Fights Over Bible Translations - A Worldview Perspective

There are a LOT of English Bible translations out there these days. Some of them are really good, some are “so-so,” and there are some that are actually pretty bad.

For instance, the New World Translation was done by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Their purpose for creating it was to support their own theology – which includes the belief that Jesus was not God incarnate. The result is a lot of manipulated translating.

Another one to be wary of is the Passion Translation. This is not really a translation, but is a paraphrase that was done by a man who claims to have been visited by an angel who give him secrets that had been lost in the Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic (the languages of the original texts). Thus, the reason to be wary of this one is probably pretty obvious.

Of course, not all paraphrases are bad, but people should be aware of the fact that a paraphrase is not a translation, and is more subject to bias toward the writer’s opinions about the meaning of certain words and passages. Also, the fact that many are done by a single person rather than a team of translators is something to be aware of.

Translations that might be considered “so-so” or really good are sometimes a subjective evaluation. A translation is, by nature, an attempt to convey the meaning of a text from one language to another. There are numerous reasons that is difficult, not the least of which includes the fact that word nuances and figures of speech are often difficult to translate. Additionally, you have to deal with historical, cultural, grammatical, and language structure issues. Some translations simply do a better job with these things than others.

Another part of the translation process includes translation philosophy. Because of the issues just listed, it can be very difficult to simply do a word-for-word translation. Many times words have multiple meanings, and you have to judge context to make sure you get the right one. Other times there are multiple words in the target language that have the same basic meaning as the text being translated. As a result, translators sometimes have to weigh matters related to precision vs. readability.

One way to do translation is called “Formal Equivalence.” This approach prioritizes word-for-word renderings of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. In using this approach, the translators may sacrifice a little bit of readability for precision. Some of the translations that use this approach include the King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New King James Version, and New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition.

Another approach is called “Functional Equivalence.” Those using this approach give priority to thought-for-thought renderings for the purpose of improving readability. They focus on trying to convey the meaning of the original text in more natural English. In doing that, they may sacrifice a little bit of precision. Some of the translations using functional equivalence include the New International Version, New Living Translation, and Christian Standard Bible.

There is one other matter that also needs to be considered – theological disposition. This has not really been an issue until more recent times, but has become a problem due to cultural challenges within modern society. In recent times, there have been a significant number of churches and denominations that have adopted some form of theological liberalism. This is a form of interpreting the Bible based on worldview beliefs that come from outside the Bible. The result has been that they basically use the Bible to justify the acceptance of non-biblical beliefs by proof texting verses and taking passages out of context. Some of the more common non-biblical beliefs and practices these folks have tried to justify include acceptance of a homosexual lifestyle and gay marriage, abortion, social justice as opposed to actual justice, gender fluidity, incorporation of spiritual practices from outside Christianity, and others.

The reason for mentioning this is that some of these groups actually have influence in certain new Bible translations, and have affected word choices to make it easier to justify their false beliefs and practices. This, in particular, can sometimes be seen in how they translate various pronouns, and words that make certain sins seem less obvious in the translated text. The pronoun adjustments tend to minimize recognition of God as “He,” and changing masculine wording to be more gender inclusive. Additionally, some words or phrases may be softened to add a fudge factor regarding verses related to the value of human life (particularly the pre-born) or homosexual practice.

The purpose of this blog is not to make people question a particular Bible translation (except, of course, those that are truly compromised theologically). Rather, as a worldview discipleship ministry our goal is to help believers grow in their faith. The earliest Christians didn’t have to be concerned with the issues surrounding Bible translations. All they had to worry about was to make sure the people who made copies didn’t make copying mistakes. As Christianity spread into places where the original languages were not understood, however, translations had to be made.

The first complete English translation was Wycliffe's Bible translated from the Latin Vulgate in the 1380s. Other major ones that followed included Tyndale's New Testament in 1526, the Geneva Bible in 1560, and the King James Version in 1611. The modern versions many use today started being made in the late 1800s.

But more important than which Bible you choose, is whether or not you actually read and study it. It is, after all, the ultimate foundation of a Christian worldview.

Freddy Davis is the president of MarketFaith Ministries. He is the author of numerous books entitled The Truth Mirage, Rules for Christians Radicals, Liberalism vs. Conservatism, and his latest book Shattering the Truth Mirage and has a background as an international missionary, pastor, radio host, worldview trainer, and entrepreneur. Freddy is a graduate of Florida State University with a BS in Communication, and holds MDiv and DMin degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a popular speaker, particularly on the topic of worldview and its practical implications for the Christian life. He lives in Tallahassee, FL, with his wife Deborah.

You may also contact Freddy at Leadership Speakers Bureau to schedule him for speaking or leadership engagements.

To set up an appointment to speak to a Literary Agent:
Email: Alfredo Baguio
Call: (702) 605-4354