Selected Essays And Book Reviews

NBST 525 - New Testament Introduction

Lesson 15 - How to Evaluate Modern Translations {417 words}

1. The translation (KJV-1611)

a. KJV very little

b. In 1880s, the update of KJV (English Revised Version)

c. 1901 - American Standard Version (B. B. Warfield - Princeton Bible College) - a lot like the ERV

d. RSV (1940s, 1950s) - under attack from conservatives. Many of these translations were theologically liberal. One was a non-Christian Jew.

e. NASB (New American Standard Bible) by Lockman Foundation - their credentials were good

f. NIV - they hold a very high view of Scripture

2. Text used by the translators (underlying texts)

a. ASV, RSV, NASB, and NIV used a critical text, as did TEV (Today's English Version) - Westcott-Hort

b. New KJV used Textus Receptus (TR) => Acts 9:5-6, I John 5:7-8, Revelation 22:19 (tree not book) => should not be in TR

c. Dr. Borland does not want to use TR or Westcott-Hort

d. Westcott-Hort left out hundreds and hundreds of verses (no Acts 2:37)

3. Method of translation

a. Something is always lost, even in the KJV

b. Types are:

1) A very literal translation (NASB, KJV, NKJV)

2) A loose translation paraphrase (Living Bible)

3) A dynamic equivalence - in the middle but no toward paraphrase (NIV). It is easy to understand by using a loose translation method.

4. The theory of this translation (look at key verses for how translation was done)

a. II Timothy 3:16 - KJV and NASB differ. NIV agrees with the KJV.

b. I Peter 2:2 - a textual problem (grow up unto salvation)

c. Acts 2:38 - baptism to be forgiven. NIV later changed.

d. Avoid translations that leave out the blood.

5. Language and Style used - NKJV and KJV are much the same (more majestic)

6. Biblical tradition and background of reader

a. Greater knowledge and understanding gives more flexibility in using a variant translation.

b. KJV made for people who lived in 1611.

					Tom of Bethany

"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 
(I John 5:12)