Choosing a Bible translation can be tricky. According to Patheos.com, there are over 450 of them! However, one does not have to fret or worry, for remembering these following tips will be helpful. While it is important to know the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic (the original languages the Bible was written in), we do not have to be scholars in them. Bible translations are examples of God’s providence manifested in the world so that all can know His will. We can trust our English Bibles, IF we use reliable ones. So, do not be turned off by Bible translations for it was Jesus Himself who may have used one (Luke 4:16-21). Here are ten practical tips in choosing a Bible translation.
Read the preface. Prefaces of Bible translations usually give, “principals of translation or translation philosophy used, the aims and goals of the translation, footnotes, formatting, etc.”[1]
Understanding the goal of the translators may help you decide whether there is personal bias, false doctrine being advocated, or their reliability.
Remember that no translation is perfect. God’s work is perfect (Psalm 19:7); however, since uninspired men were responsible for the transmission of the Hebrew and Greek text, there were some failures and mishaps in the process on their part. Textual criticism (the study of the Bible’s transmission from original to translation) shows us that there are:
Scribal errors (grammatical, punctuational, and numerical).
Scribal additions (see John 5:4 and 1 John 5:7).
Wrong translations (i.e. “Easter,” and “hell” in the KJV; “sexual immorality” in the NKJV and ESV; and the NIV’s rendering of the Greek word sarx “sinful nature”).
Since no translation is perfect, every person should examine his or her translation with the original Hebrew and Greek text.
Choose word for word over thought for thought. Also called formal and functional,[2] these two intervals categorize most, if not all translations. Since the original writings were in Hebrews, Aramaic, and Greek, the translation closest to the original should be the desired translation of which to grab ahold. While thought for thought translation may appeal to the modern ear, they may sometimes venture too far from the original text. While we may not use the Apostolic Bible Polyglot (transliterated version) or Young’s Literal Translation (a literal translation), it would do us well to use a translation closest to the original, maybe like the KJV or ASV. If you struggle with words like “thou” and “thee,” try the NKJV; however, this version too should be examined with a critical eye.
Stay away from paraphrases. While paraphrases may be interesting commentaries, they are NOT to be taken as Scripture. Duvall and Hayes note that, “Technically, a paraphrase is not a translation from the original languages at all, but merely a restatement or explanation of a particular English translation using different English words.”[3] This author advises the reader to stay away from the Message or the Living Bible Paraphrase.
Check a couple of key verses. Sometimes just a glance at a few verses may help determine if a translation is reliable or not. While not one single translation is flawless, the smaller number of flaws or the specific type of mistake in a translation may determine if we should use it or not. Perhaps you check:
Matthew 19:9. Does the Bible translate porneia as “fornication” or “sexual immorality?” The Greek shows it should be translated as “fornication.”
Romans 10:9-10. Read the NIV and ESV. Compare with the KJV and one will see that the former hints at faith only and the latter shows belief as a step toward salvation.
Isaiah 7:14. The word “virgin” is mistranslated in some versions as “young woman.” If “young woman” is used, it leads the reader to assume that she may not have been a virgin, therefore, Jesus not being born by the Holy Spirit (cf. Luke 1:35).
Overall, if a translation has too many errors, or if its errors are matters of doctrine, then the translation should be avoided.
Stay tuned for next week's article for the following five points.
Endnotes
[2]Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays. Grasping God's Word : A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/amridge/detail.action?docID=5702652.
[3]Ibid. To be continued in the next article.