Bible Translations It is a little teQ: Why do we have translations? A: This is a message for all people. Jn 19:17-20 *One huge distinction often discussed is choosing a Literal – word for word translation, instead of a paraphrase. (also called thought-for-thought, or dynamic equivalent.) I think we understand that – so what we are going to focus on tonight is, I believe much more applicable. HOW do you choose a really good LITERAL Translation? Once you set out to get a word-for-word, solid and reliable translation – what sets one apart from another besides the pretty covers? If you read through them you are going to walk away with the same doctrine – So I want to emphasize at the outset, we are talking about choosing the BEST of the BEST. This lesson is going to deal with some very fine details, and I don’t want that to stress you out. We are trying to distinguish a B+ from an A+. What it really comes down to is THE GREEK TEXT used as the basis for each translation. “Bible readers should have the right to fully understand the background of what they are reading. “

It’s All Greek To Me! 5,255 Greek Manuscripts 127 Papyrus Fragments Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 87 (Kurt Aland) 127 Papyrus Fragments 267 Uncials (Books with Uppercase Letters) 2,764 Minuscules 80% of the N.T. Quoted by Church Fathers 90% of the N.T. Quoted in Lectionaries (2,143) The Challenge: How do you deal with so much!

How Do You Deal With So Many Greek Manuscripts & Fragments? Scholars group their source material into categories with similar features. Alexandrian text-type: The earliest. “Up until the 9th century, Greek texts were written entirely in UPPERCASE letters…” Byzantine text-type: The most numerous. “During the 9th & 10th centuries, the new lower-case writing hand of Minuscules came gradually to replace the older style.” Alexandrian: These are the manuscripts in ALL CAPS. Byzantine: Here is the thing – Most Greek manuscripts were RE-COPIED using the new, lower-case method – and then the originals were SCRAPED CLEAN. That’s part of why we have so few of the older documents. Everything was being updated. But it is also a wonderful way to accurately tell which manuscripts are the oldest.

Features of these Text-Types Alexandrian Manuscripts Are Usually Shorter & Byzantine Usually Longer. Alexandrian: And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation. (Luke 4:11 NASB95) Byzantine: And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (Luke 4:11 KJV) Alexandrian Manuscripts Have More “Difficult” Readings & Byzantine More Parallel. Mark 1:2 “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet…” Alex. Mark 1:2 “As it is written in the prophets…” Byz. More difficult readings – point is, they show that no one was tried to “clean them up” to make them match consensus interpretations. Shorter not only with a few phrases, but most famously in the book of Mark, Alexandrian manuscripts stop at chapter 16:8. Mark 1:2 – the Byzantine seems to gloss over which prophet – to avoid anyone criticizing Mark of making a mistake. While the Alex gives Isaiah credit, even though Mark is quoting from two prophets: Malachi & Isaiah. Byzantine are particularly more parallel in the Synopitic Gospels. Wilbur N. Pickering – 100% agree as to say 50% of the Text, 99% agree to another 40% of the text, over 95% agree as to another 4%; over 90% agree as to another 2% over 80% agree as to another 2%; ONLY FOR 2% or so of the Text do less than 80% of the MSS agree, and most of those occur in one book, Revelation. *The incredible uniformity of the Manuscripts has always been an outstanding feature of the Byzantine text-types.

Scholars Then Assemble The Complete Greek New Testament Three popular versions of the Greek New Testaments result based on the priority given to each text-type. Byzantine Emphasis: (KJV) The Majority Text/Textus Receptus Alexandrian Emphasis: (ASV, ESV, NIV) Westcott & Hort Eclectic: (NAS, NASB95) Novum Testamentum Graece (Nestle-Aland) Wescott & Hort – now this one is a little funny, because neither of these guys were not all that great. We would call them theological liberals today, and that might be putting it nicely. But for all their faults they are to be appreciated for INSISTING that priority be given to the earliest mansuscripts available.

