Bible Manuscripts and Translations John Oakes 11/13/2010.

Bible Manuscripts and TranslationsBible Manuscripts and Translations

John OakesJohn Oakes

11/13/201011/13/2010

Our OutlineOur Outline

First Considerations: Inspiration and First Considerations: Inspiration and InerrancyInerrancy

English Translations: Which is the “best” English Translations: Which is the “best” translation?translation?

What about the KJV?What about the KJV?

First ConsiderationsFirst Considerations

What do we mean when we say the Bible is inspired?What do we mean when we say the Bible is inspired?

Exactly what is inspired?Exactly what is inspired?

Original autographsOriginal autographs Manuscript copiesManuscript copies TranslationsTranslations

Is the Bible inerrant? If so, in what sense?Is the Bible inerrant? If so, in what sense?

The Biblical Meaning of InspirationThe Biblical Meaning of Inspiration

2 Peter 1:20-21 2 Peter 1:20-21

1 Thess 2:13 1 Thess 2:13

I believe that the entire scripture is inspired by God I believe that the entire scripture is inspired by God because:because:

The Bible says soThe Bible says so The evidence supports this conclusionThe evidence supports this conclusion By faith in GodBy faith in God

What, Exactly, Is Inspired by God?What, Exactly, Is Inspired by God?

The Original Autographs For sure!The Original Autographs For sure! (But we do not have those)(But we do not have those)

The Copyists? NoThe Copyists? No Why would God trust his inspired word to fallible Why would God trust his inspired word to fallible

copyists?copyists?

The Translators? NoThe Translators? No Why would God trust his inspired word to fallible Why would God trust his inspired word to fallible

translators?translators?

Inspired Inspired TranslationsTranslations??

Q: God is sovereign: Wouldn’t he see to the Q: God is sovereign: Wouldn’t he see to the inspiration of the translators?inspiration of the translators?

Q: Does this mean we do not have direct access to Q: Does this mean we do not have direct access to the inspired Word of God?the inspired Word of God?

The question of exaggerated and unreasonable faith.The question of exaggerated and unreasonable faith. Does God change lights from red to green for us?Does God change lights from red to green for us? Does God move the had of the copyist or the mind of the Does God move the had of the copyist or the mind of the

translator?translator? Does God reveal his one chosen mate to us?Does God reveal his one chosen mate to us?

Conclusion (with regard to Biblical inspiration)Conclusion (with regard to Biblical inspiration)

Although it is true that we do not have a perfect Although it is true that we do not have a perfect Greek or Hebrew text, and although we do not have Greek or Hebrew text, and although we do not have inspired, inerrant translations, with the help of inspired, inerrant translations, with the help of modern scholarship of the languages, knowledge of modern scholarship of the languages, knowledge of OT and NT cultures, careful textual criticism and so OT and NT cultures, careful textual criticism and so forth, we have at least as good access to forth, we have at least as good access to understanding the original inspired Word of God as understanding the original inspired Word of God as Christians living in the first or second century.Christians living in the first or second century.

Is The Bible Inerrant?Is The Bible Inerrant?

The Simple Answer: Yes, definitely.The Simple Answer: Yes, definitely.

The Nuanced Answer: What do you mean by The Nuanced Answer: What do you mean by inerrant?inerrant? Are Jesus’ speeches transcripts?Are Jesus’ speeches transcripts? What about speeches by Abraham or Noah?What about speeches by Abraham or Noah? How would a Near Eastern Jew 700 BC How would a Near Eastern Jew 700 BC

understand inerrancy?understand inerrancy? Does the chronology have to be strictly correct Does the chronology have to be strictly correct

for the text to be inerrant?for the text to be inerrant? The question is not what can God do, but what The question is not what can God do, but what

did he do.did he do.

Inerrancy: A ConclusionInerrancy: A Conclusion

The Bible is theologically and doctrinally inerrant.The Bible is theologically and doctrinally inerrant.

Theological inerrancy holds up to careful scrutiny.Theological inerrancy holds up to careful scrutiny. Evidence for doctrinal inerrancy is also very strong.Evidence for doctrinal inerrancy is also very strong.

The Scripture is verbally inspiredThe Scripture is verbally inspired

Paul agrees with this! Galatians 3:16Paul agrees with this! Galatians 3:16 Careful analysis of the scripture supports this conclusionCareful analysis of the scripture supports this conclusion

English TranslationsEnglish Translations

Word for WordWord for Word

Phrase for PhrasePhrase for Phrase

Thought for Thought (ie paraphrased)Thought for Thought (ie paraphrased)

NASB New American Standard Bible (1971; update 1995)AMP Amplified Bible (1965)ESV English Standard Version (2001)RSV Revised Standard Version (1952)KJV King James Version (1611; significantly revised 1769)NKJV New King James Version (1982)HCSB Holman Christian Standard Version (2004)NRSV New Revised Standard Version (1989)NAB New American Bible (Catholic, 1970, 1986 (NT), 1991 (Psalms)NJB New Jerusalem Bible (Catholic, 1986; revision of 1966 Jerusalem Bible)

NIV New International Version (1984)TNIV Today’s New International Version (NT 2001, OT 2005)NCV New Century VersionNLT1 New Living Translation (1st ed. 1996; 2nd ed. 2004)NIrV New International reader’s VersionGNT Good News Translation (also Good News Bible)CEV Contemporary English VersionLiving Living Bible (1950). Paraphrase by Ken Taylor. Liberal treatment of ‘blood.’Message The Message by Eugene Peterson (1991-2000s)

