Bibles Consulted
When analyzing a specific
verse, I consult as many Bibles possible for that particular verse so I may review how others translated the verse in question.
Unless otherwise indicated, the following Bible versions and translations were consulted throughout this study.
NEW TESTAMENT:
King James Version (Authorized)
The Amplified Bible
The Holy Bible, New International VersionŽ
American Standard Version
New American Standard Bible
Holy Bible, New Living Translation
Contemporary English Version
Good News Translation – Second Edition
THE MESSAGE – The Bible in Contemporary Language
The New King James Version
New Century Version
The Revised Standard Version
The New Revised Standard Version
The Douay-Rheims Bible
Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
The KJV Strong’s Version
The NAS Strong’s Version
The J.B. Rotherham
Emphasized Bible
GOD’S WORD
World English Bible
The Bible in Basic English
The Darby Translation
Hebrew Names Version of the World English Bible
Webster’s Bible Translation
Revised Webster Version
The Geneva Bible (1587)
Tyndale New Testament (1526)
The Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Holman Christian Standard BibleŽ
International Standard Version
Weymouth’s
New Testament
Daniel Mace New Testament (1729)
The Bishop’s Bible (1568)
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wesley’s New Testament (1755)
Holy Bible, English Standard Version
New Life Bible
Updated Bible Version 1.9
Peshitta – Lamsa Version
King James Version (1611)
J.P. Green’s Literal Translation
Analytical-Literal Translation
English Majority Text Version
James Murdock New Testament
Young’s Literal Translation (1898)
Modern King James Version
New International Reader’s VersionŽ
21st Century King James VersionŽ
Complete Jewish Bible
Third Millennium Bible
NET Bible
Living Bible
Modern Language Bible
New English Bible
Twentieth Century New Testament
Restored Name King James Version
The Orthodox Jewish Brit Chadasha
Montgomery New Testament
The Living Oracles New Testament
Jubilee 2000 Bible
The Common Edition: New Testament
Bible in Wordwide English
American King James Version
A Conservative Version
Revised King James New Testament
Today's New International Version
Today's English Version
Modern Literal Version
New American Bible
J.B. Phillips New Testament
New World Translation
Emphatic Diaglot
OLD TESTAMENT:
King James Version (Authorized)
The Amplified Bible
The Holy Bible, New International VersionŽ
American Standard Version
New American Standard Bible
Holy Bible, New Living Translation
Contemporary English Version
Good News Translation – Second Edition
THE MESSAGE – The Bible in Contemporary Language
The New King James Version
New Century Version
The Revised Standard Version
The New Revised Standard Version
The Douay-Rheims Bible
Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
The KJV Strong’s Version
The NAS Strong’s Version
The J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
GOD’S WORD
World English Bible
The Bible in Basic English
The Darby Translation
Hebrew Names Version of the World English Bible
Webster’s Bible Translation
Revised Websters Version
Young’s Literal Translation
The Geneva Bible (1587)
The Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Holman Christian Standard BibleŽ
The Bishop’s Bible (1568)
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Holy Bible, English Standard Version
New Life Bible
Updated Bible Version 1.9
King James Version (1611)
J.P. Green’s Literal Translation
Young’s Literal Translation (1898)
Modern King James Version
New International Reader’s VersionŽ
21st Century King James VersionŽ
Complete Jewish Bible
Third Millennium Bible
JPS Old Testament
NET Bible
Restored Name King James Version
Jubilee 2000 Bible
American King James Version
A Conservative Version
The Apostles' Bible
Today's New International Version
Today's English Version
New American Bible
New English Bible
Living Bible
Modern Language Bible
New World Translation
I consulted a total of 72
Bibles for New Testament verses and 55 Bibles for Old Testament verses.
I have been unable to find
on-line links to the New English Bible, Living Bible and the Modern Language Bible. Otherise, all of the above Bibles
are available (Accessed October 2007, all) at:
www.studylight.org
www.e-sword.net
www.crosswire.org
www.biblegateway.com
www.crosswalk.com
www.watchtower.org
www.bible.org/netbible/index.htm
http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPNT.htm
http://christianlibrary.org/bibles/MLV/mlvindex.htm
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/bible/index.htm
http://www.olivetree.com/cgi-bin/EnglishBible.htm?version=tev&StringToSearch=John+6:63
http://www.tniv.info/bible/index.php
Please see the Copyright
Information page of this site for more information about individual Bibles.
PLEASE NOTE
Approaches to Bible translation,
generally, can be categorized into three categories, with various degrees thereof: formal equivalence, dynamic (or idiomatic)
equivalence, and paraphrase. Translations that reflect formal equivalence offer a word-for-word translation (or near to) of
the original text. Translations that reflect dynamic equivalence offer a thought-for-though translation of the original text.
Translations that paraphrase reword, in many cases, other translations rather than the original text, but the terminology
is in simple, more contemporary language.
Formal equivalents, or word-for-word
translations, seeks to stay as close to the original language as possible (advantage) and therefore, can be difficult to read
and understand (disadvantage). Examples include the KJV and NASB.
Dynamic equivalents, or
idiomatic translations, seek to convey the thoughts of the original writers rather than a literal word-for-word translation.
Since word meanings and idioms can shift over time, the original thought may not be reflected by our definition or understanding
of a literal word-for-word translation. This lends to increased readability and better understanding (advantage). But dynamic
equivalents depart from the literal, original text (disadvantage). Examples include the NIV.
Paraphrases seek to offer
a simplified, highly readable translation (advantage). But the translators can (and do) import their interpretations into
the text (disadvantage). Examples include the MSG and GW.
I am not dedicated to any
particular Bible translation and earnestly believe formal equivalents, dynamic equivalents and even paraphrased translation
all can be useful and profitable to different Christians at different points in their Walk. The reader should be aware,
however, that I lean more toward formal equivalents than others. Paraphrased translations can be great for new Christians
(especially with an unchurched background) and/or those who aren’t able to read at a high school grade level. Dynamic
equivalents can be great for helping us get to the heart of passages we may be having difficulty understanding and for general
readability. But the first Bible I reach for will nearly always be a formal equivalent.
