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Introduction

• “We live in a society where the average person changes their place of residence every five or six years, buys a different car about every four years, and changes jobs about five times during their lifetimes and yet we are reluctant to change our Bible translation.” – Paul D. Wegner 
• Translation work “is an endless process, as languages change, as additional copies of ancient manuscripts continue to turn up, and as scholars come to know and understand the ancient languages better.” 
• All translation is a form of interpretation!

The Science of Translation

Words

• Words can have multiple meanings. The context determines which meaning.
• Not all Greek words have an English equivalent.
  • Not always a 1 to 1
  • Sometimes words must be supplied so it makes sense (i.e., sentences without verbs or subjects)
  • Idioms we do not have in English
  • Transliteration (e.g., baptism)
  • Connotation vs. Denotation
  • Made up words (e.g., Paul)
  • Greek takes a different word order

Need for Adjustments

1. Required by the grammar of the target language
2. Make sure the correct meaning comes through
3. Clarity of meaning
4. Naturalness

Gender Accuracy

• Who’s excluded or included in a given passage?
• Grammatical gender and biological gender are not the same.
• “Not about neutrality but accuracy”

Text Base

• Most Updated
• Eclectic

Translation Approach

1. Formal Equivalent – seeks to modify the Hebrew and Greek forms until the text is comprehensible”
2. Mediating Versions – modify forms until the text is clear
3. Functional Equivalent – modify the form until the text is natural

Translation Committees 

Goals of Translation

1. Accuracy – transmitted so the readers receive the same message
2. Appropriateness – style reflecting attitude and intention of the author
3. Naturalness – translated so the readers can naturally read the text for meaning
4. Form – reflects text as original text but yet still readable for others

Important Questions

1. Accurate? – Does it reflect the world of the Bible?
2. Clear? – Does it use understandable language?
3. Natural?
4. Audience-Appropriate? – How well do hearers/readers get the message?

Translations

KJV

• Revision of the Bishop’s Bible
• Based upon Erasmus Textus Receptus
  • Used one MSS in Revelation, one in Gospels, one in Epistles, all of late date
• “The KJV scholars could have known fewer than twenty-five late manuscripts of the New Testament, and these were carelessly used. Today there are over 5,358 [sic] known New Testament manuscripts and fragments.” – Lewis 
• Originally included the Apocrypha
• Better manuscripts have been found
• English language has changed, both in spelling and meaning

NKJV

• Revise and update the language of the original King James Bible.
• Uses a majority text type (Byzantine Text)
• Language is becoming outdated
• No longer very popular

ESV

• Revision of Revised Standard Version
• Uses a modern eclectic Greek text base
• Translated by committee
• Tends to be a more literal translation with some alterations for readability.
• Very popular in Evangelical/conservative communities 

NASB

• Revision of American Standard Version
• Uses a modern eclectic Greek text base
• Translated by committee
• Literal, but readable, translation. “To adhere as closely as possible to the original languages of the Holy Scriptures, and to make the translation in a fluent and readable style according to current English usage.”
• Not very widely used any longer

NRSV

• Revision of Revised Standard Version
• Uses modern eclectic Greek text base
• Translated by committee
• Scholarly standard
• A literal, but readable, translation. “As literal as possible, as free as necessary.”
• Utilizes gender-inclusive language where proper
• Not widely used outside of scholarly circles

NIV (2011)

• Uses a modern eclectic Greek text base
• Translated by committee
• More readable translation
• Utilizes gender-inclusive language
• Popular version

Use Multiple Translations!

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Check Out the Entire Series: How We Got the Bible

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