Why Are There So Many Translations?

October 25, 2009

DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE

DEFINITIONS

• Translation

• Transliteration

DEFINITIONS

• Translation

• Transliteration

• Paraphrase

• Amplified or Expanded Translation

BIBLE TRANSLATION PHILOSOPHIES

1. Literal or formal equivalence method

2. Free or dynamic equivalence method

DEGREE OF DEVIATION

1. Select a passage of 30-50 words

2. Literal transfer

3. Minimal transfer

4. Closest equivalent

5. Degree of deviation

TRADUTTORE TRADITORE

“The translator is a traitor!”

HISTORY OF EARLY ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS

KING ALFRED THE GREAT (849-901)

“The wisest, best, and greatest king that ever reigned in England.”

WYCLIFFE BIBLE (1388)

TYNDALE BIBLE (1526)

“If God spare my life, ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture than thou dost.”

COVERDALE BIBLE (1535)

Henry VIII

Catherine of Aragon

Mary Tudor

annulled

Elizabeth

Anne Boleyn

Henry VIII

Catherine of Aragon

Mary Tudor

annulled

Elizabeth

Anne Boleyn

beheaded

Henry VIII

Catherine of Aragon

Mary Tudor

annulled

Elizabeth

Anne Boleyn beheaded

Jane Seymour

Edward VI

natural death

Henry VIII

Catherine of Aragon

Mary Tudor

annulled

Elizabeth

Anne Boleyn beheaded

Jane Seymour

Edward VI

natural death

Anne of Cleves

divorced

matchmaker beheaded

Henry VIII

Catherine of Aragon

Mary Tudor

annulled

Elizabeth

Anne Boleyn beheaded

Jane Seymour

Edward VI

natural death

Anne of Clevesdivorced Catherine Howard

beheaded in disgrace

Henry VIII

Catherine of Aragon

Mary Tudor

annulled

Elizabeth

Anne Boleyn beheaded

Jane Seymour

Edward VI

natural death

Anne of Clevesdivorced

Catherine Howard beheaded in disgrace

Catherine Parroutlived Henry

MATTHEW’S BIBLE (1537)

“And yf she be not obedient and healpfull unto hym endeavoureth to beate the feare of God into her heade, that thereby she maye be compelled to learne her duitie and do it.”

GREAT BIBLE (1539)

GENEVA BIBLE (1560)

[Adam and Eve] “sewed figge tree leaves together, and made themselves breeches.” - Gen 3:7

BISHOP’S BIBLE (1568)

DOUAI-RHEIMS BIBLE (1582 NT; 1602 OT)

KING JAMES BIBLE (1611)

KING JAMES BIBLE (1611)

1. Limited knowledge of textual criticism

2. Limited manuscripts

3. Limited knowledge of NT Greek

KING JAMES ONLY?

1. I prefer the KJV

2. The KJV is based on the most accurate Bible

3. The KJV is an inspired translation

4. The KJV is New Revelation from God

PARALLELS TO KJV-ONLY

1. Septuagint (250-150 BC) - “Why translate the Hebrew Scriptures into an inferior language when Hebrew is the original language which the Scriptures were written in and the Hebrew has worked just fine for 1500 years?”

PARALLELS TO KJV-ONLY

1. Septuagint (250-150 BC)

2. Vulgate (AD 375) - “Why translate the Bible into Latin when the LXX Greek text has worked just fine for 500 years and the New Testament Greek text has worked just fine for 300 years?”

PARALLELS TO KJV-ONLY

1. Septuagint (250-150 BC)

2. Vulgate (AD 375)

3. Erasmus’ Greek text (1516)

WHY NOT KJV-ONLY?

1. Outdated language

2. Errors in the KJV

3. Advances in textual criticism

4. Better text type

5. Better manuscripts

6. Need for greater accuracy

TEXTUS RECEPTUS

• Major text families

• Erasmus

TEXTUS RECEPTUS

• Major text families

• Erasmus

• Elzevir - “The text which is now received by all, in which we give nothing changed or corrupted.”

TEXTUS RECEPTUS

So superstitious has been the reference accorded the Textus Receptus that in some cases attempts to criticize or amend it have been regarded as akin to sacrilege. Yet its textual basis is essentially a handful of late and haphazardly collected minuscule manuscripts, and in a dozen passages its reading is supported by no known Greek witness.

- Bruce Metzger

LESSONS LEARNED

• Greater confidence?

• Greater love?

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

SCHEDULE

09/27 Introduction

10/04 How did we get our Bible?

10/11 How do we know we have the true Bible? (Part 1)

10/18 How do we know we have the true Bible? (Part 2)

10/25 Why are there so many different translations?

11/01 How do we know the Bible is true? (Part 1)

11/08 How do we know the Bible is true? (Part 2)

11/15 The testimony of Scripture to itself (Part 1)

11/22 The testimony of Scripture to itself (Part 2)

11/29 Thanksgiving

12/06 The testimony of the early church

12/13 The testimony of extrabiblical sources

12/20 The testimony of changed lives

12/27 Christmas