Split-off thread: Bible translations for study

[Cow Poke]

I read The Message occasionally just for "reading" - not for study. But, yeah, I don't put much stock in it at all.

This would be a good point at which to mention the difference between a TRANSLATION and a PARAPHRASE - The Message at one time claimed to be a "translation from the original languages...", but.... [bolding mine]

Source: TheBibleResearcher.com

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The New Testament in Contemporary English. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1993.
Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002.

The publisher of this version (NavPress) informs us that Eugene Peterson started out to become a scholar, but after earning a master's degree in Hebrew he changed his plans and entered the ministry, as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA). There he served for some years before he retired to write. Peterson says that he began to create this version during a series of lessons on Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. He observed that his congregation was bored with the Biblical text as they knew it, and so, in order to stimulate them, he wrote a paraphrase of the Epistle, in which he tried to make it extraordinarily vivid and interesting to them. Later, he published this paraphrase as part of a devotional book, and it was noticed by an editor at NavPress. This editor persuaded Peterson to put the entire New Testament in the same kind of language. (1)

Peterson did most of the work on the New Testament during 1991, at which time he was "writer in residence" at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. The New Testament was published in 1993, and became a best-seller. Peterson was persuaded to do the Old Testament, and, over a nine year period, he gradually completed the entire Bible. A volume containing The Old Testament Wisdom Books was published in 1998, followed by The Old Testament Prophets in 2000, the Pentateuch in 2001, the Books of History in 2002, and an edition of the complete Bible in 2002.

In evaluating this version, the author's purpose and audience must be kept in mind. Unfortunately, the publisher has advertised it as a "translation from the original languages" that "accurately communicates the original Hebrew and Greek" and brings out "the subtleties and nuances of the Hebrew and Greek languages," being the work of a respected "exegetical scholar," etc., all of which gives an entirely false impression of the work. Instead, what we have here is a free paraphrase of the text, often very eccentric, with many unlikely renderings, lengthy insertions and omissions, and other problems; but to criticize this work for its many inaccuracies would be to miss the whole purpose of its author. Peterson's purpose in this is to present something new and provocative at every turn, something vivid and unusual, in order to stir up the dull minds of people who have become bored with their familiar Bibles.

His method is comparable to that of a preacher in the pulpit, who dwells on one thing for a while and then rushes over another, alternatingly serious and jocular, doing whatever he can to maintain the attention of his audience. The version incorporates a number of interesting but peculiar interpretations that can only be described as homiletic:

© Copyright Original Source

When I was a teenager, I read The Living Bible a lot, but my pastor was very clear to stress that it's "Just a Paraphrase".

[One Bad Pig]

I'm going to disagree with CP on this a little bit...(I have a GREAT deal of respect for CP, and we are friends on and off the site)

But HCSB IMO is less literal than either NASB or ESV...and I think that's backed up by scholarship. NASB is a pretty literal translation as is the ESV, but though I have both translations (as well as an NIV, an HCSB and a KJV) My favorite is the ESV. I think it reads as well as the HCSB or the NIV but leans a little more literal to the original text. I too grew up on and memorized a lot of KJV scripture, but it's proven to be a fairly flawed version given it's translation method as well as it's outdated language issues. The NASB was the first Bible I ever bought on my own, and I chose it because of it's scholastic chops (at the time), but I always found it's reading a bit stilted and awkward...that's my opinion. I second CP's advice on Blue Letter Bible and going back to the Greek and Hebrew. It's much easier now days than ever before... and Robercht and John Reese as well as others are a great asset. they have helped me several times immensely!

I think the general consensus is that the NASB is a bit stilted and awkward - you're going to get that to some extent when literalness is emphasized. A literal translation can sometimes help identify links between passages that a more dynamic translation might obscure, however. I like the NET (been reading it since it was in draft form), but IMO it's a little too dynamic at times (I often prefer the more literal translation proffered in a footnote). I generally default to the NKJV (first bible I bought on my own; grew up with the KJV), but I like to check multiple translations (including a Jewish translation of the Tanakh and the LXX). The Wyclif Bible is a fun read.

[KingsGambit]

That is indeed a new one for me. Never heard of it.

I saw it in a bookstore once. It cuts out large sections of the Bible. IIRC it changed Paul's epistles into short, one-page emails.

[Jesse]

I tend to lean towards translations that have scholars from differing backgrounds contributing to it. I find that they make for more of a complete reading. But this is just a personal preference. So I do enjoy the NRSV a lot.

[Jesse]

I saw it in a bookstore once. It cuts out large sections of the Bible. IIRC it changed Paul's epistles into short, one-page emails.

That is just messed up. I wonder if I should take the time to track it down. Just for the train wreck aspect.

[One Bad Pig]

Here's a good source where you can see whole chapters "side by side" in different versions. Online Parallel Bible by Chapters.

You can do that as well at Bible Gateway (by whatever passage you want - just look up the passage in the first translation, then click on the "add parallel" icon until you've added all the parallels you want).

[Zymologist]

That is just messed up. I wonder if I should take the time to track it down. Just for the train wreck aspect.

I'm wondering this too, but I'm afraid of what I might see....

[Cow Poke]

You can do that as well at Bible Gateway (by whatever passage you want - just look up the passage in the first translation, then click on the "add parallel" icon until you've added all the parallels you want).

I think that's the one I intended - more user friendly.

[rogue06]

Here's a good source where you can see whole chapters "side by side" in different versions. Online Parallel Bible by Chapters.

I use biblehub.com for verse to verse comparisons so it is nice to see a source that can do it by entire chapters

[Littlejoe]

That is just messed up. I wonder if I should take the time to track it down. Just for the train wreck aspect.

you can read it online at Biblegateway.com

[Jesse]

you can read it online at Biblegateway.com

Really? I couldn't find it. I have to look harder I think. Thanks for letting me know .

[Littlejoe]

Really? I couldn't find it. I have to look harder I think. Thanks for letting me know .

That's my bad...you're right, it's not there anymore...sorry about that.

[Jesse]

That's my bad...you're right, it's not there anymore...sorry about that.

No worries. I will find it I am sure.

[Jesse]

So as I was looking for a version for Word on the Street online, I had noticed that Crosswire has a Klingon language translation. I don't know why...

[Cow Poke]

So as I was looking for a version for Word on the Street online, I had noticed that Crosswire has a Klingon language translation. I don't know why...

Klingons need Jesus?