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
____________________
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
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)