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Is the New Testament for Everyone by N.T. Wright a trustworthy translation of the Bible?
I am extra careful when I evaluate new Bible translations, as well as when I review a Bible, and even more so when I am reviewing a Bible that is not typical. The New Testament for Everyone by N.T. Wright checks all of those boxes. It is a newer, less common translation, it is a Bible, but it is what I would label an abnormal Bible. On top of all of those factors, the New Testament for Everyone was translated by one person on their own. If you are like me, that’s a bonus item added to the “reasons to be skeptical” list.
With that said, this translation is published by Zondervan, a trusted Bible publisher, and is now available on the top Bible website, BibleGateway.com. That should add some credibility to the material, right? Well, let’s walk through the New Testament for Everyone by N.T. Wright with a look into N.T. Wright, a peek at how he translated the NTFE translation, and then a comparison of the NTFE to other popular translations.
Who is N.T. Wright?
Nicholas Thomas Wright, known as N.T. Wright, is an English New Testament scholar, Pauline theologian, and has served as the Bishop of Durham in the Church of England. He has written over 70 books, and has his own translation of the New Testament, the Kingdom New Testament, which later bred the NTFE (New Testament for Everyone). You can find more than 30 online courses, certifications, ebooks, and blog articles on his website (also available on a new site) where it states that believers can “Learn from the world-renowned Prof. Wright by engaging a variety of resources”. His works have been controversial to the degree that other renown Bible scholars, such as John Piper, have written their own books to dispute the teachings of N.T. Wright.
A red flag for me is that no matter what I look up concerning N.T. Wright, I find complaints, controversy, and warnings. There is not a lot of material that defends Wright and his works. Of course, this does not mean that all of the complaints and warnings are accurate, but anytime I find a lot of controversy around a Bible scholar I stop and ask some questions, as should we all.
How and why did N.T. Wright Translate the New Testament?
N.T. Wright translated the New Testament from the original Greek into “easily readable modern English, aiming for both accuracy and accessibility.” (BibleGateway.com). Wright used his own study and understanding of the New Testament as a Bible scholar and theologian to translate the New Testament for Everyone Bible translation. Usually, Bible translations are completed by a team of scholars translating together based on an agreed upon goal, set of translation “rules”, and principles.
Wright’s philosophy for translation is that each generation should have a new translation while also taking into account previously completed translations. In the Preface of the New Testament for Everyone, he gives credit to one of his “lifelong heroes, William Tindale” and then goes on to explain what kind of translation NTFE is by saying;
“Some have been quite strict translations, almost word for word; others have been paraphrases, trying to convey the message in a looser, less formal way. Two questions, then: is this new version really a translation, or a paraphrase? And why do we need yet another one?”
He then states plainly that the NTFE is a translation, not a paraphrase. For those of you who don’t know, William Tyndale was responsible for beginning the work of translating the Bible into English when Henry VIII was King of England and had separated England from the Roman Catholic Church making himself the Head of the Church of England. Tyndale began a dangerous project of secretly translating the scriptures into English, which was forbidden by the Pope, but eventually opened the door for common people to read the Bible for themselves for the first time. N.T. Wright sees what Tyndale did, and seems to desire to carry the torch onward for common people to have a translation they can easily understand, just as Tyndale worked at providing a Bible in English so the common people could understand the Word of God in their own language.
N.T. Wright points out time and again how language evolves over time, making new translation important to the development of our culture, so that there is always a translation that each generation will be able to read and make sense of without deciphering outdated linguistics. The NTFE translation is designed to be as word-for-word as possible, but with first-century Greek being so vastly different from modern English, he basically explains that there is no way to match it up word-for-word at all, let alone in a way that would make any sense. So, he veers away from the literal verbatim translation in order to capture what the original writer seems to intend to say. With this, I give him credit for his honesty in disclosing that no translation of the Bible is truly “safe”, and that all of them are “risky” – but that it is a necessary risk so that we can understand God’s Word.
How is the New Testament for Everyone meant to be used?
One thing I want to mention is that the goal of the New Testament for Everyone by N.T. Wright is to provide a fresh, modern translation of the Bible in English. It is intended to be used alongside other translations, but namely it was originally designed, per the Preface of the New Testament for Everyone, to accompany N.T. Wright’s commentary series’ on the New Testament which was made for people who have no intention of reading Bible commentaries. This is not a translation that is acclaimed to be the end-all for believers – it is intended to be a companion translation, but again namely a companion to Wright’s own commentaries.
N.T. Wright encourages Bible readers to go beyond the translations we have grown comfortable with, and step into a new way of wording the same message. With that, though, Wright does not want you to stop here with the NTFE – he makes it crystal clear that as the world changes, and the English language evolves, translations should evolve as well to ensure that we have a Bible in our own language that makes sense to us at any point in history.
Additionally, the New Testament for Everyone is also designed to be read more like a novel. I actually really appreciate that this Bible is laid out in a way sort of halfway between novel, which lacks verse references etc, and a traditional Bible with all the references. It has verse numbers and subtitles to guide readers, but it is still setup to flow like a novel. It makes me think of the Eternity Now: New Testament Series. Eternity Now is the Bible, but legitimately in novel form.
