Are some translations better for some things and some others?
Are some translations more word for word and others idea for idea (such as common metaphors instead of being translated verbatim–being translated to reclect a similar idea to contempary English speakers.) For examnple: the exptression “boat load” is commonly known to mean a lot. Someone in China may not know this so to tranlsate into Cantonese it may be better to say “a lot of.”
I asked Prof Ehrman that question once and he recommended the HarperCollins NRSV Study Bible. I bought it and so far I have to agree with him. There are different versions like with or without deuterocanonical and apocryphal books. Here’s a link to the version WITH those books like I have: ** you do not have permission to see this link ** This one uses modern English, but not particularly idiomatic English in my opinion. Each book has a few pages describing the authorship, time of writing and summary of the book. There are many maps, a good concordance, a timeline of major events in the Middle East during the biblical period, and a table that lists side-by-side all of the major events from all four Gospels showing where they happened in each Gospel and comparing the episode against the similar events of the other Gospels. Probably most important, though, is the commentary for the entire Bible that runs on the bottom of each page.
Yes I agree if you intend to seriously study the Bible the ** you do not have permission to see this link ** It’s virtue is that it is in colloquial English and is easy to read. Phillips forgoes the verse numbering format so you can read the books the way the original audience did, as complete works not lists of verses. There are translation choices you can quibble with but overall you get a real sense that this stuff was meant to be read and not just examined under a microscope (if you get my point).
And let’s not forget the good ole KJV. For amazing sonorous musical English prose it can’t be beat.
As far as the Hebrew Bible let me recommend the new translations and commentaries by superb translator Robert Alter who has been working his way through the Hebrew scriptures for the last decade after a lifetime of study. Start ** you do not have permission to see this link ** which includes the complete Book of Samuel which of course contains the most magnificent part of the Hebrew Bible, the David stories (which is also available as a stand-alone paperback). Good stuff.
Stephen said
Yes I agree if you intend to seriously study the Bible the ** you do not have permission to see this link ** It’s virtue is that it is in colloquial English and is easy to read. Phillips forgoes the verse numbering format so you can read the books the way the original audience did, as complete works not lists of verses. There are translation choices you can quibble with but overall you get a real sense that this stuff was meant to be read and not just examined under a microscope (if you get my point).And let’s not forget the good ole KJV. For amazing sonorous musical English prose it can’t be beat.
As far as the Hebrew Bible let me recommend the new translations and commentaries by superb translator Robert Alter who has been working his way through the Hebrew scriptures for the last decade after a lifetime of study. Start ** you do not have permission to see this link ** which includes the complete Book of Samuel which of course contains the most magnificent part of the Hebrew Bible, the David stories (which is also available as a stand-alone paperback). Good stuff.
Agreed, and I like how you stressed there are different reasons to read different translations. I’ve seen people wrinkle their nose at the KJV because they know what scholars say about the TR and the byzantine texts. It’s as if the impact of the KJV on our own language and culture – not to mention the beauty of its prose – is of no relevance!
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