Bible Translation Differences Between Nlt And Esv
Literal or Dynamic Equivalent?
Some Bible translations are more literal, word for word translations, which translate the exact words and phrases from the original languages . Other translations are dynamic equivalent or thought for thought, which convey the central idea, and are easier to read, but not as accurate.
Gender-neutral and Gender-inclusive Language
Another recent issue in Bible translations is the use of gender-neutral or gender-inclusive language. The New Testament often uses words like brothers, when the context clearly means Christians of both genders. In this case, some translations will use the gender-inclusive brothers and sisters adding in words but transmitting the intended meaning.
Similarly, the translation of man can be tricky. In the Old Testament Hebrew, the word ish is used when speaking specifically of a male, as in Genesis 2:23, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife .
Another word, adam, is used, sometimes specifically referring to a man, but sometimes referring to mankind , as in the Genesis 7:23 flood account, He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. Here, its clear that adam means humans, both male and female. Traditionally, adam has always been translated man, but some recent translations use gender-inclusive words like person or humans or one when the meaning is clearly generic.
Other Points To Consider
Those responsible for teaching and preaching at the church I attend have chosen to use the ESV. This is a decision that has been made by the leaders of the church. Basically, I trust these guys. If they feel the ESV is the best translation for us to be using as a church, then I believe it is also the best translation of the Bible for teens in our youth ministry.
Those who know me well, know that I tend to go on about how youth ministry needs to be connected with the rest of the church. If young people have an understanding, appreciation and sacrificial love for the church as the bride of Christ, then Im convinced theyll be much more likely to stay plugged into a church when they outgrow the youth ministry.
If the church youre in tends to use the same translation for all teaching and preaching, then theres wisdom is using the same translation when choosing the best translation of the Bible for teenagers at your church, even if it means using a translation different than the ESV . Doing so will help the young people in the youth ministry to become familiar with that translation. It will also mean families that attend church together, will be using the same version of the Bible.
Do you agree? What Bible translation do you use? Leave your thoughts and comments below.
The New International Version
There was a time when the only translation most believers held to be valid was the King James Version. The New International Version was one of the first translations which managed to show Christians there were “better” translations available which were just as valid. The NIV was translated directly from the original languages by more than 100 biblical scholars of various denominations. A self-governing body of fifteen biblical scholars, the Committee on Bible Translation, was developed to oversee the translation work with various teams working on the translation and submitting it for review by intermediate editorial committees and then to a general committee of 8-12 members before being sent to selected individuals before a final review. Samples of the translation were tested for clarity and ease of reading with pastors, students, scholars, and many others. The NIV charter made provision to update the NIV as new biblical scholarship and changes to the English language took place. While most NIV readers use the 1984 revision the latest one was released in 2011.
The NIV is considered a dynamic translation–seeking to balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought translation styles. There is a reason the New International Version is this year’s #1 selling Bible. The NIV gets a score of 7.80 for reading difficulty.
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Easiest Bible Versions To Read And Understand For Beginners
Which are the easiest Bible versions to read and understand for beginners?
Are you feeling spiritual in the New Year? Have you decided to dive into reading the Bible for the first time or the first time in a while? Great, then we have a perfect list for you.
If you are religious or interested in exploring different religions then reading the Bible is a great place to start. However, reading the Bible is also great for those who are absolute atheists, agnostics, or who practice other organized religions. It is an interesting book that can give you insight into world history. If nothing else, the Bible is an excellent historical source document wherein you can understand a great deal about
With estimated total sales of over 5 billion copies, the Bible is often referred to as the most read book in the world. The full Bible has been translated into 636 different languages with thousands more languages having partial translations. There are at least 108 different versions of the Bible. Versions differing from translations in that a translation is in a different language than the original while a version is an interpretation. Different Bible versions have different contexts, different interpretations, leave out or add books or verseswhich ultimately can make it a more or less accurate book.
