Translation Principles, Greek Text-types and KJV-onlyism

For those interested in how the Bible came to be, I have been reading a book by Gary Zeolla who runs Darkness to Light (www.dtl.org) Titled “Differences Between Bible Versions – Translation Principles, Greek Text-types, and KJV-onlyism,” it is very deep but definitely worth it.

From Gary’s Lulu.com site for the book (which you can find here):

This book answers such questions as: Why do Bible versions differ? Why does the same verse read differently in different versions? Why do some versions contain words, phrases, and even entire verses that other versions omit? Which Bible versions are most reliable? This book contains extensive discussions on why the author believes either a literal or a formal equivalence (word-for-word) translation principle is the best method to use for translating the Bible. These principles of translating are contrasted with the dynamic equivalence (phrase-for-phrase) and paraphrase methods seen in many modern Bible versions. This book includes detailed discussions on why the author believes the Majority Text is the most accurate of the three Greek texts used in Bible translation. This book also contains an extended section critiquing the claims of “KJV-onlyists.” In addressing these various issues, “Differences Between Bible Versions” compares forty different versions of the Bible.

You might also want to check out his other books, particularly his “Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament.” If you study Koine Greek (a task I have undertaken for a bit over 3 years), you will appreciate the lengths he has gone to provide clear explanations to such a work.

 

2 comments on “Differences Between Bible Versions”

1. cherokeejewboy on June 8, 2012 at 4:47 pm said:

   I usually refer to the Complete Jewish Bible, formulated by Rabbi David Stern, PhD. It uses the Stone’s Tanakh translation for the “Old Testament”, in plain modern English with the Hebrew and Aramaic names stated in proper linguistic context and format. His B’rit Chadashah (Renewed Covenant, New Testament) is a fresh translation of the original Greek text from the Jewish point of view. I recently Discovered the Aramaic English New testament, which is a fresh modern English translation of the oldest examples of the Chaldean Aramaic bible. In my view, this is the most accurate version because it has only ever been in one language – a Jewish language that Yahushua and the Nazarim spoke themselves.

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2. awca on June 9, 2012 at 1:06 am said:

   Thanks for the information, cherokeejewboy. I’ll check some of that out. It’s always good to have more information so I appreciate that!

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