My Translation of Choice

2 April 2008

My Translation of Choice

As I read through the textbook, Grasping God’s Word, I have tried to keep an open mind to the newer translations, but I guess that I will always be a King James Version only person. None of the other translations seem to have the authority that the King James Version has, for instance, some versions reduce Jesus’ title of Master to that of Rabbi, which any person can be a rabbi, but we have only one Master. Also, some versions take away the importance and power of fasting, while others seem to omit such sins as homosexuality as being a violation of God’s Law. Gail Riplinger has done a wonderful job of compiling and comparing the differences in Bibles, through a six-year study she did, and has written several books on the subject.
I know it may be a little harder to understand than those of modern languages, but if one has a firm grasp of reading skills, including strong phonetics, and a cognitive mind, along with good concordances and other aids, then there should be no problem and the experience, with it’s formal approach, just seems more authentic.
Going by the guidelines in the textbook, suggested for choosing a translation, these would be my reasons for making the King James Version my Bible of choice.
Under step number one, the author suggests choosing a translation, which uses modern English, but as I stated earlier, I prefer the authentic King James Version for myself and really don’t have that much of a problem understanding what the Old English type writing means.
As far as step number two goes, the author suggests choosing a version that is based on standard Hebrew and Greek text. The King James Version, which was translated for King James, would be based on standard Hebrew and Greek, since it was translated from the original ancient texts. According to the Trinitarian Bible Society, there have been 30 versions of Textus Receptus Bibles made, with over 500 printings having been made over the years. The variations are minimal, with only slight misspellings, and differences in word order, etc. occurring. In fact, Chick Publications says that only 5% of the translation from the original has been lost. The Textus Receptus version of the Bible is confidently held as the same one, exactly translated, as the early church used, whereas all the modern translated versions have somewhat radically different wordings in most cases.
Step three of the textbook’s guidelines suggests that a group or committee translate the version, rather than as an individual, to prevent personal biases from being formed in the process. Since the King James Version is a formal edition, meaning literally, word-for-word, translated from the original, ancient texts there is no room for biases, whereas modern translations use new languages to fit the times, and there is no standard to go by, but the committee’s choice or digression in the matter. Moreover, the King James Version was translated by a committee of scholars from the leading university in England, so it fits accordingly into this guideline.
Step four suggests that ones uses a translation that is appropriate for one’s own particular purpose at the time, but I have used the King James Version as long as I have read the Bible, and it has always proved appropriate for my needs. I don’t feel the power and authority when I refer to a different version as I do when I read my King James Version Bible, and walk away feeling empty. For instance, the textbook uses Acts 8:36-38 for an example of contrasting the New Living Testament with the King James Version. The New Living Testament omits the deity of Christ, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” The other example of 1 John 5:7-8 does the same by leaving out the Father, the Word (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit and simply leaving the Spirit, the water and the Blood. My soul just isn’t fed when I use any other version than the King James Version. Over and over again, it has proven to be my bread of choice.
Differences in Scripture
Amos 4:4
NIV
“Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three years.
KJV
Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years
NKJV
"Come to Bethel and transgress, At Gilgal multiply transgression; Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days.
NASB
"Enter Bethel and transgress; In Gilgal multiply transgression! Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days.
NLT
"Go ahead and offer your sacrifices to the idols at Bethel and Gilgal. Keep on disobeying-your sins are mounting up! Offer sacrifices each morning and bring your tithes every three days!
ESV
“Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days;
The KJV, the NKJV, and the NRSV use the verb “come to”, whereas the NIV uses “go to”, the NLT uses “go ahead” and the NASB uses “enter.” The KJV, NKJV, NASB and the ESV uses “transgressions” and “multiply transgressions,” whereas the NLT uses “keep on disobeying, your sins are mounting up,” and the NIV uses “sin” and “sin yet more.” All of the versions use “bring your sacrifices”, except the NLT, which says, “Offer your sacrifices.” The NIV uses “every three years.” The KJV uses “after three years.” The NKJV, the NASB, the NLT and the ESV uses “every three days. “ It seems that three years is right, because it corresponds with Deuteronomy 14:28 - At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates.
Colossians 1:14
NIV
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
KJV
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
NKJV
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
NASB
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
NLT
God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.
ESV
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The KJV, NKJV, and NLT all say that we have redemption through Jesus’ “Blood,” but the ESV, the NASB and the NIV omit that fact. All versions say that we have “redemption,” except the NLT, which says that He has “purchased our freedom.” All versions are in agreement that we have “forgiveness of our sins.”
I get more power out of the verses that include the Blood, and also I feel more power in hearing redemption than freedom. Redemption, most of the time, relates to atonement of sins, whereas freedom could have more of an ambiguous meaning. Redemption sounds more Theologically inclined.
Luke 9:44
NIV
“Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”
KJV
Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
NKJV
"Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."
NASB
"Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men."
NLT
"Listen to me and remember what I say. The Son of Man is going to be betrayed."
ESV
“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”
NIV says, “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you.” KJV says, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears,” as well as do the NKJV, the NLT and the ESV. All versions use the term for Jesus as the Son of Man. NIV says that He would be betrayed into the hands of men, as well as does the NKJV. The NLT only says that He is going to be betrayed, but does not say to whom. The KJV uses the word delivered into the hands of men, as does the ESV.
Psalms 8:5
NIV
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
KJV
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
NKJV
For you have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
NASB
Yet you have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!
NLT
For you made us only a little lower than God, and you crowned us with glory and honor.
ESV
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
NIV says, “You made Him,” where as KJV says “Thou hast made Him.” NKJV, NASB and ESV say “You have made Him,” but NLT says, “You made us.” NIV says “heavenly beings, “ as well as does the ESV. KJV and NKJV say “angels.” NASB and NLT say “God.” NIV, KJV, NKJV and ESV all use different verb tenses of crown, describing how man was crowned with glory and honor, but NASB uses “majesty” instead of “honor”, while the NLT, again, gives us as crowned with glory an honor.
Song of Solomon 2:7
NIV
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
KJV
I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
NKJV
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.
NASB
"I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, That you do not arouse or awaken my love Until she pleases."
NLT
"Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the swift gazelles and the deer of the wild, not to awaken love until the time is right.
ESV
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.
The NIV, KJV, NKJV, NASB and ESV all say “daughters of Jerusalem,” but the NLT says “women of Jerusalem.” The NIV, KJV, and the NKJV all say “I charge you,” but the ESV and the NASB say “I adjure you,” while the NLT says “promise me.” The NIV uses “gazelles and does,” as does the NKJV, and the ESV, while the KJV only uses “roes,” and the NASB uses “gazelles and hinds,” while the NLT says “gazelles and deer.” All versions say “field,” but the NLT, which says “wild.” All versions say, “Stir up and awaken love/my love,” except the NLT, which omits “stir up,” and the NASB, which uses “arouse or awaken.” The NIV says “until it so desires.” The KJV says, “Till he please,” where as the NKJV says “until it pleases, and so does the ESB, but the NASB says, “Until she pleases,” and the NLT says until the time is right.”

© 2010 Kimberly Padilla, A.A Religion