Layout of the NTFE
NTFE’s layout and style is a mesh of this and a traditional Bible, which gives you a different experience while reading it. I can sit and read it like a novel with less distraction, and less of a temptation to stop at breaks I normally would in my Bible, but I can also use the verse numbers and subtitles to guide me and reference where I am. The intention behind this is to give the Bible reader a flexible reading experience, which also enables us to study scripture with more flexibility and ease.
NTFE vs. NKJV
One way I find helpful to evaluate a translation is to compare to other translations. The NKJV (New King James Version) is my favorite primary translation. As we are approaching Christmas, I wanted to take a look at Luke 2 and read about the birth of Jesus Christ. The very first thing I noticed is that Luke 2:1-2 already differs from a variety of other translations I checked. (Emphasis mine.)
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. Luke 2:1-2 NKJV
At that time a decree was issued by Augustus Caesar: a census was to be taken of the whole world. 2 (This was the first census, before the one when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) Luke 2:1-2 NTFE
While every translation I read (NLT, ESV, NIV, KJV, CSB, AMP, NET) stated that the census was WHILE Augustus Caesar was governor, NTFE states that it was “BEFORE the one” when he was governor. Maybe not a huge deal, not worth splitting hairs over maybe, but this now changes the timeline of events a bit and strikes me that it is a small detail that is clearly different than so many other translations.
In Luke 2:10, the angel of the Lord appears to the shepherds and speaks to them. This shows us another noticeable difference for the NTFE, which is again translated more as a novel. Where there are conversations, they will read more like you would read a conversation in you favorite novel than what you are accustomed to in scripture. Additionally, frequently where you would read “Christ” in most translations, the NTFE reads as “Messiah”, which Wright points out in the Preface is how Christos is literally translated.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
10 “Don’t be afraid,” the angel said to them. “Look: I’ve got good news for you, news which will make everybody very happy. 11 Today a savior has been born for you—the Messiah, the Lord!—in David’s town. 12 This will be the sign for you: you’ll find the baby wrapped up, and lying in a feeding-trough.”
13 Suddenly, with the angel, there was a crowd of the heavenly armies. They were praising God, saying,
Right away, there are some pretty noticeable differences. Of course, the point of new translations is to be different in some way or another, while holding true to the original message as much as possible. The New Testament for Everyone has the flow and style of a novel, but it also changes some things that are most often translated particular ways. Sometimes this may be a bigger issue while other times, like above, it is not something I would quantify as a salvation issue.
Another noteworthy verse, though, is Matthew 18:11 where Jesus is telling the parable of the Lost Sheep. Verse 11 is included in many translations, yet is left out in the NTFE. This verse, I would argue, is important because it does talk about salvation. So, its exclusion is something to dive into.
10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:10-14 NKJV (Emphasis mine.)
10 “Take care not to despise one of these little ones. I tell you this: in heaven, their angels are always gazing on the face of my father who lives there.
12 “How does it seem to you? If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off and goes missing, what will he do? He’ll leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go off after the one that’s missing, won’t he? 13 And when, eventually, he finds it, I’ll tell you the truth: he will celebrate over that one more than over the ninety-nine who didn’t go missing! 14 It’s the same with your father in heaven. The last thing he wants is for a single one of these little ones to be lost.” Matthew 18:10-14 NTFE
Matthew 18:11 is said to have been added here from the story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector in Luke 19:10. Some manuscripts have it in Matthew here, and some do not. This leads to some translations including it, and some not. The main thing here is that yes, this verse is in other places in scripture, and the message and lesson is in other places in the Bible. It is difficult for translators to determine what manuscripts to go by, and what ones not to. The Preface of the NTFE explains a bit more about how N.T. Wright made these difficult calls, as well as why there are no footnotes to let us know when something has been left out like many other translations include. Essentially, it boiled down to lessening distractions, and going with what appeared to be the most reliable manuscripts available to date – not all of which were available when many of the translations we have in English were being translated.
Do I recommend the New Testament for Everyone?
Personally, the NTFE feels so deprived of the deep, poetic language of most translations of the Bible that the modernization of the English used in the NTFE feels overly casual. I find it hard to take it as seriously as I do many other translations, and where N.T. Wright’s goal was to better capture the original meanings of what was being written it feels more like he took much of the meaning and significance away from the Word. It is so “modernized” that it reads with even less depth than translations intended for children, such as the ICB or the ESV.
Overall, the New Testament for Everyone is designed to be used by those who need the Bible in very modernized, easy-to-read language and reading style. It is meant for those who have a hard time reading other modern translations, or who want some help studying the Bible for the first time. The NTFE is a translation might be helpful to someone who is just starting out with the Bible and is reading at a lower reading level, but I want to stress that you should eventually “outgrow” this translation and move up to a more literal translation that better captures the depth of the original scriptures.
