The Best Translations (part 3)
Introduction. The more precise the task, the more accurate the tools must be. In our age of technology, we are well aware of this truth. Yet the task of navigating our soul through the maze of sin and error designed by Satan to destroy us requires the most precise instrument of all.
Our Bible is a lamp unto our feet, and our guide to travel the strait and narrow way that leads to eternal life (Mt. 7:13-14). It contains all truth and the wisdom to be successful. It is the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit and the Word of Jesus. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:31-32). It is “All Scripture” and “is “given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” so we are “thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2Tim. 3:16-17).
Hence one of the most important decisions we will make affecting our eternal destiny is our choice of Bible translation. If our translation is not true to the original, no matter how hard we seek to comply with its words, it is a tainted source. We need the pure milk of the word and the solid food that will exercise our senses without any addition of human wisdom. In two previous articles we have sought to ease our minds. In this final article we will sum up.
Textus Receptus or Wescott and Hort. While some contend the KJV/NKJV is inferior/superior due to its use of the Received Text (Textus Receptus), after centuries of research there is no credible evidence for either position. Others are claiming the superiority of the ASV, NASB, or ESV due to a compiled text (Wescott and Hort). Although it has done much to validate our manuscripts, the results have not significantly added to the accuracy of the Received Text.
After decades of reading different translations in a “read the Bible in a year” plan, I have compared the ASV, NKJV, NASB, ESV and found things I like and dislike about each. None of them rise above another in truth or accuracy. There just isn’t much difference in the Textus Receptus and Westcott and Hort. But in reading the NIV, the ease of reading had tradeoffs. I have been disappointed in some of the decisions of the translators. Their attempts to clarify only made it more difficult to teach truth. For this reason, I do not use the NIV for preaching or teaching purposes.
Philosophy of Translators. Although Greek/Hebrew texts have not created an inferior or superior translation, the philosophy and work of translators have done both (see previous articles). No matter how precise the original text, if the translators are not interested in preserving grammar, sentence structure or word meanings, it will be inaccurate. When the translators of the NIV, NRSV, Living Bible etc. proclaim an ability to grasp the thoughts of the Holy Spirit and use their own words to explain it, their finished product does not validate their claims.
When translators change sentence structure (syntax) by modifying verbs, nouns and prepositions, etc. to make it easier to read, they must add to or take from Scripture itself. When modifying words to accommodate doctrinal bias, they bring condemnation upon themselves and their translation. They also put their readers at risk. God has commanded we don’t add or remove (Rev. 22:18-19), don’t go beyond (1Cor. 4:6), and don’t go onward and abide not (2Jn. 9-11). “Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Pr. 30:6). Some translations richly deserve this condemnation! Although there is no doubt by changing words and grammar it will make it easier to read, but it will always come at the price of blurring or obscuring truth.
Inspiration allowed the Holy Spirit who understands “the deep things of God” (1Cor. 2:9-13) to place God’s thoughts into the human minds of the apostles and prophets. He then precisely conveyed those thoughts using exact words and grammar (Eph. 3:3-4). Only an exact word for word translation can capture the deep things we might otherwise miss. When a mere man uses human wisdom for ease of reading, the end result will be human wisdom! There is no way the deep things of God can be comprehended by anyone, so how could they convey His thoughts? A dynamic translation will be laced with human wisdom, human ignorance, and human bias.
Bible scholars who translate come from different denominations. Some do not believe in inspiration, others have rejected baptism as necessary for salvation. Some believe women should have an equal role in preaching and leadership roles, and others are fighting for homosexual rights. If these scholars cannot agree among themselves, how can they give us the thoughts of the Holy Spirit? The reality is deep and profound: “no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2Pet. 1:20-21). No one today can speak “from God being moved by the Holy Spirit.” No “Scripture is of private interpretation.” So we must is rely on those we know were so moved, by accurately translating their words, no matter how hard they are to read!
Conclusion. God has kept His promises and extensive research has only validated what we already knew by faith: “the word of the Lord abides forever.” Yet we can squander God’s efforts by choosing an inaccurate translation. Don’t be fooled. Easy reading to some degree means wisdom of men. Read the preface of your Bible. If it says “dynamic equivalence,” “verbal equivalence with dynamic balance” or “paraphrase,” it is laced with human wisdom, additions and changes. If it says “verbal equivalence” or “plenary inspiration,” it is a word for word, grammar for grammar translation. If you are going to read the NIV, or other “dynamic equivalence translations,” be careful. If you see something you never saw before, be certain to compare it to a true translation before changing any convictions regarding doctrine or morality.