About The Textus Receptus The first printed edition of the Greek New Testament was completed by Erasmus and published on March 1, 1516. This version was rushed to publication because of competition with the Complutensian Polygot. To meet his deadline, Erasmus based his work on approximately 6 manuscripts, all of which dated from the 12th Century or later; and only one was not of the Byzantine text type. He also back-translated six verses from the Latin Vulgate, and introduced many readings from the Vulgate and Church Fathers. The Point: It is a wonderful and monumental text, but it was not created using a wide range of early manuscripts. Without Question – the Byzantine form that MOST effects us is the Textus Receptus which was eventually the FOUNDATIONAL GREEK TEXT for translations during the Reformation. It is also called the “Majority Text” and it is at the core of the KJV of the Bible.

About Wescott & Hort “the general validity of their critical principles and procedures is widely acknowledged by scholars today.” – Bruce Metzger “The international committee that produced the UBS Greek New Testament, not only adopted the Wescott and Hort edition as its basic text, but followed their methodology in giving attention to both external and internal consideration.” – B.M. The Point: It is a scholarly and monumental accomplishment, but the authors openly rejected the history of Genesis 1-3 and miracles. They also held many other very troublesome beliefs. Overwhelmingly – the most influential today. Not only in Greek text, but as the quote reveals – in the very methodologies and strategies employed for evaluating the available manuscripts. Where they were right – in emphasizing the use of early text, and in making CAREFUL consideration of all of the Evidence, we admire them greatly. But where they were wrong – in their arrogance towards God’s word and their love for and defense of false doctrines – I cannot support them, and it is WISE to exercise caution with their material.

About The Nestle-Aland Presents the Greek Text as a compilation of both text-types. Uses a complex set of abbreviations (the critical apparatus) to alert the reader of the source documents.

About The Nestle-Aland Presents the Greek Text as a compilation of both text-types. Uses a complex set of abbreviations (the critical apparatus) to alert the reader of the source documents. Began in 1898 combining three major Greek Text: Tischendorf, Wescott & Hort, and Weymouth. In 1901, Weymouth’s was replaced with the Greek text of Bernhard Weiss. In 1952 Kurt Aland became associate editor and added notations for many more manuscripts leading to the 25th edition in 1963.

About The Nestle-Aland The 25th edition contained 558 differences from the Wescott-Hort edition. Great manuscript discoveries during the Twentieth Century then led to the creation of the 26th edition. “The age of Westcott-Hort and of Tischendorf is definitely over.” Kurt Aland, Intro to 26th Edition For the 27th edition, the notations were heavily updated and the introduction and appendices were rewritten. Aland’s quote is key here – Wescott & Hort theorized that the longer readings were a result of editorial changes by scribes to smooth things out. But the reality is that VERY EARLY papyrus have been found that show these longer and smoother readings are NOT late editiorial changes – they are VALID and they are EARLY. Thus they are VERY RELIABLE.

Choosing Your Bible Translation First, it should be pointed out that it is very profitable to study from more than one. The KJV or NKJV: Byzantine & Latin Emphasis from the 12th Century and Later. The ESV: Alexandrian Emphasis, Variant readings are omitted or placed in footnotes. The NASB: Closely follows the Nestle-Aland 27th Edition, significant variant readings are placed in brackets within the text. The NET Bible. For reviewing tons of details. It includes 57,875 Translator Notes! As we said at the beginning – we are talking about distinguishing an A+ from a B+ All of these are good translations that contain the gospel of Christ. But if you are looking for the one that most comprehensively connects you to MOST Greek evidence available – the NASB95 gets the A+. This is why I continue to be very, very happy with my choice to use the NASB. And why I am still slightly cautious with my ESV. The NASB has all the strengths of the EARLIEST MANUSCRIPTS found in the Alexandrian text-type, without abandoning the significant manuscript evidence of the Byzantine text type. The two are beautifully married and well-marked with brackets. It does this with the benefit of Scholarly Criticism, without being a slave to the controversial Wescott Hort text.

Bible Translations