Translations I Especially Appreciate
The key to understanding the Scriptures, in my view, does not reside in trusting any particular translation. Neither is it our academic knowledge of the ancient languages. Nor is it the theological expositions or systematic theologies we have studied. The answer is found hearing the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts confirming God’s truth. Jesus, in a prayer to His father said:
“I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and have revealed them to babes.” Matthew 11:25
Note that he is relating to God’s judgment in this context. The religious leaders and experts in the Scriptures (the wise and prudent) of Christ’s day were blinded to the true nature and purposes of God. They “crucified the Lord of glory!”
To really understand the Scriptures, we must first know the character of God. That is our key. If our concept of God is one of a harsh and cruel being who torments most of His creatures forever in hell, we will interpret all of Scripture from that frame of reference. It will be the same if we believe in a God of limitless love and mercy.
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness…” Matthew 6:22-23
If our view (eye) about God’s character and nature are correct, then our whole being will be full of light as we read the Scriptures, for we will interpret them through the correct lens. We will have the key that unlocks the meaning of the Scriptures to our hearts and minds. I can say one thing with certainty: never in my entire Christian life have I experienced such a depth and consistency of peace and joy as I have in my present understanding of God.
So, having established that the key interpretive factor is the knowledge of God’s true character, it is also essential that we compare many translations to get a clearer view of what the Biblical writers actually said. This is especially critical since most popular translations were created by scholars holding an extremely negative and horrific concept of God – a God who tortures His creatures forever in hell. Believing in a false concept of God naturally results in gross interpretative errors. In light of this, here are a few translations that I especially appreciate and which I compare with many others I use. Remember, no translation is perfect!
“New King James Version”
This is my main translation which I read and memorize. I do so because it is a popular and well respected translation, and because of the KJV fame. But even more important, because of the references to the footnotes which discloses the variants in the original ancient manuscripts, which for me is very important to know. I find those Greek textual variants very significant at times. For example, there I discovered that 1 Corinthians 15:55 is very different from the NIV which is in line with the NU-Greek Text (Nestle – Aland Greek N.T. (N) and United Bible Societies (U), hence acronym “NU-text.”) Paul says, “O Hades (same word used in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus – Luke 16:23), where is your victory?” So then, if the Textus Receptus (Received Text) which the KJV and the NKJV is based on is the more reliable Greek text (as some believe), then the one time Paul used the word Hades (Hell?), He used it to proclaim God’s victory over it! And regardless, Jesus exhorts us saying, “Do not be afraid, I… have the keys of Hades and of death. (Rev 1:17-18).” So the parable of Luke 16: 19-31,so often quoted in defense of a “hopeless” hell, is not hopeless at all!
“Young’s Literal Translation” by Robert Young, author of the popular concordance named after him.
This is a good literal (word for word) translation. I refer to it frequently. A word for word translation has a positive side and a negative side. It will also leave out the richer meaning of the original words that a word for word rendition cannot provide. This is why I compare at least 20 translations whenever a particular passage prompts a closer look. You can access it at BibleGateway.com or Amazon
“Concordant Literal New Testament”
This is a unique translation in that each Greek word is matched to one specific English word with a few exceptions. This can help us more easily discern for ourselves, through usage, what the Biblical writers meant. Some people have criticized this approach because they do not understand it. When you get it, I recommend you learn the abbreviations and symbols explained in the front. Like I said above concerning YLT, a literal word for word translation has limitations. I refer you to the comment below by Rev. Nathaniel J. Merritt Met.D. Available on Amazon and at this site:The Concordant Literal New Testament
Rotherham Emphasized Bible (1902)
This is an older translation and not as easy to read as most more modern versions. But the value of a Bible translation, to me, should be measured by its faithfulness to the original texts and not to the interpretation of its meaning. You can find it on Amazon where I see it has very good reviews. I only recently have started using it. I will use it as a reference.
Of this translation, John R. Kohlenberger III writes, “The Emphasized Bible is one of the most innovative and thoroughly researched translations ever done by a single individual. Its presentation of emphases and grammatical features of the original language still reward careful study.” Kohlenberger is the author or co-editor of more than three dozen biblical reference books and study Bibles. He has taught at Multnomah Bible College and Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.
