Charts like the one above highlight the problem that the abundance of Bible translations poses today. Sometimes, the plethora of available Bible translations on the bookstore shelf is overwhelming. How are we to make sense of the different options available? Which version should we use? And who is to say that this chart or others are correct? [This one is actually slightly biased as it is put out by the makers of the NIV and TNIV (which occupy the coveted “balanced” position). It also doesn’t include the ESV or HCSB, but that is because the chart is outdated.]
Well, over at my team KJV Only Debate Blog, Erik DiVietro has given us a 5 part series describing the various major Bible translations available today. This might make for some good weekend reading, so I thought I’d share it here. I felt he did a great job explaining and categorizing the various Bibles. He like myself, gravitates toward the ESV as his preferred Bible. Other good options are available, but it helps to learn the background of the various selections out there.
- Diversity of Modern Translations pt 1 — The KJV Tradition
- Diversity of Modern Translations pt 2 — Dynamic Translations
- Diversity of Modern Translations pt 3 — Formal Translations
- Diversity of Modern Translations pt 4 — Paraphrases
- Diversity of Modern Translations pt 5 — Updating the King James Version
The ESV was released several years before the full TNIV was published in 2005 and the HCSB about a year prior. If the chart was produced after the full TNIV was published (that would be my guess) I wonder if there was not some other reason those two translations weren’t included in the chart?
I guess I was giving them the benefit of the doubt. It could have come out as a promo for the upcoming TNIV so before ESV really was making waves…
Have you heard about the newest translation – the Common English Bible? The New Testament just came out last month and publication of the complete Bible is expected Fall 2011. It’s backed by extensive, diverse and reliable biblical scholarship and employs more common language so it will especially appeal to families, young people and those who are new to Christianity. There’s more information here: http://www.commonenglishbible.com and http://twitter.com/commonengbible
Thanks for providing the links Amy. It looks interesting. Funny how it lists the ESV as a dynamic translation without any concern for verbal equivalence. I haven’t seen the ESV put closer to the dynamic side than the NIV is ever before in a chart, however. Very strange.
One of my professors was working on a translation called the NET Bible. http://www.bible-researcher.com/net.html
It’s worth checking out!
CF,
We did profile that in the series of posts. The chart is by the makers of the NIV so they ignored it. I love the NET and use it all the time for the extensive footnotes. If I don’t know what a verse is saying or if the Greek is difficult, or if I’m wondering if there is any textual variants, the NET Bible will help. It’s pretty much available online only, however. Thanks for mentioning it….
Bob
Do you have or know of any tree diagram illustrations showing the literary heritage of the different versions? This would make it somewhat easier to see the “DNA”, as it were, of the translation philosophies through time.