it implies that you must TRUST, CLING and RELY upon Jesus in everything you do! I must also say that the Amplified Bible does not expand on all of the words of theological significance; for this task you would use the Strong's Concordance, Vine's and Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.
Here Is A List Of Dynamic Equivalent Bibles:
NIV (New International) Dynamic 7th grade
NLT (New Living) Dynamic 6th grade
Message (Paraphrase Bible) **Not intended for new Christians** This Bible is the work of one man who re-wrote the Bible in modern linguistics to shock the reader into seeing something they may have missed in their normal version. This is intended to be read by seasoned veterans of the Word. 11 grade
NIrV (New International Readers) Dynamic 3rd grade Child version
NCV (New Century) 3rd grade adult version *also available in ICB (international Childrens Bible) Same text for children
Best Translations Available For Study:
1. Green's Interlinear Bible- Interlinear is a term that describes two lines of text, one in the original language(s) of the Bible (Greek or Hebrew; parts in Aramaic) and another line below with the English translation of the word in question. When you go to your local bookstore to buy this Bible the presentation may seem confusing. However, once you sit down and use a few brain cells the book will open up a world you have never seen before. I often tell people to read the New Testament again in this translation because they will cry. This translation far exceeds anything that is available in a English translation. Textus Receptus/Received Text
2. NKJV -this updated version of the KJV simply changes the "thees" and "thous" and any other archaic words to more modern understanding. This Bible does not remove any theological words, concepts or doctrines like many of the other modern translations. Pub. 1982.Textus Receptus/RT
3. KJV - Old Elizabethan English, translated for King James in 1611, but is still an excellent translation.Textus Receptus/RT
4. Amp - Although this Bible is based on the Alexandrian manuscripts (as you will read about later) this is still a Bible to which I can give honorable mention. See description above. Alexandrian Manuscript
Why haven't I included any other modern translations in this list? In my opinion these four Bibles have enough variety to suit anyone at any age. The other Bibles that are available leave or add information that should not be included or excluded. I think Jay P. Green (a noted Greek and Hebrew Scholar) states it the best in his Interlinear New Testament:
"The marketplace is being glutted with new books which are being represented as versions of the Bible. Each one claims to be the very word of God, yet there are literally thousands of differences between them - and such differences as to cause one to discern that there is much disagreement as to which Greek words are to be translated, or paraphrased. In one way the new versions agree: they all leav out dozens of references to the diety of Jesus Christ and also add words which tend to question His virgin birth, His substitutionary, fully satisfying atonement. This is due to their decision to depend on an Alexandrian text-base, instead of that body of God's words which has been universally received and believed in for nineteen centuries, known as the Received Text. Thses new versions are not only marked by additions, but also by substractions, since some four whole pages...have been omitted by these new versions." (Taken from the preface to J.P. Green's Interlinear New Testament in Greek, copyright 1997).
I could write even more on what J.P. Green has expounded upon in the preface to his Greek New Testament but I would just be re-writing a great work. What I want to provide is simple evidence for you to make up your own mind. You could spend the days that I have researching this topic and the manifold opinions that exist in the theological world, or you can get the evidence for yourself and come to your own conclusion based on what God has determined is "right". For those of you who think this writing is wholly futile, simply take your New International Bible or even the New Living Translation and open in to Acts 8:37 or Matthew 18:11. Let me know when you find it, because it is not in the text. Now, open up a New King James Version and read those scriptures and you will know why this information is necessary. Here is Acts 8:37 and Matthew 18:11:
Acts 8:37 Then Philip said, "if you believe with all your heart, you may". And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God".
Matthew 18:11 The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
I think that even the most uneducated person can understand why the Bibles that use the Alexandrian text should be avoided to the uttermost extent possible. I know that when I compared just eight of the twenty-seven New Testament books, finding three full pages of serious error, omissions and additions that it was enough for me to depend solely on the Textus Receptus text as my primary Bible.