One website I found explains in detail why they feel this is the best translation for accuracy. Please judge the value of these comments for yourself. I did find them interesting though, and so I share them here. For more information, read the Amazon reviews and see this site (which offers a free download): www.teleiosministries.com
“A strictly literal rendering may not be so pleasant to the ear as one where the apparent sense is chiefly aimed at, yet it is not euphony but truth that ought to be sought. There are tens of thousands departures from the original text in the current versions. There are about two thousand instances in the New Testament where the definite article (the) is omitted. Verbal inspiration can be the least practical use to those who depend upon those versions” (Young’s preface). The Rotherham Emphasized Bible is the World’s best English translation of the Hebrew and Greek text that we have seen to date. This translation’s shortcoming is in capitalizing the word spirit [ruah (pneuma)].–Teleo Ministries
An Amazon review I appreciated was from Brian Albert. He writes, “This is really a fabulous work. Reading Rotherham’s Bible translation is about as close as you can get to reading the scriptures in the original Hebrew and Greek, without having to actually learn those languages. For one thing, those languages have devices built into the grammar that place degress of emphasis on certain words and phrases. This gets lost in an English translation. Rotherham uses accent marks, brackets, double brackets, etc. to restore the emphasis. Now you can read in English and see what words and phrases were emphasized by the inspired writers. Rotherham also preserves the sentence structure of the original Hebrew and Greek. This makes the English sentences a little awkward, but I would say that it is still highly readable. Most importantly, Rotherham translates words consistently throughout. Most Bibles often translate the same Greek word into several different English words. Often this is done to preserve a certain doctrine. For instance, it can easily be shown that the Greek word “aion” means an age, a long but limited amount of time. Most Bibles render this word as eternity, but in places where the context doesn’t support such a rendering, a different English word is used, such as world, age, or course. Rotherham consistently renders aion as age and its adjective form aionios as age-abiding, not eternal. In Matt 25:46 Rotherham’s version says the unrighteous go off to “age-abiding correction” and not to “eternal punishment” as other Bibles say.”
Again, as I said above regarding YLT comment, a word for word translation has its imitations. If you are experienced with this translation, please email me to share your comments about it.
“Weymouth Translation” New Testament
The Weymouth New Testament (“WNT”), also known as The New Testament in Modern Speech or The Modern Speech New Testament, is a translation into “modern” English as used in the nineteenth century from the text of The Resultant Greek Testament by Richard Francis Weymouth. Weymouth’s popular translation of the New Testament into English was first published in 1903 and has been in print through numerous editions ever since with millions of copies sold. Weyland’s aim was to discover how the inspired writers of the New Testament would have expressed and described the events of the New Testament and Gospels had they been actually writing in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Weymouth succeeded in rendering it into a dignified modern English edition; the absence of ecclesiastical and doctrinal bias make it accessible to Christian readers of all denominations.
The Weymouth New Testament is in the public domain
You can read it free online at Bible Study Tools dot com. However, be aware that the intro material is from the NIV Study Bible and not part of this translation. Note also, this is not a literal translation. But that is not a bad thing, because we need to compare both approaches to translation. The Introductory Explanation in this Translation explains clearly why this is so. You can access that on Amazon if you click the “LOOK INSIDE” feature. Here’s the link: LOOK INSIDE
http://www.biblestudytools.com/wnt/
“The Apostolic Bible Polyglot” by Charles Van der Pool
The Greek Old Testament, commonly referred to as the Septuagint was translated from the Hebrew Scriptures approximately 250 years before Christ. For hundreds of years after Christ, during the formation of the apostolic age, the Greek Scriptures were consistently read and quoted by the Church Fathers.
When the apostles wrote the Scriptures to various churches and people, the common written form was Greek, and most of the Jews of the Diaspora understood Greek, and lived in areas where Greek was spoken. It was common for the writers of the New Testament when need arose to quote the Old Testament, to quote the Greek Scriptures rather than the Hebrew Scriptures. See this link for another interesting report about the Septuagint:
http://www.scrollpublishing.com/store/Septuagint.html
This wonderful resource is the first numerically coded Greek Old Testament. It allows the student of the Word to study both Testaments in the same language, and to follow the association of a word from either the New Testament or the Old Testament or vice versa. For example, if you want to better understand the meaning of a New Testament Greek word, you can now reference the Old Testament as well. This provides you additional passages to help you assess its meaning.