I would not recommend the NTFE as a primary translation, a solo translation, or your final translation of choice. Finally, the New Testament for Everyone is a Bible translation I would label as “proceed with caution” and would not personally recommend, but I also see it as a potentially helpful companion study resource alongside other translations that have gone through what I would refer to as a more trustworthy vetting and research process, and are more literal and go deeper than the NTFE.
Where can you find the NTFE?
If you would like to check out the New Testament for Everyone for yourself, I encourage you to find it at the following places online:
What are the different types of Bible translations?
There are many Bible translations and it can be very challenging to determine the accuracy of each as well as how to choose a Bible of your own.
What are the different kinds of Bible translations?
Why are there so many different translations, and how do we know which ones to use?
Bible translations are placed into categories that can help us learn how each of them was intended to be used. Learning about the different types of translations is vital to better understanding the translations you use.
Word-for-word Bible translations are widely considered the best translations. It sounds fairly obvious that a Word-for-Word translation is a literal translation of one language into another language, but when referring to scripture it is a bit more in-depth than that. We must take into consideration that languages change and evolve over time and it is not always easy to correctly translate every word, or convey the exact message or feeling the original texts were going for.
We also need to consider that there is often no one-for-one translation of a word or phrase between languages. Word-for-Word focuses on the specific words and phrases while also striving to convey the correct message and feel intended by the original texts. Word-for-Word is essentially the closest to the literal translation from Greek and Hebrew as we can get in English while ensuring the translation makes sense.
What are the most common Word-for-Word Bible translations?
There are many word-for-word translations. The most popular are:
Thought-for-thought Bibles intend to express the meaning from the original language in modern English that is easy to read. This is typically done without translating every word.
While word-for-word translations strive for as literal of a translation as possible, thought-for-thought Bibles seek to express the meaning within the text. This is done by summarizing and providing overarching ideas.
The editors of biblestudytools.com liken this approach to the difference between an inkjet printer and a laser printer. Inkjets produce results by laying out one line at a time in order to form a complete picture. Laser printers produce the entire picture all at once.
Translators deviate from offering direct word for word replacements which in exchange for summarized sentences and paragraphs. The goal is to make it easier for the reader to grasp the concept of the biblical passages. Most of these thought-for-thought translations are written between a 4th and 7th grade reading level. This makes comprehension of the text easier for most people.
What are the most common Thought-for-Thought Bible translations
There are many thought-for-thought Bible translations. Some of the most common are:
Some Bible translations make their claim as the “most literal” or “most accurate”. Another category of translation steers more toward the feelings and intentions of Scripture versus being extremely literal. Moderate translations strive for accuracy and are literal to a point, but they tone down the difficult jargon to make it easier for readers to understand.
What are the most common Moderate Bible translations?
Paraphrase translations work to convey the thoughts of the original author’s texts at the expense of literality. Paraphrasing restates the original texts completely. The goal is to capture the original meaning in phrases that are easier for readers to relate to and absorb.
What are the most common Paraphrase Bible translations?
There are several Paraphrase Bible translations. Some of the most common are:
The Philipps translation is a paraphrase translation by J.B. Phillips, an English clergyman who was well known within the Church of England for his endeavor to bring the full force of the original message into modern English.
1963, “Four Prophets: Amos, Hosea, First Isaiah, Micah: A Modern Translation from the Hebrew”, a paraphrase of Isaiah 1-39, Hosea, Amos, and Micah
Philipps’ translation was originally written for his youth group. It was later published widely due to popular demand. Phillipps works to fully involve the reader in the dramatic events and teachings throughout scripture.
What is the Living Bible (LB) Bible translation?
The Living Bible (LB or TLB) strives to simply restate what the original texts mean and expand scripture. The goal it to improve clarity for the modern reader. In 1962 Tyndale House Publishers was formed in order to begin working on the LB, which was published in 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation.
The mission of Tyndale House Foundation, to spread the Good News of Christ throughout the world, has led the foundation to publish not only LB but Bibles in NLT, as well as Christian children’s books, fiction and nonfiction, and other works. The LB used the ASV as its base text and also referenced KJV and various Greek texts.
Who primarily uses the LB translation?
LB is widely received by Evangelicals and youth-focused Protestant groups. Billy Graham even received a copy of the Living Letters, the NT of the LB, in 1962. He was apparently so impressed that he requested to print 50,000 copies to use during his crusades. Graham ended up distributing over 600,000 of the Living Letters the following year.
One fascinating thing aboutLB is that there is also a specific Catholic Living Bible that includes the Deuterocanonical books, and an introduction titled “Why Read the Bible?” from Pope John Paul II. The Catholic and later Protestant versions of the LB list “Thought-for-Thought Translation” on the title page rather than “paraphrase” on the cover.
LB was so successful that it reached the top of the best-seller list in the early 1970s. This was due to the modernized language of the translation being so easy for people to understand at earlier reading levels, or having little to no experience or knowledge of the Bible. It was such a success that Tyndale House Publishers ended up inviting 90 Greek and Hebrew scholars to help them revise LB in the late 1980s. This ended up becoming what we now call the New Living Translation (NLT).
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What is the Message (MSG) Bible translation?