Comparison Chart
Comparing the Textus Receptus text with the Alexandrian text
TR=Textus Receptus (KJV, NKJV, Green's KJVer)
AL=Alexandrian (NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT, GNT, ESV, CEV, AMP & Others)
*Note: When checking to see which Bibles are Alexandrian, please understand that these will be listed as the Nestle-Aland or the Westcott-Hort; According to the Christian Research Institute, both of these parties were German liberals who denied the doctrine of inspiration (biblical inerrancy) and were noted evolutionists.
John 1:10
TR- Only begotten Son
AL- Only begotten God
This is an impossibility since God cannot be begotten. God is an eternal being, having always existed, and Jesus is God. Even Thayer's Greek Lexicon strongly points out that the proper word in this text is a "son" in humanity, and has nothing to do with "God". Only Jesus in His humanity was "begotten" or made, the human shell of a body. He existed as God in the beginning with God. Ref. John 1:1,2. Another interesting fact about this scripture is the word study that is located in Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Thayer's uses the text from the Alexandrian manuscript, yet when you study the meaning behind the word "God" that is used in John 1:10, he specifically says that the word means a "son", and has nothing to do with the Greek word (s) for "God".
Mark 1:1
TR- The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
AL- The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Scholars suggest that with the inception of Textual Criticism, the method that has been employed since the late 1800's to "criticize" the Textus Receptus, state that with the more recent discoveries they have ruled that the end clause of "Son of God" in the above verse did not exist, therefore they are removing it even though it has been in the Bible for nineteen centuries. Even if the phrase shouldn't be there according to the manuscripts that they have found (which, how can we know that they are more superior?) isn't Jesus the Son of God? Isn't that referenced in several other locations in the Bible that it would be okay to leave in this fact in this verse?
Hebrews 1:3
TR- When He had by Himself purged our sins.
AL- After He had provided purification for sins.
Jesus provided purification for sins, just not OURS, according to this text.
Matthew 18:11
TR- The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
AL- Omitted
Acts 8:37
TR- Then Philip said, "if you believe with all your heart, you may". And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
AL- Omitted
Ephesians 3:9
TR- Through God who made all things through Jesus Christ.
AL- Through God who made all things.
Here, the Alexandrian translators want you to think that God created all things, just not through Jesus Christ. One day I was having a conversation with a man who had been to seminary and was convinced that while he may not be able to understand why these textual critics chose the Alexandrian manuscripts as superior he had faith in them to know that their research and familiarity with the text was enough for him to join their school of thinking. He insinuated that I didn't have access to these manuscripts, so I should just leave the research and opinions up to the experts. What expert is needed in the above verse? Even if you did have a manuscript that was supposedly a better "find" and one that discredits the Textus Receptus, why would anyone in their right mind, leave out Jesus Christ as the maker of all things? Is there not enough evidence in the Bible that supports this idea that we need to go erasing a verse that only confirms what already has been taught as absolute doctrine in scripture. (Ref. John 1:1,2)
Luke 2:33
TR- And Joseph and His mother marveled.
AL- The child's father and mother marveled.
They make Joseph the begetter of Jesus, rather than the Father in heaven through the Holy Spirit. Remember, this "begetter" stuff is only in reference to the humanity of Christ, not His Diety, which has existed in the beginning.
Matthew 9:13
TR- For I did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
AL- For I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.
The Alexandrian manuscripts aleiviate the need for repentance.
Matthew 6:13
TR- For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, amen.
AL- Omits this verse.
Matthew 8:31
TR- So the demons begged Him, saying, "If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine."
AL- The demons begged..."If you drive us out, send us into the the herd of pigs."
The Alexandrian text deletes Jesus' authority over the demons by omitting the word, "permit". Did the demons need permission from Jesus or not? The Alexandrian text infers that the demons dictated where Jesus should send them.
John 3:13
TR- No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
AL- No one has ever gone into heaven, except the one who came from heaven - Son of Man.