This reference includes a 13 page Introduction, a 1232 page numerically coded interlinear Greek-English Old Testament (LXX), a numerically coded 372 page interlinear Greek-English New Testament, an 88 page numerically coded English-Greek Index, and a 366 page numerically coded Lexical Concordance…totaling 2112 pages. It uses a numerical coding system called the “AB-Strong Numbering System.”
I was privileged to speak with the editor of this awesome reference (Charles Van der Pool) and discovered that he devoted 25 years of His life on it. I asked about the Greek words “aion” and “aionios.” And though he holds the traditional view, He did say that in a future edition he may transliterate these words as “aion” and “aionios” due to the controversy surrounding them.
It may be purchased in hard copy from Amazon or downloaded free from the publishers at: http://septuagint-interlinear-greek-bible.com/
“Jonathan Mitchell New Testament” by Jonathan Mitchell
What I like about this reference is that Jonathan Mitchell believes in a God of limitless love and mercy, unlike most popular translations. Another wonderful feature is that this translator presents to us the various interpretive options he encountered in the text. The principle that governed him was trust in the Holy Spirit to guide his readers to discover what interpretation was best in each case. That is awesome! Thank you, Jonathan Mitchell, for not trying to be the Holy Spirit for us. Available on Amazon or at: http://jonathanmitchellnewtestament.com/
Finally…I pray you will find some of these translations helpful as you seek to understand the Scriptures more accurately. But remember…
In Luke 24, after Jesus rose from the grave, He expounded the Scriptures to two of His disciples and vanished. Then they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us?” (verse 32). Luke says again in verse 45, “He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” We cannot understand the Scriptures unless Christ opens our hearts to them. And when He does, something burns within us! That’s because God’s message is the GOOD NEWS of PEACE (Acts 10:36 NIV).
Please get this:
When Christ opens our minds to the Scriptures, especially God’s precious promises, our hearts should burn within us (v 32). His gracious words fill our hearts with peace, even “joy inexpressible and full of glory” as Peter says (1Peter 1:8). If the message we are hearing from the Scriptures is not producing joy with a burning effect in us, filling our hearts with peace, I do not believe we are hearing from God. Even in His warnings, peace remains, because we know His unfailing and enduring Father heart for each one of us.
Bible reading without hearing from Christ is lifeless. It is about communion with Him, not of duty, but desire. It is our desire for Him that causes our hearts to burn when we hear His gracious words. They “marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Lu 4:22). When is the last time you “marveled” at His wonderful words and your heart burned within you?
When our hearts burn within us we know that God has talked with us.
Gerry Beauchemin
Author of “Hope Beyond Hell” See hopebeyondhell.net for a free book download
June 20, 2012
The Mirror Translation by Francois Du Toit which is being released this July has such a beautiful articulation of the grace and love of the Father. The message of the finished work of Christ expressed paraphrased from the original Greek. Be on the look out and check it out!!
June 20, 2012
Thank you Gerry for this information and your tireless work to get the word out. It has produced peace in my heart that ALL will be saved. Glory to God! Thank you for expounding on how to use the various translations to help us understand what God is saying. God’s continued blessings on you and your ministry!
June 20, 2012
Thank you for taking the time to not only enlighten others of reliable translations but to reveal the true meaning of studying the Bible. This gives me more incentive to go back to the “book” with an open heart.
Keep the faith…………………..
June 20, 2012
Thanks Gerry.
Here is something I frequently post on forums.
Fifteen literally translated (not interpretively translated) Bibles that
reveal what God will do with the sinners in Matthew 25:46
Concordant Literal, Young’s literal, Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott, Rotherham’s
Emphasized, Scarlett’s, J.W. Hanson’s New Covenant, Twentieth Century,
Ferrar Fenton, The Western New Testament, Weymouth’s (unedited), Clementson’s,
The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Anointed, The Restoration of
Original Sacred Name Bible, Bullinger’s Companion Bible margins, Jonathan
Mitchell’s translation (2010).
