English Translations

What is the Bible? English Translations










English Translations

Methods of Translations

A Look into the Translation Process

A look into the translation editorial committee process of the ESV:   (4 minutes)

Sources of Bible Translations

New Testament Primary Source Families are from these Greek sources (however a few translations translate from the Latin Vulgate, such as the Douay-Rheims version):

Representative Statistical Summary of Family Readings in Translations

Version Name Byzantine Readings Alexandrian Readings

From Robert L. Thomas.  How to Choose a Bible Version. Pg. 85.

Philosophy of Translation


Formal Equivalence (Literal Translation)

A word-for-word translation.  Aimed at original meaning.  Literal translation focuses on translation of the words as accurately as possible.  Sometimes this results in rough English.  Ideas and grammar in other languages often has differing methods of expression:  grammar, syntax, idioms, etc.

Dynamic Equivalence

A thought-for-thought translation.  Aimed at original intent.  Dynamic Equivalence focuses on the concepts behind the translation and their effect on the reader.  Sometimes, a too literal reading will lose effectiveness in translation.

Paraphrase

Beyond a thought-for-thought translation.  Moves to an idiom-for-idiom translation.  Aimed at transcending culture.  

Translations and Equivalence

The Legacy Standard Bible is based off the 28th edition of the Nestle/Aland Greek text, following the Alexandrian readings. The Holman Christian Standard is based off the 27th edition of the Nestle/Aland Greek text.

Reading Grade Level Comparison

 Translation Reading Grade Level 

Adapted and updated from Robert L. Thomas.  How to Choose a Bible Version. Pg. 127.






History of Translations

Translations and Revisions

Early translations of the scriptures are useful for determining when textual variations appear. Some early translations are:

Tyndale Tradition of Bible Translations

The Tyndale translation was the basis for many subsequent translations, and has a pedigree that continues to this day.

“To illustrate how minor their changes were, it has been estimated that ninety to ninety-two percent of the King James New Testament is still the work of William Tyndale, even after revisions represented in Matthew’s Bible, the Great Bible, and the Bishop’s Bible.”  

Robert L. Thomas, How to Choose a Bible Translation. Mentor, 2000.  Pg. 19.

Non-Tyndale Tradition

Translation Name Date Revision Name Date

Adapted and updated from Robert L. Thomas.  How to Choose a Bible Version. pg. 51-52.

Bible Translations and Text-Type Families

The King James Version was based upon the Textus Receptus (which means the 'received text'). This was the Greek text that was compiled by Erasmus in 1516, and continued editions up to 1633. The King James Version used the Erasmus edition of the Greek New Testament. The Textus Receptus is very similar to the 'Majority Text' (The Byzantine text-type tradition). The Majority Text features the majority of manuscripts and variants, albeit chronologically later (80% of minuscules are Byzantine text-type).

Modern translations often use a more critical Greek text, looking for the older text-type.

For more information on translations and text-types see:

More more information on the Textus Receptus:

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Bible Preference among Evangelicals

The English language is complex... and a moving target

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References

Recommended books:

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Additional resources