What Bible translations do you use?

[peaceful-forest]

What Bible translations do you use? Do you use one that accurately reflects what the original Greek New Testament says? I don't think that's possible in English, but I would like to hear what you read.

I have been reading the Amplified (AMP) translation, but I've noticed errors in it. I would like to find a different one.

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

What Bible translations do you use? Do you use one that accurately reflects what the original Greek New Testament says? I don't think that's possible in English, but I would like to hear what you read.

I have been reading the Amplified (AMP) translation, but I've noticed errors in it. I would like to find a different one.

I'm not an Egalitarian Christian, but when you say I've you noticed errors in it; do you mean you've found translation choices that don't align with your Egalitarian preference or that it genuinely seems to mistranslate the true message of the author?

Btw no translation is perfect - any translation means losing something, and any translation means making choices regarding interpretation. Completely theology bias-less translations don't exist.

Online tools allow you to check the original Hebrew or Greek, and there's free software (e.g. scripture4all) as well for that purpose.

Personally I use the LSB these days as it in my opinion most accurately translates while still keeping the name of God intact somehow. It's a derivative of the ESB. Usually the more you translate with the original Hebrew/Greek in mind the less inclusive it sounds simply because those societies were Patriarchal.

E.g. Hebrew has no specific word for marriage or husband. The word commonly translated 'husband' in the TNK/OT simply means 'owner' (baal) Even in nowadays Israel the word 'baali' (literally 'my owner') is used to refer to your husband. Just a funny bit that shows the challenges of translation.

 

[PloverWing]

I generally use the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) for study, especially for study groups at church, and the Revised English Bible (REB) for my own reading when I'm reading multiple chapters at a time. The NRSV is what we use in Sunday worship, and I'm a lector (person who reads Scripture in church), so I end up reading lots of Sunday morning passages in the NRSV. I like the literary style of the REB, so that's what I pick if I'm, for example, reading the whole gospel of Luke on my own.

For the Psalms, I really like the translation used in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer (US).

Both the NRSV and the REB are inclusive-language translations. Now that I've gotten used to inclusive-language translations, gender-exclusive translations bug me, because when I read "man" in one of them, I don't know whether it means "male human" or just "human". (Goes off to look up the underlying Greek word...)

I have a beginner's knowledge of Greek, so for some things I can pull out my Greek New Testament. But I still have a lot to learn there. Memorizing vocabulary is so hard for me.

Hebrew, alas, may be hopeless for me.

My daughter is a linguist, with a degree in translation, and we've had some interesting conversations about what it means to translate the Bible, or any text, accurately. A translation that proceeds word-for-word but misses emotion or emphasis or tone may not be as accurate as one that uses English wording a little more freely in order to catch those nuances.

 

[All Becomes New]

I use various translations depending on what I am doing.

My everyday Bible reading is in the CSB. I do my Bible study with the ESV. I like to look at the NASB for more word-for-word study.

I also use an English translation side by side with the original languages. I also make frequent use of lexicons.

 

[Paidiske]

I generally use the NRSV; it's not perfect (no translation is) but it's reasonably good, and is careful about translating in a gender-inclusive way when that reflects the meaning of the original passages.

 

[All Becomes New]

Does the NRSV Compromise on Homosexuality?

The newly published NRSVue doesn’t just punt at 1 Cor. 6:9; it lies on the field and forfeits the game. By translating ‘malakoi’ as something too specific and ‘arsenokoitai’ as something too general, the NRSVue removes one of Paul’s clear condemnations of homosexual acts.

www.thegospelcoalition.org

 

[David Lamb]

What Bible translations do you use? Do you use one that accurately reflects what the original Greek New Testament says? I don't think that's possible in English, but I would like to hear what you read.

I have been reading the Amplified (AMP) translation, but I've noticed errors in it. I would like to find a different one.

I use the New King James Version (NKJV).

 

[peaceful-forest]

I'm not an Egalitarian Christian, but when you say I've you noticed errors in it; do you mean you've found translation choices that don't align with your Egalitarian preference or that it genuinely seems to mistranslate the true message of the author?

I had bought the Amplified translation a long time ago because it claimed that it took both the original Hebrew and original Greek and used more English to accurately reflect the original text.

Since I have been reading books such as "The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood" by Philip B. Payne and "The Making of Biblical Womanhood" by Beth Allison Barr, I have discovered that the Amplified translation, at times, promotes Complementarian interpretations.

I want a translation that accurately tells us what God said, not someone's inaccurate translations and interpretations.

 

[peaceful-forest]

I will be taking a look at the NRSV translation that you all have suggested.

And I will be taking a look at the article from the Gospel Coalition and go from there.