I got them from Gary Amirault’s website.
From Rodger Tutt in Toronto, Canada
June 20, 2012
Rodger, I like the part where you wrote, “Fifteen literally translated (not interpretively translated) Bibles that
reveal what God will do with the sinners in Matthew 25:46…” I’m going to copy that if you don’t mind to post myself. It is also a good summary of other translations that are out there. Thank you!
June 20, 2012
Yes, please do copy and share it with others Jeanine.
Here is expanded information about those fifteen translations.
Fifteen literally translated (not interpretively translated) Bibles that reveal what God will do with the sinners in Matthew 25:46
Concordant Literal, Young’s literal, Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott, Rotherham’s Emphasized, Scarlett’s, J.W. Hanson’s New Covenant, Twentieth Century, Ferrar Fenton, The Western New Testament, Weymouth’s (unedited), Clementson’s, The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Anointed, The Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible, Bullinger’s Companion Bible margins, Jonathan Mitchell’s translation (2010).
Concerning the duration of kolasis (literally – corrective punishment), Matt. 25:46 says (KJV),
“And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.”
1. Scarlett’s New Testament written in 1792 has “aeonian punishment” in place to “everlasting punishment.”
“And these will go away into aeonian punishment: but the righteous into aeonian life.”
2. The New Covenant by Dr. J.W. Hanson written in 1884 renders Matt. 25:46:
“And these shall go away into aeonian chastisement, and the just into aeonian life.”
3. Young’s Literal Translation first published in 1898 and reprinted many times since uses the following words:
“And these shall go away to punishment age-during, but the righteous to life age-during.”
Professor Young also compiled Young’s Concordance, where one can check the translation of each Hebrew or Greek word as translated in the KJV.
4. The Twentieth Century New Testament first printed in the year 1900 has:
“And these last will go away ‘into aeonian punishment,’ but the righteous ‘into aeonian life.'”
5. The Holy Bible in Modern English by Ferrar Fenton first published in 1903 gives the rendering:
“And these He will dismiss into a long correction, but the well-doers to an enduring life.
6. The New Testament in Modern Speech, by Dr. Weymouth, says:
“And these shall go away into punishment of the ages, but the righteous into life of the ages.”
Dr. Weymouth most frequently adopts such terms as “life of the ages,” “fire of the ages;” and in Rev. 14:6, “The good news of the ages.” It is a matter to regret that the editors of the most recent edition of Dr. Weymouth’s version have reverted to the KJV renderings for the passages containing the Greek word aion, eon, or age.
7. The Western New Testament published in 1926 renders Matt. 25:46 as follows:
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.”
The translation, however, has a footnote on Matthew 21:19 on the word “forever” which is the same word for “eternal” which says: “Literally, for the age.”
8. Clementson’s The New Testament (1938) shows,
“And these shall go away into eonian correction, but the righteous into eonian life.”
9. Wilson’s Emphatic Diaglott (1942 edition) translates the verse,
“And these shall go forth to the aionian cutting-off; but the righteous to aionian life.”
It should be noted that the “cutting-off” refers to pruning a fruit tree to make it bear more fruit. The idea behind the word is not destructive but productive! Had Jesus wanted to emphasize a destructive end, He would have used the word “timoria.”
10. The Concordant Version (1930):
“And these shall be coming away into chastening eonian, yet the just into life eonian.”
11. The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Anointed printed in 1958 says:
“And these shall go away into agelasting cutting-off and the just into agelasting life.”
12. Joseph Bryant Rotherham, in his Emphasized Bible (1959), translates this verse,
“and these shall go away into age-abiding correction, but the righteous into age-abiding life.”
13. The Restoration of Original Sacred Name Bible copyrighted in 1976 has “age-abiding correction” instead of “everlasting punishment.”
14. Jonathan Mitchell’s translation (2010) has “And so, these folks will be going off into an eonian pruning (a lopping-off which lasts for an undetermined length of time; an age-lasting correction; a pruning which has its source and character in the Age), yet the fair and just folks who are in right relationship and are in accord with the Way pointed out [go off] into eonian life (life which has it source and character in the Age; life pertaining to the Age)”.