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Which Bible To Buy
The New American Standard Bible and the New International Bible contain words that can be easily understood by the reader unlike King James and the American version. Without a doubt, it is preferable to use the NIV because of its accuracy.
Most people use the NASB because it is similar to the NIV. New Living Translation used simple English too and something unique about it is the choice of words. They were accurate and can fit into todays words. It is also easy to understand irrespective of the reader. The Christain Standard Bible, more commonly known as the Holeman Bible is also a classic translation. Plus, the ESV is a popular modern choice.
If you are looking for the easiest Bible to understand you can rule out the KJV as the old English can be a stumbling block. All of these translations are a variation of Gods word and can be trusted. As you can see from the examples above from Job, the two translations that stand out as the easiest to understand are the CSB and the ESV.
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Choosing A Bible Version
There is no one way to translate a book as large as the Bible.
With such a cultural and linguistic distance between then and now, its really more of an art than a science: an art that seeks to communicate the Bibles truth to todays readers. That means that there are a number of different Bible translations out there. Nowadays, they are more commonly called different versions of the Bible. The two words, though meaning different things, are used pretty interchangeably. For ease, Im just going to stick with version.
The big stumbling block for people trying to choose a Bible is which version to pick. There are a lot to choose from. It also doesnt help that they almost all go by acronyms. How would you, as a new Christian, feel if you were asked to choose from NIV, ESV, NRSV, NLT, KJV, NKJV? Daunting, no?
To help you choose with speed and confidence, here is a quick run through four of the most popular versions of the Bible:
The New International Version Bible:Short for the New International Version Bible, the NIV is the most popular version of the Bible. Its written in pretty standard English and is the one youll most likely find in a Church. Its simple text means that it is often given away to new Christians. If you are looking for a first Bible, the NIV Bible would be a solid choice.
Why Does The Bible Need To Be Translated
The reason the Bible needs to be translated is that it was not originally written in English. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, while the New Testament was written in Greek. Unless you plan to learn Hebrew and Greek so you can read the Bible in its original language they need to be translated. As I was preparing to write this article I found this definition in the Lexham Survey of Theology which I think helps clarify the why.
To translate is to restate the meaning of words in one language with words of another. Translation of Scripture is part of the work of interpreting and communicating it.
For us to know who God is and for the message of the gospel to go around the world the Bible needed to be translated into a language that the reader could understand.
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Is Niv A Good Bible Version
The NIV Zondervan Study Bible is appealing to the same market of people who want a reliable, traditional text thats easy to read. The theological profiles of the the ESV and NIV study Bibles are very similar. The NIV is the second most-read version of the Bible in the United States, after the King James.
Tip Number Four: Research Your Bible Translation
Even before you buy a Bible, research the translation. Do your homework. Just because the Bible translation is more reflective of modern day, liberal thought, does not necessarily make it better. I would also not buy a Bible translation just because it was written in a more poetic nature. Perhaps you could also ask a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, or an elder or deacon or a trusted Christian friend about which translation that they use or one that they like. What translation does your church use? This doesnt ensure it is the best one. This was a decision that the church made as a whole and was not taken lightly, but it was also one that may have been decided upon many years ago before they knew about some issues in that particular translation. You can rest assured that the church counseled together long before making a decision on buying these Bibles for the church but they are only human and can make mistakes. Even though this was likely not a snap decision it does not mean it is the best translation available. Much forethought must have gone into the process of purchasing them but you may have discovered one that is a more accurate one. Just because the church chose it doesnt mean its the best translation.
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Accurate Bible Translations Compared
-Paraphrase
Each approach has its strengths and weaknesses.
Bible scholars have to study the original languages for a long period of time in order to develop a high proficiency in the original language.
And these same scholars must be top experts in the target language as well.
Anybody who has learned a foreign language knows there are certain idioms in each language.
These idioms do not always translate accurately from a source language to the target language, so translators must be very careful to make sure the meaning is accurately transmitted.
