1. Translations

2. Language
Not codes
Words have a “bundle of meanings” (can)
Word + grammar + context = meaning

3. Over- or Under-Translate
Rom 6:15
NASB: What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
ESV: By no means!
NLT: Of course not!
KJV: God forbid.

4. Over- or Under-Translate
Matt 6:10
NIV: Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
NLT: May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

5. Formal equivalent (grammar) Dynamic (functional) equivalent
Three Basic types
Formal equivalent (grammar)
NASB, ESV, CSB
Dynamic (functional) equivalent
NIV (overlap), NRSV (gender)
Expanded
NLT

6. All Translations are Interpretive
Matt 2:2
HCSB: Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.
ESV: For we saw his star when it rose.

7. Translation Philosophy
“Literal” (meaning, not form)
“In this way for he loved the God the world, that the son to only he gave, so that every the believing-one into him not perish but have life eternal.”
Authorial intent

8. Translation Philosophy
Words
Meaning

9. 1. Words or Meaning? Rom 12:16 NIV. Live in harmony with one another.
WFW. The same toward one another think.
NASB. Be of the same mind toward one another

10. 1. Words or Meaning?
John 20:13
NASB. “And they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’”
NLT. “‘Dear woman, why are you crying?’ the angels asked her.”

11. 1. Words or Meaning?
1 Tim 3:2
WFW. “of one of woman man,” or, “of one of wife husband”
ESV. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife
NRSV. married only once
NIV (1984). the husband of but one wife (“faithful to his wife”)
NLT. He must be faithful to his wife.

12. Problems with formal equivalence
1. Words or Meaning?
Problems with formal equivalence
Poor English
Misleading (πόλις)

13. Problems with dynamic equivalence
1. Words or Meaning?
Problems with dynamic equivalence
More interpretive
Less trustworthy

14. 2. Audience (age)
Rom 3:25
NASB: whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
RSV: whom God put forward as an expiation
NRSV: whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement
NIV: God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement
NLT: For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.

15. 2. Audience (background)
Eph 5:2
ESV. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.
NIV (1984). and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.
NIV. and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.

16. 1. Audience (terms) Acts 9:13
ESV. “But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.’”
NLT. ...to the believers in Jerusalem!
Acts 9:32. The Lord’s people (NLT)
Rom 8:27. God’s people (NIV)

17. 3. English Style
Rom 12:11-13
in zeal, not slothful; in spirit, fervent; to the Lord, serving;
in hope, rejoicing, in tribulation, enduring; in prayer, being constant;
to the needs of the saints, contributing; hospitality, pursuing.

18. 3. English Style
Rom 12:11-13
NIV. (11) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. (12) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (13) Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

19. 4. Ambiguity
James 1:20
NASB. for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
NRSV. for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
NIV. human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires

20. 5. Implicit to Explicit Eph 1:22
NRSV. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church
NIV. And God placed all things under his feet.

21. 5. Implicit to Explicit Matt 6:32
NRSV. For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
NIV. For the pagans run after all these things
NET. “unconverted”

22. 6. Fill out the story
2 Tim 2:3
ESV. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
NIV (1984). Endure hardship with us (“Join with me in suffering”)
NLT. Endure suffering along with me
NASB. Suffer hardship with me

23. 6. Fill out the story
1 Cor 10:10
NASB. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
NIV. And do not grumble, as some of them did— and were killed by the destroying angel.

24. 7. Misunderstanding Matt 5:28
NIV. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
ESV. But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

25. 7. Misunderstanding 1 John 3:6
NASB. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
ESV. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

26. 8. Sensitivity
Acts 28:2
RSV. And the natives showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
KJV. The barbarous people shewed us no little kindness
NIV. The islanders showed us unusual kindness.
ESV. The native people showed us unusual kindness.

27. 9. Theological biases Rom 9:5
RSV. to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. God who is over all be blessed for ever.
ESV. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever.

28. 9. Theological biases Isa 7:14
RSV. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el.
NIV. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son

29. 10. Inclusive Language Luke 17:3 (sg to pl)
ESV. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
NIV. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.

30. 10. Inclusive Language Heb 12:7
ESV. God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
NRSV. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?
NIV. God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

31. Conclusion
Trust
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