NLT issue

[WayneD]

There are WAY too many exclamation marks in the NLT IMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Andrewn]

I generally really like the NLT and believe it achieves its stated purpose. However, when reading it, I began to notice something not quite right about it's tone,

I agree that there is something not quite right about its tone. But why is NLT becoming so widespread among Evangelicals in the first place? Does it have any advantages over other dynamic translations like NIV?

 

[com7fy8]

Ok, let's compare 2 Corinthians 12:15 in the New Living Translation and New International and King James >

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." (King James Version)

"So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?" (New International Version)

"I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me." (New Living Translation)

There is no exclamation point here, by the way. Here Paul is saying he will love them, even if they love him less and less. Why would such commitment to unconditional loving not have an exclamation point?? I mean if exclamation points come with a lot of other items; why not this?

And my Greek interlinear Bible has English words with the Greek words, like this >

"Now I most gladly will spend and will be utterly spent for souls your, if even more abundantly you loving, less I am loved." (Berry's interlinear)

 

[WayneD]

Ok, let's compare 2 Corinthians 12:15 in the New Living Translation and New International and King James >

"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." (King James Version)

"So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?" (New International Version)

"I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me." (New Living Translation)

There is no exclamation point here, by the way. Here Paul is saying he will love them, even if they love him less and less. Why would such commitment to unconditional loving not have an exclamation point?? I mean if exclamation points come with a lot of other items; why not this?

And my Greek interlinear Bible has English words with the Greek words, like this >

"Now I most gladly will spend and will be utterly spent for souls your, if even more abundantly you loving, less I am loved." (Berry's interlinear)

 

[WayneD]

Because he was speaking in a calm, collected manner maybe?! Sounds like he is saddened more than anything. And now you have hijacked my thread!!

 

[WayneD]

I am not a frequent forum poster...anywhere, and am not skilled in proper formatting. I will figure it out later. But this is an example o
Verse (Click for Chapter)
New Living Translation
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?

American Standard Version
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?

Berean Study Bible
Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Jesus saith to him: Have I been so long a time with you; and have you not known me? Philip, he that seeth me seeth the Father also. How sayest thou, Shew us the Father?
f what I am talking about......................................

Why the exclamation mark only in the NLT, as but one of dozens, if not hundreds, of examples I could give?

 

[WayneD]

I agree that there is something not quite right about its tone. But why is NLT becoming so widespread among Evangelicals in the first place? Does it have any advantages over other dynamic translations like NIV?

 

[Andrewn]

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!

The exclamation mark gives the impression that the Lord is saying to Philip in exasperation: "Isn't this obvious? Don't you already know this?"

But, since there is no exclamation mark in any other translation, I have to assume the Greek indicates that the Lord was relaying a new piece of information rather than something that Philip should have already been aware of.

Years ago, when I compared NLT to others it was clear that NLT adds to the text a lot of the translators' personal opinion. It is simply not suitable for anyone over the age of 11.

 

[WayneD]

The exclamation mark gives the impression that the Lord is saying to Philip in exasperation: "Isn't this obvious? Don't you already know this?"

But, since there is no exclamation mark in any other translation, I have to assume the Greek indicates that the Lord was relaying a new piece of information rather than something that Philip should have already been aware of.

Years ago, when I compared NLT to others it was clear that NLT adds to the text a lot of the translators' personal opinion. It is simply not suitable for anyone over the age of 11.

 

[WayneD]

Way too many!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pescador]

I generally really like the NLT and believe it achieves its stated purpose. However, when reading it, I began to notice something not quite right about it's tone, that I couldn't quite put my finger on. Then I figured it out. It is the ABSURD overuse of exclamation marks. There are dozens and dozens, if not hundreds, in the New Testament alone, that are not there in other translations, and in my opinion simply do not belong there. This completely changes the tone of multiple passages, and is especially concerning to me when Jesus is speaking. He is made to appear loud, aggressive, easily angered, and prone to yelling and screaming, when there is absolutely no reason to believe this was the case other than the possible bias of the "sylists" responsible for it...("I think he was probably yelling when he said this") etc. Opinions?

It's insignificant IMO. I am not familiar with how the ancient languages signified specific items as important. The use of "behold" in the King James translation achieves the same purpose, but I don't think that there is Scriptural evidence for it.

 

[pescador]

The exclamation mark gives the impression that the Lord is saying to Philip in exasperation: "Isn't this obvious? Don't you already know this?"

But, since there is no exclamation mark in any other translation, I have to assume the Greek indicates that the Lord was relaying a new piece of information rather than something that Philip should have already been aware of.

Years ago, when I compared NLT to others it was clear that NLT adds to the text a lot of the translators' personal opinion. It is simply not suitable for anyone over the age of 11.

The NLT is an excellent paraphrase, designed to be easily understood for those new to the Bible. It was the translation that I read when I first became a Christian.

Saying that it is simply not suitable for anyone over the age of 11 has no basis other than your personal attempt to denigrate it. Your other statement that "it was clear that NLT adds to the text a lot of the translators' personal opinion" is also without merit.

 

[WayneD]

Am I getting my point across? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WayneD]

And no, it is not "insignificant"! The tone in which one person addresses another can make all the difference in the world! It is true now, and it was true then! An exclamation mark changes the tone! And the NLT inserts the entire bible with dozens of them where they do not belong IMO !! It is incedibly annoying!!

 

[pescador]

And no, it is not "insignificant". The tone is which one person addresses another can make all the difference in the world. It is true now, and it was true then. An exclamation mark changes the tone. And the NLT litters the entire bible with dozens and dozens of them where they do not belong.

They made that decision for a reason: it seemed appropriate to them, based on their understanding of the sources. Again, it is like "behold" in the KJV.

 

[WayneD]

Peace be with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pescador]

Not the same thing at all. "Behold" was translated from the ancient texts by a qualified team of translators. The exclamation marks were put there by a self proclaimed "stylist" that needs to leave the serious business of scripture translation, including the punctuation, to those qualified to do so. I think at least one of these "stylists" is a member of the Tyndale family who normally works in their Children's Book Department. Guess what that department is called....." Tyndale K!ds! "....eclamation mark included.lol.....Its like a group of punk kids walking into a fine arts museum and drawing a mustache on the face of some famous painting because they think it" looks cool"! I can almost guarantee you they were not put their by the actual translation team...which was stellar.

Here is what Mark Taylor says about himself...

In addition to serving as President and CEO of Tyndale House Publishers and Tyndale House Foundation, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Bible Translation Committee for the New Living Translation. And more specifically, I was the Chief Stylist for the NLT.

He sounds quite qualified, decent, and respectable to me.

Your bias against him is obvious, unfortunately. Do you actually think that there aren't stylists used to create other Bibles? How about paper choice, fonts, single vs double column format, "red letter" editions, etc.

What is your obvious need to malign him?

 

[WayneD]

It just delights me whenver I come across yet another uneeded exclamation mark in the NLT!! I just draw a vertical line through it and consider it an "elongated period" !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WayneD]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pescador]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you trying to be funny? Because you're not. You come across as immature and foolish.

You obviously didn't answer why you have a problem with Mark Taylor, President and CEO of Tyndale House Publishers and Tyndale House Foundation.

Also, why you can't admit that all translations have stylists.