15. Even some King James Study Bibles will show the reader in the margins or appendixes that the King’s translators were incorrect in their rendering of “eternal punishment.” The great Companion Bible by Dr. Bullinger is an example of that.
Greek scholar William Barclay wrote concerning kolasis aionion (age-during corrective chastisement) in Matthew 25:46
“The Greek word for punishment is kolasis, which was not originally an ethical word at all. It originally meant the pruning of trees to make them grow better. There is no instance in Greek secular literature where kolasis does not mean remedial punishment. It is a simple fact that in Greek kolasis always means remedial punishment. God’s punishment is always for man’s cure.”
Also see what other Greek scholars say about it
An Analytical Study of Words
http://www.tentmaker.org/books/asw/Chapter11.html
Chapter Eleven
July 18, 2012
Thank you Rodger for this extensive list. Greatly appreciated!
June 20, 2012
Thank you Gerry for this information.
Keep up the good work.
Bob
Google k7vhq and click on San Jacinto for my photo and notes.
June 20, 2012
It’s interesting to note that these translations were done by individual men whose minds and hearts were dedicated to God and His truth. The worst translation, the KJV, was done by committee….as were the creeds which have replaced Scripture in the practices of denominational churches. God didn’t write any of His word using committees, no matter how learned and brilliant. Humans can’t avoid politics and opinion when we are working on things….even in the “Christian” scene. Thankfully, Father has protected His truth down through the ages, and those of us who know Him and His Son are the recipients of grace upon grace through His word!
June 20, 2012
What do you think of the various Aramaic works? I notice you keep using Greek.
July 18, 2012
I have not had the opportunity to research them out yet. It seems the Syriac Peshitta is, according to some, more accurate than any of the Greek manuscripts.
Do you have any detailed and reliable information on them?
June 20, 2012
I have come to really love the Weymouth and the Youngs. Lately the Aramiac bible in plain engish has proved useful.
Noah Jefferson Cooke
June 20, 2012
Thanks, Gerry, for a very enlightening contribution to the importance of Scripture analysis. Though it is true that no translation of the Bible is letter faultless, yet, as you have pointed out, to discover the real character of God is to discover the real intent of his Word.
June 20, 2012
Which is the best Bible translation? I take it you mean in English and not en Espanola. Madre de Dios! I also take it you mean the best translation based on the best manuscripts using the most scientific principles of translation and one that is not a “gimmick” Bible such as a “A Million Promises of God” Bible or a “Second Coming Bible.” Oui? Oui. You also do not mean “the best Bible because it confirms the hoary dark traditions I was raised with and I like how it reads.”
I began to study the Bible and related matters at age fifteen. I am now fifty-nine. I’ve used several dozen (at least) translations throughout that time. I agree with your choices. I put Young’s Literal on that list, as well as Rotherham’s, and several others. The very best is the Concordant Literal New Testament with Keyword Concordance. Between it and all other versions there is a vast gulf. Why? Because the CLNT is based on entirely different translation principles than the others. Sure, Young’s is literal but it isn’t consistent. One using it will still be given many English words for one Greek word and one English word covering many Greek words. Cross-wired confusion. The same with all translations in any and all languages except for the German edition of the CLNT. Using any other version one will have to go on a rabbit chase through the Lexicons of Strong’s or another such concordance to try and discern the actual core meaning of the inspired words behind the English.
It’s soooo much easier with the CLNT. For the most part each Greek word has its own English equivalent that is not used to translate any other Greek words. In a handful of cases this is not possible but even then the English words used are in a similar “family” of words with the underlying meaning being very similar. Add to that the lightfaced and boldfaced type that clearly shows the reader which words have an actual equivalent in the Greek text and words that are used to complete the sense in English. One is also given various symbols that direct one to the Greek grammatical features of the Greek text. The Keyword Concordance is a wonderful tool as well. Just look up a word and its Greek equivalent is given in a transliterated and translated form followed by all the occurrences of that word. The CLNT therefore gives the student of Scripture the perfect way of studying the Bible without having to go on a rabbit hunt with a help such as Strong’s.
