Methods of Translations

A Look into the Translation Process

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):

• Byzantine Source 

• Alexandrian Source

Representative Statistical Summary of Family Readings in Translations

Version Name Byzantine Readings Alexandrian Readings

• King James Version 165 0

• New King James Version 165 0

• Living Bible 43 + 3? 129 + 3?

• The Message 22 143

• New Living Translation 21 + 1? 143 + 1?

• New Century Version 16 149

• Phillips Modern English 15 150

• Contemporary English Version 13 + 2? 156 

• New English Bible 8 + 1? 156 + 1?

• New American Bible 8 157

• Today’s English Version 7 158

• New Jerusalem Bible 7 158

• Jerusalem Bible 6 159

• Revised English Bible 6 159

• New Revised Standard Version 5 160

• New International Version 5 + 1? 159 + 1?

• New American Standard Update 3 162

• NET Bible 3 162

• New American Standard 2 163

• Revised Standard Version 1 164

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

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.  

• Phillips

• Message

• Living Bible

• Cottonpatch

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

Translations and Revisions

Tyndale Tradition of Bible Translations

Non-Tyndale Tradition

Translation Name Date Revision Name Date

• Douai Bible 1582, 1609-10 Rheims-Challoner N.T. 1941

•  Twentieth Century N.T. 1901

•  N.T. in Modern Speech 1903

•  New Translation of the Bible 1913, 1926

•  Complete Bible: An American Translation 1927, 1931

•  N.T. in the Language of the People 1937

• Confraternity Version (N.A.B.) 1941, 1970

•  Know Translation 1945, 1949

•  Basic Bible in English 1940, 1949

•  Berkeley Version in Modern English 1945, 1959

•  New World Translation 1950, 1961

•  N.T.: A New Translation in Plain English 1952

• Expanded Translation of the N.T. 1956-1959

• Amplified Bible (AMP) 1958, 1965

• New English Bible (NEB) 1961, 1970 Revised English Bible 1989

• Good News (Today’s English Version) 1966, 1976 Contemporary English Version (CEV) 1991, 1995

• Jerusalem Bible (JB) 1967 New Jerusalem Bible 1986

• Living Bible (LB) 1971 New Living Translation 1996

• New International Version (NIV) 1973, 1977, 2011 New International Readers Version 1995

• New Century Version (NCV) 1991

• The Message (MSG) 1993

• New English Translation (NET Bible) 1996-1998 NET Bible 2 2019

• Holman Christian Standard 2004 Christian Standard Bible 2016

• Evangelical Heritage Version 2019

Is using a translation of the Bible appropriate?

They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

Nehemiah 8:8 NIV

Consider how the Holy Spirit used the miracle of Tongues to counteract the effects of Babel in the book of Acts:

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Acts 2:5-12 NIV

The good news is meant to be shared to all the nations and peoples of the world.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 NIV

Translations used in scripture

The Septuagint, a translation of the Old Testament scriptures was used by the authors of the New Testament.  Some passages where the wording and understanding of the Greek translations are evident are:

• Hebrews 10:4 & Psalm 39:7

• Hebrew 1:6 & Deuteronomy 32:43

• Luke 4:18 & Isaiah 61:1

• Matt 12:31 & Isaiah 42:4

• Mark 7:6–7 & Isaiah 29:13

• Romans 11:9–10 & Psalm 69:22–23

• Matthew 13:15 & Isaiah 6:10

Jesus references Psalm 22 in Aramaic (Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34).  The Ethiopian eunuch was most likely reading from a Septuagint translation (Acts 8:32-33 & Isaiah 53:7–8).

While we should defer to the authority of the original text in the original language, we also note the power of the Holy Spirit allows the scriptures message to transcend the effects of Babel.

The Holy Spirit and translations

Thinking of the animating power of the Holy Spirit using scripture (which can be observed in passages such as Psalm 19; Psalm 119; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23), the Holy Spirit uses the scriptures to bring spiritual life.  Understand that the barrier of language is not something that is going to stop the Holy Spirit, as evidenced in Acts 2.

As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11 NIV

For more information:

• "Animation" in  L.S. Chafer Systematic Theology (Dallas Serminary Press: Dallas, 1947) Volume 1, Chapter  8, 120-122.

Which Bible is best for me?

What are my goals?

For more information:

• https://evangelicalbible.com/translations/bible-translation-guide/

• https://wiki.logos.com/Bible_Translation_Spectrum

  • Logos has this excellent chart that groups translations by methodology, and then shows additional information

Recommended books:

• Thomas, Robert L. How to Choose a Bible Version: Making Sense of the Proliferation of Bible Translations.  ISBN 1857924967

• Geisler and Nix. A General Introduction to the Bible.  ISBN 0802429165

Additional helpful books:

• F. F. Bruce.  The Canon of Scripture.  ISBN 083081258X

• Bruce Metzger. The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin, Development, and Significance. ISBN 0198269544

• F. F. Bruce.  The Books and the Parchments: How We Got Our English Bible.  ISBN 0800712145

Additional resources

• textandcanon.org

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