The Message (MSG) translation came about due to Eugene Peterson’s realization that his congregation was not captivated by Scripture the same way he was. He wanted to provide them with a translation that engaged and captured readers. Peterson attempted to bring the idioms and rhythms present in the original texts into an English version.
MSG was published in segments from 1993 to 2002. Peterson translated straight from the original texts without referencing other English translations. Doing this his goal was to capture the passion felt by the original authors and the meanings behind the scriptures in the conversational format of the original Greek.
MSG is an incredibly modernized paraphrase of scripture. With the change of language, meanings of words, new words coming in and old words becoming irrelevant the MSG has been updated to keep it relevant and fresh with the changing cultures.
Should I use the Philipps, LB or MSG translations?
These paraphrase translations were created to make reading the Bible easier for the everyday person, youth, as well as those with little to no experience reading or studying the Bible. They are designed to be easily read and understood by readers at every reading level to feel connected to scripture.
With that in mind, they are far from literal translations. They rely on the translator’s interpretations of the feelings and ideas of the original texts. Paraphrase translations should not be the only translation used. These translations should always be used as a companion to another translation of the Bible.
What type of translation is the CEV Bible translation?
The American Bible Society (ABS) used the dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought translation) method to create the Contemporary English Version (CEV) translation. It is also known as Bible for Today’s Family. Their stated principles include:
must be understood by people without stumbling in speech
must be understood by those with little or no comprehension of “Bible” language
must be understood by all.
Bible scholar Dr. Barclay M. Newman studied speech patterns in 1984 focused on how English is read and heard, especially in children, that resulted in some test volumes in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
What is the Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible translation?
Over a 10-year period, the creative process involved over 100 scholar consultants and reviewers from a wide range of church traditions providing expertise from the Old Testament, New Testament, Hebrew, Greek, and English language along with linguistics and poetry. There was constant prayer and guidance from the Spirit of God to ensure “accuracy, integrity and trustworthiness”.
CEV is written in easy-to-read and easy-to-understand contemporary English. The New Testament was released in 1991, the Old Testament in 1995, and the apocryphal/deuterocanonical books in 1999. There is an Anglicized version for our friends across the pond in Britain.
What is the Common English Bible (CEB) translation?
The Common English Bible (CEB) was made to balance the dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence (word-for-word translation) translation styles. The goal for the translation was to make the Bible accessible to all English readers.
120 translators were assigned portions of scripture who handed off to a co-translator for review. Modification by 77 different reading groups followed. These groups from over a dozen denominations helped review the text. The goal was to provide a reading experience that would help enhance church worship and participation.
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Sponsored by an alliance of several denomination publishers, this translation was started in 2008 and completed in 2011. It also includes the apocryphal/deuterocanonical books.
Should I use the CEB translation?
While some denominations have replaced the NIV with the Common English Bible as one of the approved bible translations in seminary or church services, it is not one of the top 10 best selling Bibles.
Scholars from across many denominations came together to collaborate on this project. They utilized texts from the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. Their belief was that more people would hear the Bible spoken to them in church than would read it for themselves. This led them to provide a translations which could be heard and comprehended using more day to day language.
The project took seven years to complete and included the work of ninety scholars. It began in 1989 and concluded in 1996, twenty-five years after the publication of the Living Bible. It uses modern-day ideas to convey the messages from when the texts were written. Some of those examples include replacing monetary terms and weights with present-day terms that can be easily understood. The original units of measure were placed in the footnotes.
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How popular is the NLT translation?
The popularity of the NLT was massive. In 2008 it surpassed the New International Version (NIV) as the top-selling Bible by unit and as of 2014 it is the second most popular translation based on unit sales and fourth based on sales numbers.
Should I use the NLT translation?
While this translation has a great popularity, it does have some drawbacks that keep serious scholars from using it. Due to its thought-for-thought style, it makes use for serious Bible study questionable.
In all, it makes for a good translation to read to others for comprehension’s sake. For personal study, it may not be ideal without the use of another translation beside it. The ultimate value for this translation comes in the philosophy that motivated the writing in the first place which was to provide a translation that is best understood when read aloud, much like what was done in the early church.
The publication of the Good News Translation (GNT), or as the Good News Bible as it was formerly known, is a bit more complicated than most. The GNT was requested in 1961 by American Bible Society field translators on the continents of Africa and Asia. They needed an easier-to-read Bible due to their lack of proficiency in the original languages.
Inspired by a Spanish translation for Latin Americans, Eugene Nida, who served as the Executive Secretary for the American Bible Society’s Translation Department, envisioned a Bible translation that would be available to the people and offer “dynamic equivalence” which was another phrase used to describe a “thought-for-thought” presentation of the Biblical message.
The official first publication was in January 1966, but the GNT was released in three parts over thirteen years. The New Testament was initially published January 1, 1966. In 1976 the Old Testament was completed and added, followed by the Apocryphal and Deuterocanonical books three years later.
The popularity of this version was immense. It has been used across many Christian denominations. GNT even saw an endorsement from Billy Graham for use of certain portions in his evangelistic crusades. In 2008, the translation was referenced in order to provide the basis for a film adaptation of the Gospel of John.