The Concordant Publishing Concern also publishes the Concordant Greek Text, the text underlying the CLNT. Textual Criticism is a hobby of mine (and it has been since I was twenty one) and the principles underlying the CGT are very logical and empirical, based as they are on the real-life experiences of type-setters and the kinds of mistakes they make. (The same mistakes made by ancient scribes who hand-copied the manuscripts). Beneath the uncial Greek of the first century the CGT gives an ULTRA-literal and UTTERLY consistent translation beneath the Greek words. This brings one as close to being able to read Koine (kee-nee) Greek that one can come without actually learning Greek.
The CGT is based on the three oldest most complete manuscripts in existence: Vatican codex A (and B for the Unveiling/Revelation), the Alexandrian codex, and the Codex Sinai. The important variant readings are also given
Last but not least is the Concordant Greek Elements which places all Greek words and each form of the words in their word-families. It also includes a short course in Koine Greek. With this tool, if one has to capacity and intent, one can learn Koine Greek.
The Concordant Version is not for light reading or to get a “buzz” from devotional reading. It is a Bible for study. However, with use, one becomes familiar with the CLNT and one will experience the Holy Spirit speaking to ones heart more clearly and powerfully than any other version bar none. Just go to http://www.concordant.org
NJM
June 20, 2012
I discovered that one can access up to 13 English translations, and many others in different languages, online, at http://www.bible.com.
First click on one of these links: “Bible.com’s newest feature: NLT Bible on-line or KJV Bible on-line.”
Second, click on “Language/Translation”.
June 20, 2012
I would be very glad if aionios in regards to hell, retribution, remediation is temporary.
But does the same word apply to eternal life? It our reward also temporary?
July 18, 2012
Augustine raised the argument that since aionios in Mt. 25:46 referred to both life and punishment, it had to carry the same duration in both cases. (5) However, he failed to consider that the duration of aionios is determined by the subject to which it refers. For example, when aionios referred to the duration of Jonah’s entrapment in the fish, it was limited to three days. To a slave, aionios referred to his life span. To the Aaronic priesthood, it referred to the generation preceding the Melchizedek priesthood. To Solomon’s temple, it referred to 400 years. To God it encompasses and transcends time altogether.
Thus, the word cannot have a set value. It is a relative term and its duration depends upon that with which it is associated. It is similar to what “tall” is to height. The size of a tall building can be 300 feet, a tall man six feet, and a tall dog three feet. Black Beauty was a great horse, Abraham Lincoln a great man, and Yahweh the GREAT God. Though God is called “great,” the word “great” is neither eternal nor divine. The horse is still a horse. An adjective relates to the noun it modifies. In relation to God, “great” becomes GREAT only because of who and what God is. This silences the contention that aion must always mean forever because it modifies God. God is described as the God of Israel and the God of Abraham. This does not mean He is not the God of Gentiles, or the God of you and me. Though He is called the God of the “ages,” He nonetheless remains the God who transcends the ages.
In addition, Augustine’s reasoning does not hold up in light of Ro. 16:25, 26 and Hab. 3:6. Here, in both cases, the same word is used twice—with God and with something temporal. “In accord with the revelation of a secret hushed in times eonian, yet manifested now…according to the injunction of the eonian God” (Ro. 16:25, 26 CLT). An eonian secret revealed at some point cannot be eternal even though it is revealed by the eonian God. Eonian does not make God eternal, but God makes eonian eternal. “And the everlasting mountains were scattered.…His ways are everlasting” (Hab. 3:6). Mountains are not eternal, though they will last a very long time. God’s ways however, are eternal, because He is eternal.
Please see Hope Beyond Hell chapter one for more detail on this passage.
June 21, 2012
It’s interesting to note that Tyndale uses the word hell for hades! Fenton is grave and some others are just grave or Sheol. I’ve been using the New King James ever since I lost my 1968 Oxford KJV bible on a car after service in 1983 Colorado! I really enjoy it and the NIV is a easy read but the Concordant is the best study bible in the Greek.The first covenants with he prophets and psalms I think is just about out in the Concordant?
Many I have shared with are looking deeper into the book Hope Beyond Hell and leaving the annihilation theory behind.
Les