The Need for Translations

The Need for Translations1 Peter 1:25But the WORD OF THE Lord ABIDES FOREVER. And this is the word which was preached to you

So many choices King James VersionNew King James VersionAmerican Standard VersionRevised Standard VersionNew American Standard BibleEnglish Standard Version

So many choices New International VersionContemporary English VersionNew Living TranslationGods WordThe MessageThe Living BibleGood News Bible

Today, there is a range of translations running the full gamut from the most literal, such as the New American Standard Bible to the most free such as The Message and The Word on the Street

So many choices Airmans BiblePolicemans BibleFiremans BibleBible-zines

So Many Choices So confusingWhich one should you choose?Why are there so many?Do we even need all of these translations?

The Need for TranslationsThe Bible was written in three languagesOld TestamentHebrew

Hebrew, , , . In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The Need for TranslationsThe Bible was written in three languagesOld TestamentHebrewAramaicDaniel, Ezra, a few other places

Aramaic

The Need for TranslationsThe Bible was written in three languagesNew TestamentKoine Greek

Greek , , .John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Need for TranslationsHow many present today can read any of these ancient languagesHave it translated for us by reputable scholarsAll of us learn to speak and read ancient Greek

The King James Version has been good enough for almost 400 years, why change from it?

Why the need?King James Version you have is not the original King James VersionActually an updated versionUpdated numerous times from 1611 to 1833 in attempts to remove some of the errors found in earlier editions.

Genefis j. 1In the beginning God created the Heauen, and the Earth. 2 And the earth was without forme, and voyd, and darkenesse was vpon the face of the deepe: and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the face of the waters.

Ieremiah XV 11-13The Lord said, Verely it shall be well with thy remnant, verely I will cause the enemie to intreat thee well in the time of euill, and in the time of affliction. 12 Shall yron breake the Northren yron, and the steele? 13 Thy substance and thy treasures will I giue to the spoile without price and that for all thy sinnes, euen in all thy borders.

Why the need?King James Version was one of many available in English at that time.John Wycliffe had begun translating in 1380 from the Latin Vulgate

Why the need?King James Version was one of many available in English at that time.John Wycliffe had begun translating in 1380 from the Latin VulgateAdhelm Psalms in the late 7th centuryBede Gospel of John by 735 AD

Wycliffe Genesis 1:1-3In the bigynnyng God made of nouyt heuene and erthe. 2 Forsothe the erthe was idel and voide, and derknessis weren on the face of depthe; and the Spiryt of the Lord was borun on the watris. 3 And God seide, Liyt be maad, and liyt was maad.

Wycliffe - John 14:1-4Be not youre herte affraied, ne drede it. Ye bileuen in god, and bileue ye in me. In the hous of my fadir ben many dwellyngis: if ony thing lasse I hadde seid to you, for I go to make redi to you a place. And if I go and make redi to you a place, eftsone I come and I schal take you to my silf, that where I am, ye be. And whidir I go ye witen: and ye witen the wey.

Why the need?King James Version was one of many available in English at that time.By the time the KJV became available it was one of many and the newest of them all.

Early TranslationsWilliam Tyndale 1525Invention of printing press 1450Erasmus publication of the Greek Testament in 1516Tyndale was able to translate from the original language, unlike earlier translators.

Early TranslationsThe Coverdale Bible 1535

Early TranslationsThe Coverdale Bible 1535The Matthews Bible 1537

Early TranslationsThe Coverdale Bible 1535The Matthews Bible 1537Taverners Bible 1539The Great Bible 1539The Geneva Bible 1560

Early TranslationsThe Coverdale Bible 1535The Matthews Bible 1537Taverners Bible 1539The Great Bible 1539The Geneva Bible 1560The Bishops Bible 1568

Early TranslationsThe Douay-Rheims BibleNT 1582OT 1609

Early TranslationsThe Douay-Rheims BibleNT 1582OT 1609By 1611, there were already 8 translations available, all less than 100 years old

Early TranslationsOf interest is that all of these translations included the Appocrypha, even the KJVIncludes books such asThe rest of EstherThe idol Bel and the Dragon1 & 2 Maccabees

Why the need?Even Jesus used a modern translationJesus quoted from the Septuagint version of the OT scriptures more often than from HebrewSeptuagint was translated around 285 BC

Why the need?Languages changeAll languages in use today are constantly growing, changing, evolving

Why the need?Languages changeThe meaning of words change over timeConversation 2 Peter 3:11

2 Peter 3:11 - KJVSeeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2 Peter 3:11 - KJVSeeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2 Peter 3:11 NASB-USince all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

Why the need?Languages changeThe meaning of words change over timeConversation 2 Peter 3:11Charity 1 Corinthians 13

1 Corinthians 13:4 - KJVCharity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1 Corinthians 13:4 - KJVCharity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1 Corinthians 13:4 NASB-ULove is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,

Why the need?Languages changeThe meaning of words change over timeSome are no longer considered acceptable speech1 Samuel 25:22

1 Samuel 25:22 - KJVSo and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

1 Samuel 25:22 - KJVSo and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

Why the need?Languages changeThe meaning of words change over timeSome are no longer considered acceptable speechOther Words become obsoleteWot Genesis 21:26

Genesis 21:26 - KJVAnd Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

Genesis 21:26 - KJVAnd Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

Genesis 21:26 NASB-UAnd Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; neither did you tell me, nor did I hear of it until today."

Danger of Modern TranslationsNot all translations are done wellIn fact, some cannot even be properly called a translation, but are in fact a paraphrase.

Danger of Modern TranslationsMethods of TranslatingFormal Equivalenceattempts to render the text word-for-word

Danger of Modern TranslationsMethods of TranslatingFormal EquivalenceDynamic Equivalenceattempts to convey the thought expressed in a source text

Danger of Modern TranslationsMethods of TranslatingFormal EquivalenceDynamic EquivalenceIdiomatic or Paraphrastic translationattempts to paraphrase the ideas of the Scriptures and use modern idioms to get the point across

Genesis 1:1-2 GNB/TEVIn the beginning, when God created the universe, 2 the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the power of God was moving over the water.

Danger of Modern TranslationsThe KJV uses the Dynamic EquivalencePoetic Elizabethan / Shakespearean language.

Danger of Modern TranslationsThe KJV uses the Dynamic EquivalenceThe ASV uses the Formal EquivalenceA very literal translationLoses some of its readability because of the difference in sentence structure

Danger of Modern TranslationsThe NASB tries to walk the line carefully between these twoGiving an easier read, without giving up the literalness of the translation.The NIV attempts to blur the lines altogetherusing a combination of Dynamic Equivalence and Paraphrastic.

Danger of Modern TranslationsMany modern translations fall under the sway of Premillenialist thought and Calvinistic doctrines.

Acts 2:38 KJV - 1611Then Peter said vnto them, Repent, and be baptized euery one of you in the Name if Iesus chris, for the remission of sinnes, and ye shal receiue the gift of the holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38 - KJVThen Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38 - NKJVThen Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:38 - ASVAnd Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 NASB-UPeter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 NIVPeter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:38 GNB/TEVPeter said to them, Each one of you must turn away from his sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven; and you will receive Gods gift, the Holy Spirit