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Should I use the GNT translation?
This version, like all of them, has its strengths and weaknesses. Its ease of reading and understanding makes it a popular translation for children’s Bibles and those who are learning English. Critics shy away from its use, though, because it often sacrifices exegetical accuracy in favor of being easier to understand.
The GNT certainly has value for some Bible readers, but should also be used with the understanding of its purpose and origins.
Howard Long, a Seattelite engineer for General Electric, saw a growing need for a Bible every day people could read and understand. He saw people struggle to read and understand the KJV and knew he needed to do something. Long was the kind of person whose conversations often turned toward faith, and who wanted everyone to know and have a relationship with Jesus. He was not a scholar of Theology but his love of the gospel sparked the desire to create the NIV so that everyone could learn about God’s love, power, and salvation in a way they could understand.
Long reached out to many scholars, which then led to extensive communication between them, Christian publishers, churches, missions organizations and Bible societies. This caused the National Association of Evangelicals to start their own committee and investigation. In 1961 the two committees came to work together, and in 1965 a Bible Translation Conference was held.
What was the NIV translation process?
In 1955, Howard Long began his journey for a modern English Bible that he could trust. Ten years later the translation of the NIV was commissioned. In 1968 Biblica financed the translation. In 1969 “The Gospel According to John: A contemporary Translation” was published. After Zondervan agreed to be their sole publisher in 1971, they published the New Testament only two years later with their new name, the New International Version (NIV).
In 1976, Zondervan brought back Biblica in an effort to help with financing. Two years later, in 1978, the completed New International Version was published. In 1984, after only 6 years of publication, the translation was revised and a Study version was released one year later in 1985. In 1986, NIV became the “Best Selling Bible in Modern English”.
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In 1996 there was a children’s NIV Study Bible published, another revised copy in 2005 to incorporate contemporary gender language, and a fully revised version in 2011. The 2011 version includes some updated language in order to keep it modernized. 2017 saw the publication of the famous “thinline” NIV Bible, making it easier on the eyes and more comfortable to hold.
Why was the NIV translated?
On their website, NIV says this about the philosophy of their translation, “When the books of the Bible were first written, they spoke clearly to people in their heart language. There was no gap between hearing God’s Word and understanding it. The translation philosophy of the New International Version (NIV) is to recreate this experience for you in contemporary English.”
They believed that there should be a version that can be easily read and understood. Where many translations focus on the eloquence of the form, grammar, and word orders of the original languages, the NIV was approached with the understanding that no two languages follow the same sets of rules. They saw it as more than just replacing words from one language with another, but instead as a means to help the reader grasp the meaning of the Scriptures and message of the Bible in clear, transparent, and modern English.
According to a 2014 study from The Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture and Indiana University and Purdue University, the NIV was the second most-read version. In 2019, according to Christian Book Expo, NIV is now ranked as the #1 selling translation, with KJV at #2.
What is the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) translation?
The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) comes from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), which is an Optimal Equivalence or Moderate translation. Their belief was that the form should not be separated from its meaning. Holman Bible Publishing assembled a team of over 100 scholars from around the world and from 17 different denominations. They completed the New Testament in 1999 and the full Bible in 2004.
1984 saw Arthur Farstad, the general editor for the NKJV, begin a new translation project based on the same texts used for the NKJV. When Farstad died 5 months into the work, the project halted and leadership transferred hands. The text used for the NT changed to the Koine Greek (Novum Testamentum Graece) instead of the Greek Majority Text, which Farstad had helped write.
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From HCSB to CSB
The original CSB was to be published by LifeWay Christian Resources, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) which is why we know it as Holman Christian Standard Bible.
In 2017 Holman Bible Publishers joined Lifeway and became B&H Bible Publishing. CSB translation was then released as an update to the HCSB. The revisions include using ‘Lord’ in place of ‘Yahweh’ for God’s personal name, in a return to the traditional practice seen in other English Bible versions, along with some other updates.
Should I use the CSB translation?
The Christian Standard Bible translation was translated with the support of many denominations and focused on being accurate and readable. The time it took to complete the translation speaks to the dedication given to the work. Moderate translations can be great for beginner Bible readers and are great companion translations to thought-for-thought translation.
What is the Lexham English Bible (LEB) translation?
Lexham English Bible (LEB) calls itself “your second Bible”. It is a moderate Bible translation that Lexham says complements other translations as a sort of study buddy translation. Its purpose is to help readers make sense of complicated terminology, idioms, and phrases in the more literal translations while remaining moderately literal. It is also a great translation to begin interlinear studies to cross-examine the original texts to English.
The simplicity of this translation allows for an easier first step into the original languages. Lexham recommends using this translation with software such as the Logos Bible Software. The translators prided themselves on having extremely transparent translation processes, again referencing the Logos Bible Software.
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Why was the LEB translated?
The Lexham Hebrew-English Interlinear Bible and the Lexham Greek-English Interlinear New Testament were used for this translation. Many translations are started with the mission of creating a more literal or accurate translation. The Lexham English Bible, however, was always intended to be used alongside your primary Bible in order to gain a new perspective and understand the difficult texts better.