 

[trophy33]

If somebody takes it seriously, I think the only way is to learn the biblical Greek, at least to be able to read the New Testament passively.

And to learn about the textual families and textual criticism.

Translations are OK, but nobody needs to rely on them for years or even decades. You will miss all the original nuances, cultural associations, the language/thought structure or the style of authors. You can read more easier parts of the NT in months and the whole NT in few years.

 

[Godsunworthyservant]

What Bible translations do you use? Do you use one that accurately reflects what the original Greek New Testament says? I don't think that's possible in English, but I would like to hear what you read.

I have been reading the Amplified (AMP) translation, but I've noticed errors in it. I would like to find a different one.

Personally, I don't have a favorite. Some translations are better on some verses and passages and others on others. I try to read as many as possible as well as various commentaries and lexicons to arrive at the truth of any matter. I almost exclusively quote the 1769 KJV simply to appease onlyists. Many of them actually believe the KJV in print today is the original anyway. I find it is pretty accurate most of the time and am always quick to point out the instances where I believe a certain translation isn't the best.

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

I had bought the Amplified translation a long time ago because it claimed that it took both the original Hebrew and original Greek and used more English to accurately reflect the original text.

Since I have been reading books such as "The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood" by Philip B. Payne and "The Making of Biblical Womanhood" by Beth Allison Barr, I have discovered that the Amplified translation, at times, promotes Complementarian interpretations.

I want a translation that accurately tells us what God said, not someone's inaccurate translations and interpretations.

It's good to familiarise yourself with both the Egalitarian and Complementarian or even Patriachal positions; as any translation can't completely avoid bias I'm not surprised the Amplified translation may be perceived as hinting towards Complementarianism, but the opposite would also be true - the NSRV might be said to promote Egalitarianism.

Your last phrase is key: what did God originally want to say - and that's where opinions start to differ, and consequently also the translations.

E.g. the 10 Words/Commandments were explicitly addressed to men/males ('don't covet your neighbour's wife ...'); I wouldn't appreciate a translation that redacts and converts that to 'don't covet your neighbour's partner' ... God addressing those commandments to the husbands is not cultural/historical coincidence. Or when Paul uses 'brothers' in his letters to have the translators convert that to sometimes 'brothers' and other times 'brothers & sisters' depending on their interpretation of whether Paul referred to just the males or the whole congregation in that particular verse. I prefer to be able to ponder that myself while reading the text. Minimal pre-chewing by the translators

Be blessed!

 

[Gregorikos]

Does the NRSV Compromise on Homosexuality?

The newly published NRSVue doesn’t just punt at 1 Cor. 6:9; it lies on the field and forfeits the game. By translating ‘malakoi’ as something too specific and ‘arsenokoitai’ as something too general, the NRSVue removes one of Paul’s clear condemnations of homosexual acts.

www.thegospelcoalition.org

That is a problem in the 2021 NRSVue. The original NRSV (1989) isn't affected. And while I think they got those two verses woefully wrong (1 Cor 6:9 and 1 Tim 1:10), it's only two verses. We know what they really say, and they left intact all the other major references to the topic.

The NRSV remains my go to, though I have stuck with the 1989 edition for now. I prefer the reading of the 2021 edition in many places, other than the two infamous verses. It's the version used most by academics and in most seminaries, which attests to its accuracy.

I started the Common English Bible on January 1. I'm surprised by how much I like it. There are a few quirks I'll warn you about: 1) it uses "change your hearts and lives" whenever other translations say "repent"2) it uses Human One instead of Son of Man for Jesus (which is what the Greek phrase is emphasizing, so although I had to get used to it, it is not a bad translation)3) It uses "happy" instead of "blessed" in places like the Beatitudes, which some people don't like but is actually a better, more accurate translation of the Greek. In fact, it helps to communicate the disconnect that Jesus intended to cause in his audience! The CEB has a (US) 6th to 7th grade reading level, and reads as easily as the NLT (which has about a 4th to 5th grade reading level). Some people think that the CEB is a dynamic translation, but it is actually a Blend. It consistently takes the egalitarian position on passages (as opposed to the ESV, which consistently takes the complementarian position.) I keep thinking I'll go back to the NRSV after this read through, but maybe not. I'm surprisingly comfortable with the CEB.

I also recommend the NIV (the 2011 edition is the most recent, and the only NIV I recommend) The NIV is the most accepted translation in the world, and it's hard to find fault with it.

All of the above 3 translations are fair to issues of sex and gender. They are the only 3 I'd recommend for daily reading.

One might also use one super literal translation for reference. The only ones I would consider for that would be the LSB, ESV, NASB, or NKJV. The LSB is the standout in that group.