And the translators do a very good job of it. We can tell, because after hundreds of years of Bible translating, all the major translations are in agreement about the major meanings they are conveying in English.
They differ very slightly in the exact expression of the meanings and the translators take great care to make sure the core meanings are conserved.
This makes the translations very useful in side-by-side comparisons.
Bible Translation Comparison: Top 10 Most Accurate Bible Translations
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Are you looking for the most accurate Bible translation but the overwhelm of all the different translations and choices is leaving you confused?
Been there.
That is why I put together this post.
I am going to provide a Bible translation comparison of the top 10 most accurate Bible translations so you can compare them for yourself and make the best choice for you.
After reading this post I am confident you will be able to choose the best Bible translation for you so you can start reading, and more importantly start understanding, Gods Word.
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The Original Language Of The Bible
Translations exist because the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, with some Aramaic and Greek . Because of the multiple languages of the original text, all English versions we read today are a translation.
Until the mid-twentieth century, the oldest copies of the Old Testament were known as the Masoretic text, which were manuscripts translated between 500 and 950 A.D. In 1947, caves were discovered that held 900 ancient scrollsthe Dead Sea Scrollswhich dated back to the 2nd century B.C., well before Jesus was born. The Dead Sea Scrolls helped translators get much closer to the date the text was originally written. Remarkably the scrolls were found to be practically identical with the Masoretic textmost variants being minor spelling differences and none that impacted the meaning. In fact, since then, New Testament transcripts have been found dating as far back as the 2nd century A.D. confirming the reliability of the ancient texts.
Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic languages have different complexities compared to the English language. For example, there are often multiple English words for just one word in Greek. So when a person is translating the Greek biblical text from the original manuscripts into English, there may be many words to choose from to communicate the authors intended message. Bible translators can focus on either a literal or readable translation and many fall somewhere in the middle of this spectrum.
Tip Number Two: Modern Translations Can Become Mistranslations
An example of this can be found in Matthew when Jesus was departing this world and the disciples for heaven and giving them instructions regarding the Great Commission. Read how these different translations differ in only one verse.
The Common English Bible, teaching them to obey everything that Ive commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.
The New Century Version, Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.
The Message, Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. Ill be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.
The New International Version is the best rendering with the original meaning, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
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Best Bible Version For Beginners
What is the best bible version for beginners? I have three to recommend! Each of these versions is the best bible to understand and included the New Living Translation , The New International Version , and The New International Readers Version .
Each version presents thought for thought translation and helps to provide in-depth study as well as personal development making each the best bible for beginners to understand!
New Living Translation Version This translation is accomplished by translating entire thoughts into modern English rather than word for word. The result is an easy to understand bible with our everyday language.
New International Version This translation was formed through many bible scholars seeking ways to best capture the original language and context into modern English and continues to be updated. The NIV is the most-read version of the English bible.
New International Readers VersionThis is based on the NIV but offers an even easier version of the NIV to read and understand.
I was introduced to this version when my children received an Adventure Bible For Early Readers with this translation. It boasted at getting kids excited about getting into Gods Word and I can attest that this is true. Yes, there are also NIrV bibles for adults, too!
A proper translation makes a world of difference!
How To Read And Understand The Bible
Reading the Bible on your own is a great start to growing in your walk with Christ.
However, if you want to understand the Bible, you have to learn how to study the Bible.
Attending your local churches weekly bible study is a great place to start.
Bible studies are less formal than Sunday service. Usually, you can ask the Pastor or group leader questions and gain insight from other members of the congregation.
There are also ways to study the Bible on your own, but thats a topic for another day.
I hope answered all of your questions about the Bible and how to read it.
Dont forget to download a copy of my Bible Reading Plan for Beginners!
As always, remember to keep Jesus in the center of everything you do.
Your Sister in Christ,
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Best Bible Recommendations For Beginners
There are the bible translations that I recommend for beginners based on their accuracy level. Ive also included a sample of the same scripture from each translation.
Word for Word Translation
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 1:12