Should I use the LEB translation?
This translation is definitely not intended to be the go-to, day-to-day Bible. Lexham is designed specifically to be a companion for people navigating the original Biblical languages. Pairing this translation with a word-for-word translation may give a better overall picture of scripture.
What is the Revised Standard Version (RSV) Bible translation?
Both the RSV and NRSV Bible translations are Word-for-Word translations. The Revised Standard Version (RSV) was published in 1952 as an authorized revision of ASV, which as we learned in a previous study was a revision of the KJV translation. One of the pivotal focuses of RSV is that the translators wanted it to be a copy of God’s word that was truly appropriate for everyone in personal use, worship, study, and instruction.
It was developed to be an all-purpose translation for any type of use. They took the language of the KJV and, rather than updating it to a more modern language, they preserved the beautiful language and simplified it for a better everyday reader’s experience.
RSV happened to be the only English translation that included standard Protestant canon, as well as the “Apocryphal”, or “Deuterocanonical”, books that were traditionally used by Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches. In 1989 a revised version, the NRSV, began. Both the RSV and NRSV were prepared by the National Council of Churches (NCC), an organization of 35 Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, African-American, and other denominations.
What is the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible translation?
NRSV is widely used and recommended by Protestant and Catholic churches. It was made available in a standard edition that can be found with or without the Apocrypha, a Roman Catholic version that does include the “Apocryphal”, or “Deuterocanonical”, books in the Roman Catholic canonical order, and The Common Bible which is a combination of the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox canons. NRSV is accepted and authorized by a large portion of Protestant, Catholic, and Greek Orthodox churches throughout the US and Canada.
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The NRSV ended up updating some of the languages from KJV, such as Thee, Thou, wast, dost, and more. They replaced words whose meanings had drastically changed since the release of RSV in order to improve the accuracy and continue to preserve the original meanings. Improvements were also made in areas where gender was specified in the original texts and had been inconsistent in RSV.
While this translation and its revisions are highly esteemed by Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant believers it is condemned by many others, such as C. P. Lincoln, A.M., Th.D., who feels it is filled with the translating scholars’ own personal points of view as well as some heretical views. There is an additional claim that NCC, the translating foundation, and publishers of RSV and NRSV were found to be unbiblical.
In his article “A Critique of the Revised Standard Version”, C. P. Lincoln, A.M., Th.D. states that some, but not necessarily all, of the translators of RSV “depart from the true doctrine” in areas such as denial of the divine inspiration of the original scriptures, of the virgin birth of Jesus, of Jesus as Deity, of many historical events throughout Scripture, a contradiction of the Trinity, questioning the character and authenticity of OT prophecies, Psalms, and the Gospel of John, and much more. Some may say this does not mean these scholars could not have produced an unbiased translation, but some also claim RSV and NRSV as unreliable and inaccurate translations.
Should I use the RSV or NRSV translations?
RSV and NRSV seem to be the most controversial Word-for-Word translations of Scripture. Depending on where you stand it may be put aside as inaccurate, or it may be what you rely on. There is a lot more information to be discovered about these translations in order to make the best decision for you.
What is the New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation?
New American Standard Bible, NASB, is prized as the most literal word-for-word English Bible translation. It was originally completed by The Lockman Foundation in La Habra, CA in 1971. The translation ended up getting a refresh in 1995 for clarity, grammar, vocab, and sentence structure updates. It was then updated again in 2020, which we will study at a later time.
In the 1995 update, the translators compared parallel passages in order to update their uses within each specific context. They also modified some paragraphing and punctuation, and added some new manuscript notes. Use of Thee, Thou, Thy, and other archaic and difficult word orders was updated to more modern English.
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Using literal translation principles they based their translation on KJV and ASV. New research and resources that had come available for them to study were also utilized. Hebrew texts used were Rudolph Kittel’s Biblia Hebraica, Dead Sea Scrolls, lexicography, and cognate language. Greek texts used were 26th Edition of Eberhard Nestle’s Novum Testamentum Graece.
Who translated the NASB?
It took ten years for the nearly 20 conservative Bible scholars to complete the original version of 1971. These scholars utilized their combined variety of denominational backgrounds, degrees, theology, and languages. It took three years to complete the revision of 1995.
There was a variety of denominational backgrounds, but all of the scholars believed that the words of scripture were inspired by God and needed to be preserved. They put rigorous review processes in place in order to ensure the final product would be accurate and honoring to the original texts.
Should I use the NASB translation?
They referenced the most recent research of the time and the oldest and most reliable manuscripts available. The original order of words and phrases was translated where it would be acceptable in English. Where it was unacceptable in English they used modern idioms. The literal rendering was included in the margins.
The NASB is an incredibly literal yet modernized English translation. The goal was to honor the original texts while letting the reader be the interpreter. It is used in many popular children’s Bibles and can be helpful to early readers.
