Bible Versions and Differences in Translation I. Introduction A. The world of Bible versions 1. The question of Bible versions can be very confusing indeed! 2. We have recently seen an explosion in the number of versions available 3. The Christian today must wade through a sea of acronyms-- KJV, NKJV, RSV, ESV, NASB, NIV, and so on and so forth B. The reasons for the different translations and versions are sometimes difficult to understand 1. Much of it has remained in the realms of scholasticism for years 2. Many misleading and false claims about some versions are made and accepted by those who are not informed about the differences in various translations C. Let us spend some time, then, looking at the reasons for some of the differences that exist among translations and versions D. Let us seek to understand some of the main differences in the way that various Bible translations are translated II. The Nature of Translation A. If we are going to understand differences in translation, we must first have an understanding of what translation is and what is involved in translation B. Translation is the process of converting information from one language to another C. While there are many technical processes at work in translation, translation is not a mathematical science-- or really even a science! 1. One cannot translate simply by seeing the words in one language, making a functional equivalence with words in the other language, do 1-to-1 changes, organize the words, and poof!, have a good translation! 2. Language is more than just words on a page-- many times there are puns, word plays, poetry, parallelism, let alone different inflection and devices! D. Furthermore, no two languages are exactly alike! 1. Languages have different nuances! 2. Words in English carry a set of meanings that are different from comparable Greek words, and vice versa 3. Different languages have different grammatical rules and structures 4. Different languages have different idioms and other means of expression E. Translation, then, is more of an art than a science! F. Furthermore, all translation is on some level interpretation 1. In translation, one strives to convey an author's meaning in another language 2. Therefore, translation will require a person to make decisions regarding how the language of the author should be conveyed in the different language 3. That is a level of interpretation, and there are many times when there are other ways of translating the same terms! 4. Example: Matthew 14:33: worshipped (ASV), did homage (Darby), bow to him (Young) 5. All of these are accurate translations of the verb proskuneo in this passage, and yet all flesh out different features of that word present in Greek that may not be conveyed in English G. The Issue of Literalism 1. The issue of "literalism" becomes the great conflict, then, with translating the Bible 2. The idea of "literalism" is to convey exactly the words of the author into the new language 3. Most "literal" translations simply translate words and basic grammatical structures 4. Is literalism always the goal, however? Or should the attempt be made to have the text be reasonably understandable in the English language? H. Before we dig deeper into this question, let us first examine the main translation philosophies present today III. Translation Philosophies A. When we look at the various translations of the Bible available, we can perceive three overall translation philosophies at work B. Literal Translation 1. In a literal translation, the translator seeks to do the least amount of interpretation and simply renders the Hebrew or Greek words into English, and provides basic grammatical structure 2. Examples of literal translations include Young's Literal Translation (YLT), Darby's Literal Translation (Darby), and Green's Literal Translation (LITV) 3. The benefit of literal translations is that they present the text with the least level of interpretation 4. On the other hand, even the literal translations many times have to smooth out idioms and difficult phrases in texts 5. Furthermore, most English readers of a literal translation are going to be lost because there is so little assistance given in understanding because there is no level of interpretation 6. They are very hard for the modern English reader to understand C. Formal Equivalence (FE; Word-for-Word) Translation 1. In a formal equivalence translation, a translation is made in an attempt to render good English, and the base unit of translation is each individual word 2. Examples of FE translations include the KJV, NKJV, ASV, NASB, RSV, NRSV, ESV, HCSB 3. The benefit of FE translations is that they are more understandable than literal translations yet still, in general, maintain fidelity to the original Greek text 4. More interpretation is involved in FE texts, and that sometimes can provide difficulties 5. With any FE translation there are times where we would like to see "more" translation in certain difficult passages and "less" translations in certain more obvious passages, but such is the nature of any translation! 6. FE translations, overall, can be difficult for many to understand, and they generally require a reading level at the high school level 7. FE translations tend to be the compromise that works out best for Christians-- literal enough to render the Greek well, yet not so literal as to hinder the modern English speaker from understanding the text D. Dynamic Equivalence (DE; "thought-for-thought") Translations 1. In a dynamic equivalence translation, a translation is made in an attempt to render good English, and the base unit of the translation is each thought presented 2. Examples of DE translations include the NIV, NLT, GW, NCV, TEV, Good News for Modern Man, CEV, The Message 3. DE translations are designed, to some extent or another, to present the ideas and messages of the author, and do not feel compelled to stick to the text as literally presented 4. This does make for Bible versions that are easier to understand 5. On the other hand, the focus tends to be more on the interpreter than the text itself 6. At best, DE translations do one step of interpretation for a reader, and the reader must beware of making inferences based on the words he sees 7. At worst, DE translations simply act as conduits for men to establish their own doctrines and insert them into the Scriptures E. Having seen the general translation philosophies, then, let us consider the spectrum of Bible translations and versions today IV. Spectrum of Bible Translations and Versions A. Now that we have seen the general translation philosophies, we can take a look at the translations and versions we have and grade them on a spectrum of "literalness" and "interpretive license" B. Literal side of spectrum 1. First we have the literal translations, beginning