Which Bible and Which translation???

Bibles are a dime a dozen in America.  You can get your Bible in whatever theme, color, make and size you want today.  What happen to the simple free Gideon KJV Bible (keep up the good work Gideons, I have used your Bibles many times)?  As a pastor I am a connoisseur of Bibles as much as a techy loves his gadgets and a cook loves William-Sanoma store.  I have been in the teaching ministry for over 20 years and until this day my translation of choice has been the New American Standard (NASB).   My Greek profs, and I had 3 different ones over the course of my training, would all point to the NASB as the most literal of the translations available in the late ’80′s and early ’90′s. It was truest to the oldest manuscripts we have and as close to a word for word translation that was still readable. 

There are a lot of differing opinions of Bible translations that I can’t even begin to go into for the sake my space to write and focus of this blog.  A great resource that is both scholarly and yet readable for a greater understanding on the topic of translations of the Bible is Fee and Stuart’s book Reading the Bible for All It’s Worth.  They talk about the value of dynamic equilviant translations (e.g. NIV, NLT).  I dynamic equivalent attempt “to translate words, idioms and grammatical constructions of the original language in precise equivalents to the receptors language” ((Gordon Fee and Douglas Fee, Reading the Bible for All It’s Worth, 35)) .  The problem I have with a dynamic equivalent translation is  the they tend to translate ideas or intentions of the writer, which leaves a lot of room for subjective interpretation rather than a literal translation.  I prefer the more literal discipline of translation (NASB and ESV).  Fee and Stuart describe literal translations as an“attempt to translate by keeping a close as possible to the exact words and phrasing in the original language, yet still make sense in the receptors language” ((Ibid, 35)) .  Though at times literal translations can be disconnected from the reader because of the choppy word for word factor, I still prefer the idea that I am reading as close to the original language as is possible.   

Well…I am about to make the switch to the English Standard Version (ESV).  Due to the decreasing publication of the NASB, fewer and fewer book stores are selling them.  I have been on a hunt for a more literal translation that was still readable, but one also that would be available in bookstores or online.  It is quite clear that the NASB is fading from mainstream, but an outstanding translation has emerged that is quickly becoming taking it’s place.  The English Standard Version seems to have struck a healthy balance of loyalty to the text yet striving for readability to the same.  This is how one review critic the ESV…

It is a “evangelical revision of the Revised Standard Version (RSV) that corrects the non-Christian interpretations of the RSV in the Old Testament and improves the accuracy throughout with more literal renderings. It also updates the language somewhat. The makers of this version undertook the work with the idea that there was a need for an evangelical version that was more literal than the New International Version but more idiomatic than the New American Standard Bible.”  A more detailed brake down on the translation revision process, who was behind it, etc. can be read by clicking here.

In my teaching, I will continue to site other great translations that help to capture and release the beautiful text of the Scriptures from their original language, but I will be making the switch to the ESV as my primary text for a number of reasons.  The ESV is one of the top selling books on the market last year.  It has a wide variety of endorsements.  The likes of Piper, Mohler, Bock, Easley (former Greek Prof of mine), Driscoll, etc. have made the ESV their preferred translation. The Study Bible is one of the best in print (it comes with a free online Bible, when you buy the regular print model).  Another important reason I am making the switch, I will now be able to send new believers to any bookstore and point them to a translation of the Bible that is both reliable and readable.

1. Pete says:

   August 15, 2009 at 4:49 pm

   I said in my sermon on Sunday that you currently use the ESV. My bad! You can call me a liar or a prophet. Your pick