COMPARING ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE

Note: This was written in 1998. Versions published after that were not covered.

1.   What are the different ways or methods to translate the Bible? Which one is most accurate?

a.     Formal equivalence (F-E): translation that mimics the form of the original language both in words and sentence structure; thus more accurate in representing the form and structure of the original Bible

b.     Dynamic equivalence (D-E): translation that tries to represent the original meaning by using its closest equivalent in contemporary usage; thus more accurate in communicating the message of the original Bible

c.     Paraphrase: translation that restates the message by using different words; thus good for cursory reading but not accurate enough for serious Bible study

2.   Which are the common English translations of the Bible used today?

Year

Version

Scale and Method

1611

King James Version (KJV)

7. F-E

1952

Revised Standard Version (RSV)

6. F-E primarily

1966

Jerusalem Bible (JB, Catholic)

4. D-E

1970

New English Bible (NEB)

4. D-E

1971

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

7. F-E

1971

Living Bible (LB)

2. Paraphrase primarily

1976

Good News Bible (GNB) OR Today’s English Version (TEV)

4. D-E

1978

New International Version (NIV)

5. D-E primarily

1982

New King James Version (NKJV)

7. F-E

1985

New Jerusalem Bible (NJB, Catholic)

5. D-E primarily

1989

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

6. F-E primarily

1989

Revised English Bible (REB)

4. D-E

1995

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

3. D-E, some Paraphrase

SCALE: 1 for Paraphrase, 4 for Dynamic Equivalence, 7 for Formal Equivalence

3.   How do we decide whether a translation is good?

·         A good translation must be accurate and readable, and based on orthodox theology.

A.    Accuracy: With the exception of NWT (see below), most versions translated by F-E or D-E are sufficiently accurate for a Bible study. The following examples show why a D-E translation may be better for general use.

 

(1)   Word Choice: When words are matched with words mechanically, the translation may not convey the proper meaning. One example is the Greek word sarx (meaning flesh). Consider two verses that appears to contradict.

 

Ro 8:8-9

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. (NASB)

Gal 2:20

The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God. (NASB)

·               Does Paul live in the flesh or not in the flesh? Actually, the two words have different meanings, the first one for “unregenerated human nature” (more than human weakness), the second one for the “body”.

Ro 8:8-9

Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit. (NIV)

Gal 2:20

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God. (NIV)

·               The F-E translations (NASB, KJV, NKJV, RSV, NRSV) all use “flesh” in Ro 8:8-9 while the D-E translations all use other words to convey its meaning, including “sinful nature” (NIV), “human nature” (GNB), “lower nature” (NEB), “unspiritual nature” (REB), “desires” (CEV).

 

(2)   Syntax: F-E translations may contain redundant and unnecessary words while D-E translations can alter the syntax, omit redundant word and phrases unnecessary in English, and even repeat words for clarity. See translations for 2Co 10:13 (arranged in the order of F-E to D-E progressively).

KJV

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even you.

NASB

But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.

NRSV

We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you.

NIV

We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.

GNB

As for us, however, our boasting will stay within the limits of the work which God has set for us, and this includes our work among you.

 

(3)   Idioms: F-E translations may contain idioms that mean very little in today’s culture. See the example of 1Ki 21:21 (arranged in the order of F-E to D-E progressively). Note that even NASB does not use straight translation.

KJV

Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pissed against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel.

NASB

Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel.

NRSV

I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel.

NIV

I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel--slave or free.

GNB

I will bring disaster on you. I will do away with you and get rid of every male in your family, young and old alike.

 

B.    Readability: based on sentence structure complexity and multisyllabic words, but not counting archaic vocabulary

 

Grade level of various translations (Fog Readability Index)

ICB

GNB

NIV

LB

NEB

NKJV

JB

RSV

NASB

KJV

3.9

7.3

7.8

8.3

8.5

9.1

10.1

10.4

11.3

14.0

ICB = International Children’s Bible, translated by 21 evangelical translators

 

C.    Theology: Orthodox theology accepts Jesus as “God”. The translation of 8 important verses below gives some indication on the theology of different versions. All modern translations (except NWT) are acceptably orthodox. While some conservative churches still insist on using the KJV, it is actually the most problematic in terms of theology among all major translations.

 

 

Score

Jn 1:1

Jn 1:18

Jn 20:28

Ro 9:5

2Th 1:12

Titus 2:13

Heb 1:8

2Pe 1:1

KJV

4

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

N

NKJV

6

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

NASB

7

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

NEB

6

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

REB

5.5

Y

N/Y

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

RSV

6

Y

N/Y

Y

N/Y

N

Y

Y

Y

NRSV

7

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

GNB

6.5

Y

Y

Y

N

N/Y

Y

Y

Y

NIV

7.5

Y

Y

Y

Y

N/Y

Y

Y

Y

LB

5

Y

N

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

CEV

6

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

Y

Y

JB/NJB

6.5

Y

N/Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

NWT

1

N

N

Y

N

N

N

N

N

TOTAL

 

12

7.5

13

6.5

1

11

12

11

Y=Yes, N=No, N/Y= No in the main text but Yes in the marginal notes as an alternate translation

Calculation of total score: Y=1, N*=0.5, N=0

NWT= New World Translation (Jehovah Witness translation which denies Jesus is God)

4.   What are the problems of older translations, such as the KJV?

·         Problem 1: Older versions use texts of original languages (Hebrew and Greek) that are not the most accurate. Textual comparison in the past century has developed texts that are closer to the original manuscript. In the case of KJV, the Greek text used was called Textus Receptus (TR, received text). It is now almost universally recognized that TR contains so many significant departures from the original manuscripts of the various New Testament books that it cannot be relied on as a basis for translation into other languages.

·         Problem 2: There are additional passages not in original manuscripts. Examples include: Mt 17:21; 18:11; 23:14; Mk 7:16; 9:44,46; 11:26; 15:28; Lk 17:36; 23:17; Jn 5:4; Ac 8:37; 15:34; 24:7; 28:29; Ro 16:24; 1Jn 5:7b-8.

·         Problem 3: Because of the change in meaning of words and idioms with time, words in older version may have very different meanings today and may be misunderstood by the readers. (see example on idioms above)

5.   Which translation is the best?

·         The answer depends on the purpose. For non-believers who may not understand Christian terms in the Bible, the Living Bible may be a good translation. For serious Bible study, the NASB may be good for understanding the form and structure of the original language. Overall, NIV (1984 version) and GNB (1976 version, but not the 1992 version) are excellent choices for most purposes because of their readability and accuracy. However, comparing different versions is always a good practice.

·         Note added in 2008: The English Standard Version (ESV) published in 2001 has the advantages of situating somewhere between formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence (between 5 and 6 in the above scale). If only one version is used for Bible studies, ESV is an excellent choice.

·         For more information, please see a summary on gender-neutral Bibles.