Re: Bible translation articles.
One of the best translations was the Revised Standard Version,
particularly the revision of 1971, but its flaws were well publicized and debated.
The RSV translation “continuing chairman” was Bruce Metzger of Princeton.
He told me he never dreamed such a good translation could have come using the
committee approach.
Re: Bible translation articles.
One of the best translations was the Revised Standard Version,
particularly the revision of 1971, but its flaws were well publicized and debated.
The RSV translation “continuing chairman” was Bruce Metzger of Princeton.
He told me he never dreamed such a good translation could have come using the
committee approach. He believed they had “done the impossible.”
I agreed and have used the NIV for years, because I thought
the wooden quality of the NASV stood in the way of good communication of God’s
truth. The NASV is a very good translation, but the English is very stiff. The
NIV brought us very good English quality with a few problems in terms of translation
fidelity. I would have preferred the use of “propitiation,” for example,
instead of “atoning sacrifice.” But the new version of the NIV (TNIV)
has gone too far. We need to know what the Greek and Hebrew texts actually say,
and without language training, the average student of the Bible cannot do that.
I did find it strange that people in both articles seemed to
be comparing the KJV to the contemporary efforts without any reference to the
Greek. It is true that the KJV translates John 6:35 as “he that cometh
to me,” but the Greek literally says “the one coming to me.”
A problem would arise if verse 44 was translated using gender inclusive language.
That would defy what the text actually says, “I will raise him up at the
last day.”
There is another good alternative in addition to the NIV, NASV
and the CSV from Holman – the English Standard Version (published just
last year by Crossway). This revision of the 1971 RSV maintains good translation
principles, a sound approach to textual questions and has good English style
as well.
Joe Nesom
Jackson