Never forget, Jesus said “the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (Jn. 12:49). We must be certain it is His word. If doctrines of men slip into His words through dynamic equivalence, our worship is vain, for “in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mk. 7:7).
Our Bible is a lamp unto our feet, and our guide to travel the strait and narrow way that leads to eternal life (Mt. 7:13-14). It contains all truth and the wisdom to be successful. It is the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit and the Word of Jesus. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:31-32). It is “All Scripture” and “is “given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” so we are “thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2Tim. 3:16-17).
Hence one of the most important decisions we will make affecting our eternal destiny is our choice of Bible translation. If our translation is not true to the original, no matter how hard we seek to comply with its words, it is a tainted source. We need the pure milk of the word and the solid food that will exercise our senses without any addition of human wisdom. In two previous articles we have sought to ease our minds. In this final article we will sum up.
Textus Receptus or Wescott and Hort. While some contend the KJV/NKJV is inferior/superior due to its use of the Received Text (Textus Receptus), after centuries of research there is no credible evidence for either position. Others are claiming the superiority of the ASV, NASB, or ESV due to a compiled text (Wescott and Hort). Although it has done much to validate our manuscripts, the results have not significantly added to the accuracy of the Received Text.
After decades of reading different translations in a “read the Bible in a year” plan, I have compared the ASV, NKJV, NASB, ESV and found things I like and dislike about each. None of them rise above another in truth or accuracy. There just isn’t much difference in the Textus Receptus and Westcott and Hort. But in reading the NIV, the ease of reading had tradeoffs. I have been disappointed in some of the decisions of the translators. Their attempts to clarify only made it more difficult to teach truth. For this reason, I do not use the NIV for preaching or teaching purposes.
Philosophy of Translators. Although Greek/Hebrew texts have not created an inferior or superior translation, the philosophy and work of translators have done both (see previous articles). No matter how precise the original text, if the translators are not interested in preserving grammar, sentence structure or word meanings, it will be inaccurate. When the translators of the NIV, NRSV, Living Bible etc. proclaim an ability to grasp the thoughts of the Holy Spirit and use their own words to explain it, their finished product does not validate their claims.
When translators change sentence structure (syntax) by modifying verbs, nouns and prepositions, etc. to make it easier to read, they must add to or take from Scripture itself. When modifying words to accommodate doctrinal bias, they bring condemnation upon themselves and their translation. They also put their readers at risk. God has commanded we don’t add or remove (Rev. 22:18-19), don’t go beyond (1Cor. 4:6), and don’t go onward and abide not (2Jn. 9-11). “Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar” (Pr. 30:6). Some translations richly deserve this condemnation! Although there is no doubt by changing words and grammar it will make it easier to read, but it will always come at the price of blurring or obscuring truth.
Inspiration allowed the Holy Spirit who understands “the deep things of God” (1Cor. 2:9-13) to place God’s thoughts into the human minds of the apostles and prophets. He then precisely conveyed those thoughts using exact words and grammar (Eph. 3:3-4). Only an exact word for word translation can capture the deep things we might otherwise miss. When a mere man uses human wisdom for ease of reading, the end result will be human wisdom! There is no way the deep things of God can be comprehended by anyone, so how could they convey His thoughts? A dynamic translation will be laced with human wisdom, human ignorance, and human bias.
Bible scholars who translate come from different denominations. Some do not believe in inspiration, others have rejected baptism as necessary for salvation. Some believe women should have an equal role in preaching and leadership roles, and others are fighting for homosexual rights. If these scholars cannot agree among themselves, how can they give us the thoughts of the Holy Spirit? The reality is deep and profound: “no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2Pet. 1:20-21). No one today can speak “from God being moved by the Holy Spirit.” No “Scripture is of private interpretation.” So we must is rely on those we know were so moved, by accurately translating their words, no matter how hard they are to read!
Conclusion. God has kept His promises and extensive research has only validated what we already knew by faith: “the word of the Lord abides forever.” Yet we can squander God’s efforts by choosing an inaccurate translation. Don’t be fooled. Easy reading to some degree means wisdom of men. Read the preface of your Bible. If it says “dynamic equivalence,” “verbal equivalence with dynamic balance” or “paraphrase,” it is laced with human wisdom, additions and changes. If it says “verbal equivalence” or “plenary inspiration,” it is a word for word, grammar for grammar translation. If you are going to read the NIV, or other “dynamic equivalence translations,” be careful. If you see something you never saw before, be certain to compare it to a true translation before changing any convictions regarding doctrine or morality.
Never forget, Jesus said “the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day” (Jn. 12:49). We must be certain it is His word. If doctrines of men slip into His words through dynamic equivalence, our worship is vain, for “in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mk. 7:7).
- "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Mt. 7:21-23