I am frequently asked by young preachers, "Which translation do you
recommend that I use in my preaching?" This is a great question and it
comes from young men who are conscientious about their work as
servants of the most high God. It indicates that they want to use the best
texts available in their study, teaching, and life application. First, we must
lay some groundwork.
No translation of the sacred scriptures is without flaws. All of them were
translated by human beings, and they reflect the background, training, and
deficiencies of the hands that made them. Therefore, do not go on the hunt
for the perfect translation. It's not out there.
I strongly believe preachers should use more than one translation for
study. The "backbone" translation should be one of the modified-literal texts.
Why? The modified-literal translations will stay close to the Hebrew,
Aramaic, and Greek texts. They will give you some idea of what is going on
in the original text. Simply put, if you do not have any background in Hebrew
and Greek, modified-literal versions will get you as close as possible to those
languages short of studying the original languages of scripture. Another reason
for using versions of this kind is the fact that those of us who believe in the
verbal inspiration of scripture, put emphasis on the very words of the text.
(1 Cor. 2:13) Most modified-literal versions try to bring as much from the
original languages into English as possible.
The reigning "king" of the modified-literal versions is the ASV-1901. In
my judgment, it edges out the NASB most of the time. The NASB is based
on a slightly better text, and uses a more modern vocabulary, but many times
the best translation in the NASB is found in the footnotes! I have found this
to be true quite often. The NASB's strength is in the fact that it attempts to
show "verbal action," but that is not all there is to accuracy in translation.
Many times this becomes artificial and is often inconsistently executed.
Nevertheless, if a person cannot find a usable copy of the ASV, the NASB
is probably a good alternative.
There are translations that stand between the very literal ASV and the
so-called dynamic equivalent versions. This middle ground is occupied by the
RSV, ESV, NRSV, and the HCSB. On the whole the ESV is probably the
best though the NRSV is not too far behind. The main flaw of the NRSV is
its attempt to be "gender inclusive" which sometimes causes it to
butcher English and change the text. The RSV is not as bad as is often
alleged.
There are also versions that are "dynamic equivalent" or more idiomatic
in their approach to translating God's word. There is a place for such
translations. They often complement the more literal versions. They are
usually easy to read and can open the door to good exegesis and
understanding. The New International Version (NIV), New Living
Translation (NLT), and Today's New International Version (TNIV) fall
into this category.
Young preachers would do well to have copies of the ASV, RSV,
NASB, NIV, ESV, NRSV, and TNIV in their library. They should
diligently study and compare them. By doing so, they will have the
benefits of broad based scholarship. Learn to note the differences among
them and ask "Why do they differ?" Do your research in order to determine
the reasons for the disparity in their renderings. If you will use several
translations in your study, they will serve to "balance and counter balance"
each other. The best all-around version is probably the ESV. It is basically
the RSV updated and sometimes corrected by conservative scholars.
RD
Copyright 2011
recommend that I use in my preaching?" This is a great question and it
comes from young men who are conscientious about their work as
servants of the most high God. It indicates that they want to use the best
texts available in their study, teaching, and life application. First, we must
lay some groundwork.
No translation of the sacred scriptures is without flaws. All of them were
translated by human beings, and they reflect the background, training, and
deficiencies of the hands that made them. Therefore, do not go on the hunt
for the perfect translation. It's not out there.
I strongly believe preachers should use more than one translation for
study. The "backbone" translation should be one of the modified-literal texts.
Why? The modified-literal translations will stay close to the Hebrew,
Aramaic, and Greek texts. They will give you some idea of what is going on
in the original text. Simply put, if you do not have any background in Hebrew
and Greek, modified-literal versions will get you as close as possible to those
languages short of studying the original languages of scripture. Another reason
for using versions of this kind is the fact that those of us who believe in the
verbal inspiration of scripture, put emphasis on the very words of the text.
(1 Cor. 2:13) Most modified-literal versions try to bring as much from the
original languages into English as possible.
The reigning "king" of the modified-literal versions is the ASV-1901. In
my judgment, it edges out the NASB most of the time. The NASB is based
on a slightly better text, and uses a more modern vocabulary, but many times
the best translation in the NASB is found in the footnotes! I have found this
to be true quite often. The NASB's strength is in the fact that it attempts to
show "verbal action," but that is not all there is to accuracy in translation.
Many times this becomes artificial and is often inconsistently executed.
Nevertheless, if a person cannot find a usable copy of the ASV, the NASB
is probably a good alternative.
There are translations that stand between the very literal ASV and the
so-called dynamic equivalent versions. This middle ground is occupied by the
RSV, ESV, NRSV, and the HCSB. On the whole the ESV is probably the
best though the NRSV is not too far behind. The main flaw of the NRSV is
its attempt to be "gender inclusive" which sometimes causes it to
butcher English and change the text. The RSV is not as bad as is often
alleged.
There are also versions that are "dynamic equivalent" or more idiomatic
in their approach to translating God's word. There is a place for such
translations. They often complement the more literal versions. They are
usually easy to read and can open the door to good exegesis and
understanding. The New International Version (NIV), New Living
Translation (NLT), and Today's New International Version (TNIV) fall
into this category.
Young preachers would do well to have copies of the ASV, RSV,
NASB, NIV, ESV, NRSV, and TNIV in their library. They should
diligently study and compare them. By doing so, they will have the
benefits of broad based scholarship. Learn to note the differences among
them and ask "Why do they differ?" Do your research in order to determine
the reasons for the disparity in their renderings. If you will use several
translations in your study, they will serve to "balance and counter balance"
each other. The best all-around version is probably the ESV. It is basically
the RSV updated and sometimes corrected by conservative scholars.
RD
Copyright 2011
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