COMPARING SOME MODERN TRANSLATIONS

 

Each of the modern translations are based on a particular philosophy of translation.  For example, the NASB and the RSV (which have the common purpose of revising the ASV1) are more literal than most versions.  The translators often followed a word-for-word method instead of thought-for-thought.  The NRSV is a little more "free"; in fact, their guiding principle was "as literal as possible, as free as necessary."  The NIV is even more free than NRSV following a thought-for-thought approach.  And yet the NIV is not as free as TEV, the NJB, and the REB because these were created to be as contemporary as possible.  The Easy To Read Bible was made to help those with a limited vocabulary, particularly some among the deaf.  It is helpful to those just learning English.  Actually, the TLB is not a translation, but a short commentary, since it's author did not begin with the original languages.  It was written with children in mind.  The introduction to one edition of the TLB describes it as "a paraphrase...in words other than the author's words."2  Let the reader beware.  Following is a classification of several modern translations, beginning with those most faithful to the text of the original languages.  However, these distinctions are not always clear, since translations sometimes the cross boundaries. 

 


1.  Strictly literal:

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

 

2.  Literal:

New King James Version (NKJV)

Revised Standard Version (RSV)

New American Bible (NAB)

 

3.  Literal with freedom:

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

 


4.  Thought-for-thought:

New International Version (NIV)

New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)

Revised English Bible (REB)

New Jewish Version (NJV)

 

5.  modern speech:

Today’s English Version (TEV)

 

6.  Paraphrased:

The Living Bible (TLB)


 

A Bible student might do well to have several translations representing the first three or four categories above.  My suggestion would be the NASB, the RSV, and the NIV in that order.3  My personal preference for reading and Bible study is the NASB,3 although the NIV is easier to read, and thus especially useful for those with reading difficulty.  Those who use only one translation would likely be enriched by having some others for reading and comparison, especially relative to the King James Version. 

In selecting a translation, one should make sure that it was based on the latest, most authoritative texts.  Preferably, the Old Testament should basically follow Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia (Hebrew text) and the New Testament, the United Bible Societies’ third edition of the Greek New Testament. Many of the modern versions reflect these standard texts; whereas translations such as the KJV and even the NKJV are based on an inferior Greek text, since it reflects only those manuscripts that were discovered before the translation of the KJV in 1611 AD.  Literally thousands of New Testament manuscripts have been unearthed since then. 

Finally, it must always be remembered that translations are only translations; they are not the same as the Bible in the original languages.  No one translation is "inspired" by God in the same way the original text was.  Those who want to read the Bible in the original, inspired languages, must learn Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.  Otherwise one must depend on translations.  By using different translations the reader will have a fuller understanding of the the original text. 4

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1American Standard Version, 1901.  2Emphasis mine, RB;  3RB;  4This article was adapted by Ray Bailey from: Comfort, Philip W., The Complete Guide to Bible Versions,  1991


COMPARING SOME MODERN TRANSLATIONS

 

1.  Strictly literal:

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

 

2.  Literal:

New King James Version (NKJV)

Revised Standard Version (RSV)

New American Bible (NAB)

 

3.  Literal with freedom:

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

 

4.  Thought-for-thought:

New International Version (NIV)

New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)

Revised English Bible (REB)

New Jewish Version (NJV)

 

5.  modern speech:

Today’s English Version (TEV)

 

6.  Paraphrased:

The Living Bible (TLB)