The Bible has been translated and revised many times in English. The goal of ESV is to provide an English Bible that corresponds with changes in culture, the English language, definitions, and writing styles. Most importantly, it focuses on keeping up with the increased knowledge of the original texts and relevant cultures to improve the accuracy of the English translation.
The English Standard Version is a word-for-word or literal translation that follows the same translation philosophies of the KJV and ASV while taking into consideration differences between the original languages and English.
What is the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible translation?
The English Standard Version was published in 2001. The translators used KJV, ASV, RSV, RV, and Tyndale’s NT. They also heavily cross-referenced against the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic to help ensure accuracy and clarity. The translators also wanted to avoid any over-translating or overlooking of any variations.
Sentences, punctuation, and paragraphing were translated so that they flow well in English. The repetitiveness of words like “and”, “but” and “for” were kept intact to avoid diminishing the flow of the scriptures. In areas where gender is specified in the original languages, ESV captures those instances. Previous losses of gender specification were corrected, and specifications, where the original texts did not indicate gender, were removed.
Why was the ESV translated?
Crossway, the copyright owners of the English Standard Version, state in the preface of the printed ESV Bible “faithfulness to the text and vigorous pursuit of accuracy were combined with simplicity, beauty, and dignity of expression.” Crossway wanted to update the language for the new modern-age reader while keeping to the accuracy and honoring the dignity of the well-loved and trusted translations before it.
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Should I use the ESV translation?
The translators took great care in how they approached important terms such as names for God and naming Christ. Words that have completely different meanings now than they did when the original texts were written, capitalizations of deity pronouns, and the term “behold” were a focus for the translators.
The goal was to honor the original languages and meanings and translate them into the most accurate modern English. Accuracy and flow certainly seem to be the biggest focus with the ESV. This makes it a well-loved translation for its modern readability with accuracy and literalness.
The American Standard Version (ASV) and Updated American Standard Version (UASV) were completed by American scholars using the Formal Equivalence translation philosophy. This means that translation was done with the goal of showing readers what God said by means of a human author.
Word-for-Word translations use this method and hold the belief that the responsibility of interpreting words is held by the reader versus the translator; the translator’s role is merely to translate the texts from the original languages into the languages of today’s culture and it is our job to interpret what they mean.
What is the American Standard Version (ASV) Bible translation?
The ASV translation was published in 1901 by Thomas Nelson & Sons. It has also been known as ARV, ASR, ASRB, and ASE translations, but by 1929 it was most commonly known as ASV. This is a revision of KJV that focused on updating the language. The scholars responsible for ASV used more manuscripts than were available and understood when the KJV was translated, so they were able to utilize a broader set of tools and knowledge for this translation which helped the accuracy and enabled them to provide a more literal translation than the KJV. In fact, some language that had been translated into English in the KJVwas brought back into the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic throughout the ASV. For example, in KJVwhere God is named “LORD”, it reads “Jehovah” in the ASV.
Far and wide, the ASV is claimed to be the most literal translation of the Bible into English. ASV has been widely used as the basis for later translations, such as the Updated American Standard Version (UASV), Revised Standard Version (RSV), Amplified Bible (AMB), New American Standard Bible (NASB), Recovery Version (RV), and The Living Bible (TLB). ASV is thought to be an incredible translation for those who wish to read as close to the original languages as possible while being unable to actually read and understand them.
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What is the Updated American Standard Version (UASV) Bible translation?
The UASV is a revision of the ASV that is actually still being translated. The purpose of this particular translation is to provide a deeper, more accurate translation in the closest corresponding modern English, according to Christian Publishing House (CPH). CPH, the developers of the UASV, claim the original author’s meanings are never put in danger in order to improve readability because it is the job of the translator to translate, but the job of the reader to interpret. They are referencing the NT translated by William Tyndale in 1526, KJV of 1611, RV of 1885, and the ASV from 1901. They are also referring straight back to the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.
The founder of CPH and the UASV translation has been working on the UASV since 1996. Through the loss of his family and job, and while enduring homelessness, he completed college, wrote various books, and continued his work on this translation. His passion for the completion of this translation is certainly commendable to say the least.
Should I use the UASV BIble translation?
The ASV seems to be looked over pretty often outside of the scholarly world, but because of the additional knowledge and resources available at the time of its completion, it may very well be a step up from the KJV. The UASV is certainly a translation to keep your eye out for.
What is the King James Version (KJV) Bible translation?
The most commonly known word-for-word Bible translations are KJV and NKJV. To better understand and appreciate the KJV translation of scripture, let’s take a leap back in time for a little history lesson.
In the 14th and 15th centuries the faith of Europe was pretty shaky. People wanted the scriptures in a language they could understand but the Roman Catholic Church had banned scriptures in English and enforced the use of the Latin Vulgate, the “official Bible” of the fourth century that was translated from the original Greek and Hebrew into Latin by St. Jerome by order of Pope Damasus. There had been various translations of the gospels, psalms, and some prayers into English, but they had been translated from the Latin Vulgate, were only partial translations, were not very accurate, and were deemed heretical by the Roman Catholic Church.
