Weekly Blog

Given all that we have covered in these blog posts, how do we select a bible translation to use today? That is the topic I will cover in the coming weeks.

In recent weeks we have looked at three major types of transactions – essentially literal (word for word), dynamic equivalence (thought for thought), and paraphrase. Today I will look at two verses, using four translations: the NASB (one of the strictest ‘essentially’ literal translations, the NIV (one of the more strict of the dynamic equivalence translations), the New Living Translation (one of the looser of the dynamic equivalence translations), and the Message Bible (the most popular paraphrase).

The final translation theory we will consider is what is known as a paraphrase. This time I put the word “translation” in quotation marks because this theory is not even really a traditional translation as much as it is an attempt to render the main ideas of the original document in a fresh, but extremely loose way. Thus some would not even consider these translations, while others refer to them as “free translations”.

The second translation theory we will consider is “dynamic equivalence”. Once again, I put this phrase in quotation marks because this theory exists on a spectrum. Thus, some will call a particular translation “dynamic equivalent” while others might call it a paraphrase.

When considering translating from one language into another, the first translation theory to consider is “essentially literal”.

The task of translating from one language to another is very complex. As anyone who knows multiple languages can tell you, there are many differences between languages.

When a person or group decides to translate the Bible into a new language or to make a new translation for a language in which other versions already exist, it is important to begin by answering two questions.

I recently read Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation by Colin Hansen. Tim Keller was a very influential pastor, church leader, apologist, and best-selling author.

Today we will look at two early translations from the time of the Reformation.

Beginning in the late middle ages four key factors prepared the way for a rebirth of translating the Bible into local languages.