- Jun 26, 2004
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Which translation do you use and why? Which one does your Pastor preach from?
Which translation do you use and why? Which one does your Pastor preach from?
KJV will always be my Bible, however, whenever I buy a new Bible I read nonstop for months. I may finally purchase an ESV.
If I wanted to memorize scripture KJV is the only way to go IMO. Even pagans recognize it as authoritative and tremble.
Which translation do you use and why? Which one does your Pastor preach from?
I don't know about that...
The HCSB is the translation I am currently reading.
Just for the record, I don't think there is a "best" translation. I know people typically say that there is no perfect translation, but I actually don't even want to say that, because it is so obvious. There is not even a best translation. Every single translation falters here and there simply because ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek cannot be fully rendered into English with all the nuance still intact. It is impossible; hence we have commentaries.
The NIV is just as good as the NASB. The ESV is just as good as the KJV. And, believe it or not, the NRSV is one of the finest translations I have ever used. I have actually found it to stumble less than most other translations. (I personally think the common complaints about gender neutrality and Isaiah 7:14 are a bit silly almost always overstated.)
In the end, the best thing to do is to learn the languages. That is the best way to read Scripture. And, to be perfectly honest, until someone knows the original languages, he or she really doesn't have any business evaluating any translation. I know that sounds harsh and elitist, but it comes from months and months of arguing about translation issues with people who can't even read Greek or Hebrew. Plus, it is common sense that (for the most part) people without knowledge of certain things should not make value judgments that require said knowledge.
Would you admit that some are better than others?
Probably not, as long as we are comparing the same broad translation methodologies. In other words, "equivalence" is better than paraphrase. But, within the realm of "equivalence" (which includes every one on this poll except The Voice, the NLT, and the NIrV, with the addition of the RSV and NRSV), no single one is really better than any other one.
I'm sorry Taylor but that's just gibberish. The NWT is just as good as the ESV? haha
Please don't put words in my mouth. The NWT is an obvious corruption, not a translation. I am talking about Christian translations, here.
Still, to claim all translations are equal doesn't make sense. Some are in fact better in conveying the meaning of the text better than others.
And, to be perfectly honest, until someone knows the original languages, he or she really doesn't have any business evaluating any translation. I know that sounds harsh and elitist, but it comes from months and months of arguing about translation issues with people who can't even read Greek or Hebrew. Plus, it is common sense that (for the most part) people without knowledge of certain things should not make value judgments that require said knowledge.