John Wycliffe later oversaw the translation of both the Old and New Testaments into English, an impressive feat considering he’d never even read the full Bible. The Wycliffe Bible was the first official Bible in English. Because it was translated from the Latin Vulgate it didn’t always make sense. In 1408 it was made illegal to translate the Bible in England, but in the 1400s French, Dutch, Spanish and Italian Bibles surfaced.
KJV and the Great Reformation
In 1517, after the “Great Schism” of 1378-1417 when the religious authority of Europe was being utterly ripped apart, and the invention of a movable-type printing press in 1454, the Reformation was born thanks to Martin Luther. By the 1520s William Tyndale had traveled to Germany to complete his translation of the Bible into English but could not return to England for fear of death. He was kidnapped and burned at the stake before he could translate the entirety of the Old Testament. His translation of the New Testament was the first to be done from the original Greek into English.
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In 1534 massive religious reform was still raging in England, which separated the nation from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry VIII became the “Supreme Head” of the Church of England. Throughout his life England was transformed into a Protestant nation. The legality of the Bible and prayers being available in English was constantly challenged.
How did Henry VIII impact the KJV?
Henry had authorized Myles Coverdale to translate the first complete Bible printed in English, which was published in 1535. It had been translated from the German Bible and the Latin Vulgate. Then in 1537 came Matthew’s Bible, translated from Coverdale’s OT and Tyndale’s NT, with some additional notes intertwined. Henry VIII ordered that an English Bible be available in every church and Matthew’s Bible was used. John Rogers, whose pen name was Thomas Matthew, put together the Matthew’s Bible. Matthew was the first martyr to be burned at the stake by Mary Tudor.
England’s devotion to the Bible was higher in 1538-39 than ever before. Also with permission from Henry VIII, The Great Bible was released in 1539. This translation came so the people would have a Bible as good as Matthew’s Bible, minus the added notes. Fast forward to 1543 and Henry banned the Coverdale and Tyndale Bibles.
Mary I, Bloody Mary
Henry VIII had two daughters who both lived to reign. First was his daughter with Queen Katherine of Aragon, Mary Tudor; Mary I of England, First Queen Regent of England. The reign of Mary I began in 1553. She was commonly known as Bloody Mary because she brutally persecuted Protestants in an attempt to restore Catholicism to England. This also made it illegal once again to read scripture in English.
She burned Bibles and Protestants alike. In this time many scholars fled to Geneva where they put together the Geneva Bible, the first Bible completely translated from the original Greek and Hebrew texts into English. The Geneva Bible replaced The Great Bible in churches. Because it was not appropriate for English clergy, though, the Bishop’s Bible was released in 1568.
Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen
After the death of Mary I, Henry VIII’s other daughter Elizabeth, daughter to Anne Boleyn, became Queen Elizabeth I. Elizabeth, a Protestant, ruled England after her sister had just forced the nation back to Catholicism. She attempted to make peace between the faiths of her nation. Catholic priests fled to Europe, and because people wanted a Bible in English they commissioned the Rheims-Douai Bible. This was not to appease the people, but merely to ensure that they at least had a correct Bible.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Elizabeth was the Virgin Queen – never married, and never had children, therefore she had no heir of her own. Mary Queen of Scots was the granddaughter of Margaret Tudor, Henry VII’s sister, and King James the IV of Scotland. She faced much parole throughout her life in France and then Scotland. When she sought refuge in England, she was viewed as a threat to the Protestant faith and Elizabeth’s rule. Elizabeth imprisoned her and later executed her. This left Mary’s son, James VI of Scotland, the only heir to England making him King James I of England.
King James
King James came to his own power in Scotland at the age of 12, and eventually became the head of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. He went on to oversee the completion of the King James Version, which was first published in 1611. From 1382-1610 translators and Bibles were burned in an attempt to suppress the efforts of giving people the Bible in their own language. In 1611 the people finally, legally, had a Bible they could own, read, and understand. No other version of the Bible has had the kind of impact that the KJV has had on the world, even to this day.
If KJV is what you prefer, you will find there is no shortage of beautiful KJV Bibles to choose from.
What is the New King James Version (NKJV) Bible translation?
The first full copy of the NKJV did not come about until 1982. There were many revisions of the KJV over the years, but the NKJV was the first version truly dedicated to preserving the beautiful language and accuracy of the KJV, while also seeking to update and improve the text in order for the everyday reader to better understand it.
A couple of factors that were taken into account were that English words had changed over time. On the flip side, there was a better understanding gained of the original Greek and Hebrew. With these factors considered many of the words used in KJV were no longer accurate and needed to be updated to ensure readers were getting the message that was intended by the original texts.
If you are a lover of the KJV, the NKJV would likely be a great match for you as well. Understanding the origin of Bible translations is incredibly vital when choosing your translation of preference. We will continue down the Word-for-Word list for the next couple of weeks, then we will dive into Thought-for-Thought, Moderate, and then Paraphrase versions. If you have any questions, input, resources, or would like to join in the study we’d love to include you!
There are many different NKJV Bibles out there o choose from no matter what you are looking for.
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