The Alexandrian translators(committees) will have you to believe that Christ could not have been on earth and in heaven at the same time, which removes one of His attributes as being omnipresent. To omit this part of the verse is contrary to the whole of scripture. Also, if you read the AL text it is clear that "no one" has gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, Jesus Himself. That is not what the Bible says. What about Enoch in Genesis 5:24? Or what about Elijah in 2 Kings 2:11 which reads, "and Elijah went up into a whirlwind into heaven." Clearly, this is not what the text should be saying in John. Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus about being born again when He asked him how he could understand spiritual things if he couldn't understand natural things. What was Jesus referring to in this scripture? It's really easy to see. Jesus, who came to give eternal life through His propitiatory (satisfying the wrath of a just God against us because of our sins) and expiatory (covering of expelling the sins) work on the cross is saying that He is the only One who would ascend to the sky (heaven) on a cross to give us eternal life, making us born anew through His blood. This is even further evidenced in the next verse which brings clarity to our verse above. Jesus is typified as the serpent on the cross, being lifted up for the faults of the people. When the people looked at the brazen serpent on the cross they were healed. When people look (trust, cling and rely) on Jesus by looking to Him as the author and finisher of our faith, we will be healed of our sin sickness, thus being made whole or healed. For those inquisitive minds, Jesus is typified as a serpent in the Moses story (Numbers 21:9) because He took on our sins, and the serpent has always been seen as symbolic of sin (read Genesis 3). Just as a side note, Jesus had to be "lifted up" on a cross, because the Jewish form of capitol punishment was stoning, a act that took place on the ground. In order to be a sacrifice, Jesus had to die on a altar, or a high place (Heb. Altar). Secondly, the Jews had the method of stoning to keep from touching the condemned person; to touch such a person would mean that you were ceremonially unclean. Roman crucifixion was a very hands on method and Jesus did not have any sin.
Acts 6:8
TR- And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
AL- And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the peope.
One only needs to understand the theological differences in the words grace (unmerited favor) and faith (the hope to believe in an unseen act or quality) to know that the Alexandrian manuscripts are inferior. Faith is always mentioned, where appropriate, in connection with the miraculous, not grace.
Note: This information was taken from seven New Testament books. There are twenty others that I did not examine. The evidence was so overwhelming to me that the Alexandrian manuscripts are inferior to the Textus Receptus (Received Text) that I did not devote any time in dissecting the remaining books.
This is only one page of the three full pages of errors that exist in these translations. I will be updating this page shortly with more information when time permits.
Unfortunately, the issue of which text these publishing houses used in their translations is not the only problem that consumers, students and clergy are faced with. Other issues remain, such as: Gender Neutral Bibles (Bible translations that make no distinction between man and woman, male and female. Translations such as TNIV, which eliminates Christ's title of Son of Man in the opening chapters of Hebrews, and replaces it with "humans of humankind". Then we have the question of readability versus understanding, comprehension, wisdom and truth, which we will discuss in this last portion of our study.
If you will notice, I have included a reading level that best describes who would benefit most from the translation. This is not my evaluation, but comes directly from the translators and/or the Bible publishers. It should be understood that a reading level does not, in any way, relate to the consumer that this Bible will be best understtod by this grade level. In my book, Out of Context, I have described why the reading level is at the beginning of the educational pyramid. This is adaptated from my mini-book:
Educational Levels
1. Reading- This is the first, and most basic level to our pyramid. Reading is simply the ability to see the word or fact in question and the ability to regurgitate or repeat that information aloud, in writing, or in your psyche (mind). In no way does the simple act of reading allow any real comprehension.
2. Knowing/Knowledge- This is the accumulation of words or facts. There is no ability to apply the facts at this level. Here we could have an example of someone who stores scripture upon scripture in their mind. They can quote it just as if they were reading it but they have yet to truly understand what they are quoting. How many times have you heard someone quote a scripture in regards to a specific topic and yet it had nothing to do with that topic because they had yet to "know" the scripture in question?
3. Comprehension/Understanding- The ability to connect the words and facts together to draw an educated conclusion. Application may come at this level, but not appropriate application. An example here is the person who quotes the "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" scripture after he socks someone in the eye for wronging him. Here we have an application, but no wisdom. Wisdom came when Jesus interpreted the scripture as "you have heard it said, eye for an eye and tooth for tooth. But I tell you to resist an evil person. Whoever stikes you on the cheek, turn the other to him as well" (Exo.21:24 vs. Matt. 5:38,39). Application was processed, but appropriate application was not considered because he failed to realize that Jesus brought wisdom and insight to the law of the Old Testament.