Version Version Type Type # Translators# Translators NASBNASB word for word word for word 54 54 AMPAMP word for word word for word 13 13 ESVESV word for word word for word 100+ 100+ KJVKJV word for word word for word 54 54 NKJVNKJV word for word word for word 119 119 HCSB word for word/phrase for phrase 90HCSB word for word/phrase for phrase 90 NRSV word for word/phrase for phrase 30NRSV word for word/phrase for phrase 30 NABNAB word for word word for word 55 55 NJBNJB phrase for phrase phrase for phrase 36 36 NIVNIV phrase for phrase phrase for phrase 115 115 TNIVTNIV phrase for phrase phrase for phrase 115 115 NLTNLT phrase for phrase phrase for phrase 90 90 CEVCEV paraphrase paraphrase 100+ 100+ NIrVNIrV paraphrase paraphrase 11 11 GNTGNT paraphrase paraphrase 7 7 MessageMessage paraphrase paraphrase 1 1

Which is the Best Translation?Which is the Best Translation?

It Depends... Probably more than one. What is the It Depends... Probably more than one. What is the goal?goal?

To do a deep and detailed study in order to do Bible To do a deep and detailed study in order to do Bible teaching or to deepen our own personal knowledge teaching or to deepen our own personal knowledge of the scripture.of the scripture.

Reading the scripture to allow an entire section have Reading the scripture to allow an entire section have an impact.an impact.

Reading scripture in public (what public?)Reading scripture in public (what public?) Studying out, defending and explaining a doctrine.Studying out, defending and explaining a doctrine. Reading for inspiration and to give personal faith.Reading for inspiration and to give personal faith. Doing a word study, Doing a topical study, etc….Doing a word study, Doing a topical study, etc….

We are not limited to English translationsWe are not limited to English translations

Greek InterlinearGreek Interlinear

Greek LexiconGreek Lexicon

Comprehensive ConcordanceComprehensive Concordance

CommentariesCommentaries

Should We Stick to the NIV?Should We Stick to the NIV?

What About the KJV “Authorized” Version?What About the KJV “Authorized” Version?

Critics of the NIV (and other translations) say:Critics of the NIV (and other translations) say:

In every case, when the KJV is compared with the In every case, when the KJV is compared with the NIV, the KJV is better.NIV, the KJV is better.

The KJV contains the whole Bible and has no The KJV contains the whole Bible and has no deletions. Revelation 22:18deletions. Revelation 22:18

The KJV is more hard hitting and does not The KJV is more hard hitting and does not compromise with the world.compromise with the world.

The KJV uses better Greek and Hebrew manuscripts: The KJV uses better Greek and Hebrew manuscripts: The The Textus ReceptusTextus Receptus..

The translators of the NIV were homosexuals and/or The translators of the NIV were homosexuals and/or deists who reject the deity of Jesus Christ.deists who reject the deity of Jesus Christ.

Authorized Version KJV Is Always More AccurateAuthorized Version KJV Is Always More Accurate

Examples: Examples: Holy GhostHoly Ghost James 3:13James 3:13 Proverbs 18:24Proverbs 18:24 Romans 3:25Romans 3:25

This is a biased analysis which no serious scholar This is a biased analysis which no serious scholar would support.would support.

KJV uses archaic words, poorer manuscripts, word KJV uses archaic words, poorer manuscripts, word meanings have changed…..meanings have changed…..

KJV (Unlike The Others) Has No DeletionsKJV (Unlike The Others) Has No Deletions

Revelation 22:18 Matthew 5:18Revelation 22:18 Matthew 5:18

Acts 8:37, 1 John 5:7-8, Luke 17:36, etc.Acts 8:37, 1 John 5:7-8, Luke 17:36, etc.

Which is worse, additions or deletions?Which is worse, additions or deletions?

AV Uses Superior Greek ManuscriptsAV Uses Superior Greek Manuscripts

Textus Receptus Textus Receptus (Erasmus, 16(Erasmus, 16thth century) century)

Byzantine Text FamilyByzantine Text Family

Alexandrine Text FamilyAlexandrine Text Family

Western Text FamilyWestern Text Family

Telephone…Telephone…

Hebrew Text and Scholarship ProblemsHebrew Text and Scholarship Problems

ConclusionConclusion

The entire Old and New Testaments are inspired by God. We The entire Old and New Testaments are inspired by God. We know this both by evidence and by faith.know this both by evidence and by faith.

The Scripture is verbally inspired and inerrant. We also know The Scripture is verbally inspired and inerrant. We also know this by evidence and faith. However, we ought to be cautious this by evidence and faith. However, we ought to be cautious about over-committing ourselves with regard to the meaning of about over-committing ourselves with regard to the meaning of the word inerrant.the word inerrant.

We English speakers do not read the original inspired text, but We English speakers do not read the original inspired text, but with sufficient help from scholars we have at least as good an with sufficient help from scholars we have at least as good an access to understanding the original as the majority who lived access to understanding the original as the majority who lived in the first and second centuries.in the first and second centuries.

The debate over the “right” English translation is not a useful The debate over the “right” English translation is not a useful one. A student of the scriptures who does not have a deep one. A student of the scriptures who does not have a deep knowledge of the original languages will use more than one knowledge of the original languages will use more than one translation, as well as other resources to arrive at a good translation, as well as other resources to arrive at a good understanding of the meaning of the text.understanding of the meaning of the text.

Arguments that the King James Version is the only acceptable, Arguments that the King James Version is the only acceptable, inspired translation and that others are demonic are biased, full inspired translation and that others are demonic are biased, full of logical fallacies and simply not valid.of logical fallacies and simply not valid.