THE TOPIC OF TRANSLATIONS

-Introduction

-Last Sunday evening, we opened the lesson by reviewing a few of the verses which pertain

  to the inspiration of the scriptures (2 Tim 3:16-17, 1 Cor 2:9-11, 2 Pet 1:19-21)

-We know that God inspired the message which revealed His will to mankind - His plan of

  redemption for fallen man. 

-Yet, we know that the scriptures have undergone an extensive translation process that has

  taken the original message into many different languages down through the centuries.

       -So, some have asked a very important question:  How do we know that the scriptures of

        today still contain God’s original truth.

-Last Sunday, we talked a little about the translation process. 

       -I pointed out that Jesus and the inspired writers of the N.T. lent great credibility to the translation

        process by quoting often from the Septuagint – a Greek translation of the O.T.

       -We talked about the many sources of information available for the translation process and the

         fact that evidence reveals that the integrity of the scriptures has remained intact.

-So, we can certainly have confidence in today’s scriptures.

-However, there has been a good deal of controversy as to which translations should or should not

be used.

     -Is the KJV the best?  Some would say that if it’s not the KJV, it’s not the Bible.

     -Should you avoid the NIV?  Some have come right out and said it is wrong to use it.

-Let’s see if we can reach some reasonable conclusions.

-Basic Overview

-Let me first give you my opinion.  Remember, this is my opinion.

-A person can learn and know the truth of God’s word from any of the primary translations: i.e.

  KJV, NKJV, ASV, RSV, NASB, NIV, ESV, etc.

-Not a one of these translations can be labeled as a perfect translation.  Each contains passages

  that aren’t translated as accurately as they should have been.

-However, that is not a reason to avoid its use altogether.

       -If that were the case, we would have no translation of the Bible at all to use.

     -Again, consider the scriptural example of the Septuagint.  It certainly was not without its

      faults yet Jesus quoted from it as did the inspired writers of the N.T.

-Excellent quote from Wayne Jackson, “The problem with most folks is not the translation they use, but

  the fact that they do not use the translation they have” (The Bible Translation Controversy, 1985,

  Apologetics Press, Montgomery, AL, pg 21)

 -If you give me any of the basic translations, I can teach the truth of God’s word from it.

       -Any passages called into question can be clarified within the same translation by looking

        at additional passages.

-Therefore, I think it is best to find the translation that you prefer…and use it.

     -I use the KJV because that is what I grew up with.  At some time or another, I might switch

  to the NASB or ESV.

-None of the Translations are Perfect

-KJV:

-I have heard individuals say that the KJV is the “only translation that should be used”.

-My response to that is, “Which one?”  There have been numerous editions of the KJV.

-Many people would probably be surprised to know that KJV once contained fourteen additional

books – the Apocryphal books.  Obviously, they have since been dropped.

-A couple of items that come to my mind immediately are the use of the word “hell” rather than

“hades” in some passages (Acts 2:31) and the use of the Holy “Ghost” rather than “Spirit”.

-Gen 1:6 – The use of the word “firmament” rather than “expanse” NASB, NIV.

          -The Greeks held the concept of a stone vault ceiling above the sky.  That was carried

            over into Latin translations with “firmamentum” and then to the KJV as “firmament”.

-Acts 12:4 – The KJV used “Easter” rather than “Passover”.

-The translators simply transliterated forms of “bapto” (baptism, baptize, etc) rather than

translate it into “immersion” due to pressures placed upon them by the King of England.

          -However, it is translated “dipped” in John 13:26.

-ASV

-“Guy N. Woods has called the American Standard Version of 1901 ‘on the whole, the finest of

  all English Versions of the New Testament in popular use today’…I concur” (ibid, p16).

-Matt 28:1 – Should say “after” the Sabbath rather than “late on” the Sabbath…

-In regards to John 9:38, the ASV has a footnote which states that the word worshipped ‘denotes

 an act of reverence, whether paid to a creature (as here) or to the Creator:”

            -Such a statement denies the Deity of Christ while here on Earth.

-NASB

-It attempts to lend support to Premillenialism - i.e. footnote for Mark 13:30 – “or race”.

-Matt 5:17 – “Do not think that I am come to abolish the Law…”

            -abolish – (Merriam-Webster Dict.) - to do away with, annul  (That’s what Jesus came to do.)

            -Eph 2:15 – “by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments…”NASB

-Phil 2:6 – “He existed in the form of God” – Again, takes away from Christ’s Deity on Earth.

-NIV

-It seems that, among the primary translations, the NIV has received the most criticism.

-A certain measure of this seems justified.

-Formal Equivalence (word for word) vs Dynamic Equivalence (thought).

-It is true that in every translation you have a mixture of both approaches.  However, you will find a

  more dominant theme within them.  Within the NIV, the emphasis was Dynamic Equivalence.

            -The NIV translating committee, “acknowledged that they sought for ‘more than a word-for-word

              translation’ (Jackson, p19).  They were more interested in the thought.

            -This can be helpful at times but also opens the door for interpretation rather than translation.

            -For this reason, you find passages in the NIV which support Calvinistic themes.

-Ps 51:5 – “sinful at birth”

            -Rom 7:18 – “sinful nature”

            -Remember, Jesus “became flesh” John 1:14.  Therefore, flesh is not automatically sinful.

-Rom 10:10 – “…with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

            -This would support the idea of salvation through faith and confession only.

-In Acts 2:27, 31, the word “hades” is rendered “grave” – giving the idea that upon death a person

  remains in the grave – in a state of unconsciousness.

-Rom 12:1 – “worship” rather than “service”

-Summary and Invitation

-Again, there is not a single translation in which we couldn’t find passages such as these used as examples

  this evening.

-However, as I stated earlier, the truth and be taught from each of these.  Passages called to question can

  be clarified by additional passages in those some translations.

-We need to find a translation that we prefer and then use it.

       -When doing in-depth study, consulting several translations can be very beneficial.

-The important thing is this:  We need to study.  Through study, we can know the truth, obey it and be

made free from the condemnation of sin.

    -Have you obeyed the truth?  Believe (John 3:16), Confess (Matt 10:32), Repent (Luke 13:3,5),

     Be Baptized (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16), Walk in Newness of Life (Rom 6:4)

       -If you’ve obeyed the Gospel  but haven’t remained faithful, confess your shortcomings, repent of

        them and pray for forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24)