4. Wisdom- The ability to base the educated conclusion on what is called a values judgment. Wisdom is the ability to acheive TRUTH and apply the education appropriately.
5. Truth- this tops off the pyramid as a person who completely comprehends and applies the information that they have been given correctly with wisdom as their paramount judicature.
Hopefully, you have seen that the mere act of reading is only the beginning of our journey in acheiving truth. That is why it is so vitally important that we pray before each time we open the Bible.
What is the difference between a study, a reference and a text only Bible?
A study Bible has much more paper, is heavier, and generally has smaller print than the other two Bibles. However, the information that is contained in a study bible can be invaluable. Most study Bibles include commentary notes at the bottom of the page that helps to give archeological, factual and logical information. They will also provide doctrinal differences between the evangelical Christian groups-in other words, how some come up with believing that the verse explains a specific theory or belief (i.e. pre, mid, or post tribulation). You will also find references in either the center column or paragraph referencing behind each verse. This will aid you in locating the same verse in other parts of the Bible or information taken from that verse that is found elsewhere in the Word. This is especially helpful when tring to find where Jesus is talking about a specific law from the Old Testament. In addition to this, you will also find book introductions, author details, to whom it is written, why it was written and other details such as what other events in history were happening at that time plus extensive concordances (where to find the verse your looking for) and maps.
A reference Bible will provide the reference information from the above. The ability to located that same verse or parts of that verse in other areas of the bible. (See underlined portion from above).
A text only Bible has no notes or references and contains just straight Bible text.
My Recommendations for Bibles:
Study:
Dake's Study Bible (Over 35,000 notes) used by many of todays top ministers. KJV only
New Spirit Filled Study Bible (Extensive notes, Concordance, Book Intoductions (including how christ is revealed and how the Holy Spirit is at work in each book) a word wealth feature which gives you a Strong's dictionary definition on tough theological words such as, propitiation and atonement; Summaries at the end of each book; articles written by Billy Joe Daughtery, Oral Roberts, Jack Hayford, Marilyn Hickey and others on a wide variety of topics including: spiritual warfare, deliverance, worship, Christ likeness, purity and much more. One of the best Study bibles available) NKJV.
NKJV Study Bible(Similar to the above Bible but without the articles written by the Charismatic leaders)
Billy Graham Training Center Bible- This Bible is absolutely one of the best Bibles for new believers. While most people( even non-Christians) own a Bible, and while most know that the Bible has answers to the topics that are plaguing their individual lives, many do not know where to begin amidst the more than 2000 pages of scripture. That is where this Bible is absolutely invaluable. Billy Graham has issued this Bible with a topical research system in the front of the Bible that covers issues such as abortion all the way to worship and just about everything in-between! It also covers 50 tough questions such as; how can I be born again? Is living with my boy/girlfriend acceptable? And many others.
Other Honorable Mention Study Bibles:
Open Bible- Currently available in NASB, & NKJV (New). This Bible has a cyclopedic index at the beginning of the Bible that gives you a topical reference in finding the topics you want to study.
Life Application- Available in KJV, NKJV, NASB (and other Dynamic Translations) This Bible has good evangelical (Evangelical means that we all share the same essential commission (to get people saved) amidst our differences) notes and provides a small character review for every main person in the Bible. These "reviews" will provide a synopsis of their life, their strengths, weaknesses and lessons you can learn from their lives applied to your own.
Key Word- KJV, NASB (other Dy. Eq. Trans.) This Bible includes a Strongs concordance dictionary definition for many of the key words from the Bible. You can also find the same information and more by simply buying a Strongs Concordance (Approx. $30).
For more information or to purchase a Bible call Rejoice Christian Bookstore (located in Houston TX) at 281-497-4094. They will ship to the contiguous 48 states for a nominal charge. Or visit Http://rejoicebible.com
This is not finished and will be updated shortly!