with Young and Darby, and then Green's literal translation 2. These have the most "literalness" and the least "interpretive license" C. Formal equivalence part of spectrum 1. From most literal to least literal, least interpretive license to most interpretive license: 2. KJV/NKJV/related versions 3. NASB 4. RSV/NRSV 5. ESV 6. HCSB D. Dynamic equivalence part of spectrum 1. From least interpretive license to most interpretive license: 2. NIV 3. NLT/NCV 4. Good News for Modern Man/GW 5. CEV 6. The Message 7. "The Word on the Street" E. Now that we have spent some time looking at this spectrum, let us look at some examples of what is under discussion with translation differences V. Translation Differences A. Let us spend some time now looking at different passages, how they are rendered differently, and how the differences in translation impact interpretation and inference B. Judges 16:25 1. KJV: And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars. 2. RV/AV similar 3. ESV: And when their hearts were merry, they said, "Call Samson, that he may entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 4. NIV: While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. When they stood him among the pillars... 5. Here we see an example of how language changes and even differences between British and American English; "make sport" is not good idiomatic American English, and the American is going to have difficulties understanding such C. Hosea 5:2 1. YLT: And to slaughter sinners have gone deep, And I am a fetter to them all. 2. Darby: And they have plunged themselves in the corruption of apostasy, but I will be a chastiser of them all. 3. LITV: And revolters have gone deep in slaughtering, and I chasten all of them. 4. ESV: And the revolters have gone deep into slaughter, but I will discipline all of them. 5. NIV: The rebels are deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them. 6. Here we can see how when a difficult verse presents itself, even the literal translations tend to scatter; Darby seems to take some license here 7. Furthermore, we can see how the NIV "polishes" the text just a bit D. Psalm 51:5 1. A contentious text for many reasons, and contention remains in its translation 2. LITV: Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me 3. ESV: Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 4. HCSB: For I was born a sinner – yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 5. NIV: Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6. We can see great concord between the LITV and the ESV, but the HCSB, which claims to be a FE translation, is even stronger in advocating original sin than the NIV! 7. We see further here how the DE concept represents an interpretation-- the translators clearly deduce that David is saying that he was a sinner from his birth, and their translations reflect that understanding E. 1 Timothy 4:14 1. ASV: Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 2. ESV: Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 3. NIV: Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 4. Here we have an example where the ESV has made an unwarranted expansion of the text-- the original simply says presbuteroi and does not demand the idea of a "council" of elders 5. Even the NIV couches the understanding by having "body of," not "council of"! F. 1 Peter 1:1 1. ESV: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia... 2. NIV: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia... 3. I use this example to show the interpretation that DE translations already make for you 4. The text from Peter does not indicate precisely what the "elect exiles" are exiles from 5. There are two real choices-- to consider his audience to be Jews, exiled from Jerusalem, or Christians, exiled from the world 6. In the end, we as Christians realize that the second choice is the right choice; in the NIV, you do not see that there is even a need to make that kind of interpretive decision, since it has been made for you in the text G. 1 Timothy 3:2 1. ESV: "the husband of one wife" 2. NIV: "the husband of but one wife" 3. CEV: "faithful in marriage" 4. I provide this as an example of how DE translations can mislead 5. Sure, the impetus and message of Paul's requirement is that the elder is to be faithful in marriage 6. However, there are implications of "husband of one wife" that are not clearly understood in the idea of "faithful in marriage" 7. On a message board regarding Mormonism, a misguided soul thought that 1 Timothy 3:2 could not be used as an argument against polygamy because he was using the CEV! 8. This should show how the original words lead us to make proper inferences that DE translations can misconstrue or hide completely H. Romans 10:9 1. ESV: because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 2. NIV: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 3. The Message: Say the welcoming word to God--"Jesus is my Master"--embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. 4. The purpose of this last example should be rather obvious: the DE translations that take the most liberty with the text expose the translator's doctrinal stance most clearly 5. You can notice that the NIV stays fairly closely to the text, as indicated further by the ESV, yet the Message goes off the deep end, and is no longer Scripture, but the doctrines of men presuming as Scripture I. These examples, hopefully, demonstrate the types of differences we mentioned previously VI. Conclusion A. We have now seen some of the differences in translation among Bible versions B. We have seen that translation is more of an art than a science, and any form of translation is a form of interpretation C. We have seen the conflict between literalism and conveying the full meaning of God's Word in English, and we have seen the three main philosophies that are followed in this endeavor D. In the end, we see that the word-for-word translations represent the best compromise, since they remain faithful enough to the text to be relied upon yet do help convey the Scriptures to be meaningful to a modern English audience E. Literal versions can be helpful when studying more deeply, since they will help one get a better idea of what is going on with the text F. While thought-for-thought translations may make it easier to understand the text, they all go too far in interpretation and at some points they all elevate man's interpretation over the message of God G. Let us consider this information and use it to make informed decisions about the Bible translation/version we use in our study H. Invitation/songbook I. Perhaps there are some who have a need to obey Christ J. Perhaps there are some Christians who need encouragement today K. If we can help you in any way, let us know; come to the front as we stand and sing