A thorough way to evaluate translations is on a passage by
passage basis. Any translation can be helpful and useful in the places it is
accurately translated. Some read a few passages in a translation, and decide by
those few spots, the whole translation is flawed and useless. Since no
translation is perfect, you could render every translation useless by that
approach.
Let’s look at some passages from several translations. They
are going to be inaccurate in the place we are focusing on. Although these
translations in these particular spots are not helpful, it does not mean they
are useless throughout. From our list, we will also notice that the same
translation that may be problematic in one passage becomes very helpful in
another.
Psalm 51:5 (HCSB,
also see NIV2011) “Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was
sinful when my mother conceived me.” The HCSB has taken liberty to
translate a meaning that is not intended by God. It should read, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother
conceive me.” (ESV, also see ASV, NASB, KJV, & NKJV) The passage is
using figurative language and not teaching original sin. For a more in-depth
study on Psalm 51:5 see my cousin, Ron Daly’s blog: http://exegeticalessays.blogspot.com/2011/01/psalm515.html
Acts 22:16 (HCSB)
“And now, why delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away
your sins by calling on His name.’” The word ‘by’ is not in the
Greek, and is merely an attempt at explanation by the HCSB. Neither the ESV,
ASV, NIV, NASB, KJV, nor NKJV use the word ‘by’.
John 3:16.
Everyone’s favorite verse right! A verse that SO SO many misunderstand and
misinterpret. The NIrV is a wonderful translation for young children, being at
a third grade reading level. How wonderful for an 8 or 9 year old child to have
a copy of God’s word they can actually read and understand! I would recommend
it to any person that is at an elementary grade reading level. However, in John
3:16, it inaccurately conveys the message. (NIrV) “God loved
the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes
in him will not die but will have eternal life.” Is this the way you
read John 3:16? The word ‘so’ is not expressing the measure of God’s love
but rather the manner of God’s love. An accurate way to say it would be,
“This is the way God loved the world” or “God loved the world in this way” such
as in the HCSB. Notice that the very version that was less than helpful in
Psalm 51:5 and Acts 22:16 is the MOST helpful in John 3:16. Don’t throw away a
version simply because it is flawed in a few places. Furthermore, the NIrV is
very accurate by excluding the word ‘begotten’ and using the phrase ‘one and
only’.
Luke 2:14 (NKJV,
also KJV) “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace,
goodwill toward men!” I’m sure many have heard this verse quoted
especially around the holidays. Here is the question we want to ask, “Is God
giving peace and goodwill to humanity at large/everyone?” The KJV/NKJV answers
with a resounding, ‘YES!’ Let’s look at the NIrV. “May glory
be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is
pleased with on earth!” The NIrV does a fabulous job in this passage
explaining that the ‘peace’ is given to those who God is pleased with, not humanity
at large/everyone. (Also see ESV, NIV11, ASV, NASB, HCSB) Note: this is more of
a manuscript question rather than a translation issue, but I believe it is
helpful none the less.
None of these translations are perfect in every passage, and
we will look at more in future blogs. At the same time, none of these
translations are utterly useless. For this very reason, I always strive to
encourage others to use multiple versions. If one of the translations you use is
incorrect in a passage, often another translation will be there to object.
May God bless us all as we strive to learn what
the Holy Author intended :)
No comments:
Post a Comment