can we trust the bible? - coweta community church · 2019-07-16 · can we trust the bible?...

CAN WE TRUST THE BIBLE?CAN WE TRUST THE BIBLE?

Introduction and Part 1: Bible Translations

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION


Christianity rises or falls on the truth of the

resurrection of Christ recorded in the Bible.

“At its very heart, Christianity is a claim that

something extraordinary has happened in the

course of time—something concrete, and real,

and historical” (Gilbert 20).


But is the Bible’s record reliable?

Can we trust our present-day translations?

Are we “confident that copyists accurately

transmitted the original writing to us”?

Do we have the right books in the Bible?

Were the authors telling the truth?

If we can reasonably demonstrate these four

things, we can trust the Bible

to be true!

1 •Translation

2 •Transmission

3 •Canon (Books)

4 •Author Integrity

= Confidence in the Bible’s Record

Part 1

BIBLE TRANSLATIONSBIBLE TRANSLATIONS


There are numerous, quality Bible translations available today. Here are just a few:

The Authorized Version (AV or KJV, 1611; NKJV 1982)

The Revised Standard Version (RSV, 1946; NRSV 1989)

The New American Standard Bible (NASB, 1960, 1995)

The New International Version (NIV, 1978, 1984, 2011)

Contemporary English Version (CEV, 1995)

The New Living Translation (NLT, 1996, 2007)

English Standard Version (ESV, 2001)

The Message Bible (MSG, 2003)


Due to time constraints, we will primarily focus

on just two translations: the Authorized Version

AV (or King James Version [KJV]) and the New

International Version (NIV).

KING JAMES KING JAMES II

Special pains shall be “taken for an uniform translation, Special pains shall be “taken for an uniform translation,

which should be done by the best learned men in both which should be done by the best learned men in both

Universities, then reviewed by the Bishops, presented to Universities, then reviewed by the Bishops, presented to

the Privy Council, lastly ratified by the Royal authority...."the Privy Council, lastly ratified by the Royal authority...."


There were 47 to 54 translators working on the

King James Bible translation project.

“They were divided into six companies, two of

which would work at each place where the

translators gathered: Westminster, Cambridge,

and Oxford” England.


They first translated by themselves, then met

as a group to revise their work.


For example, “John Bois…a former scholar and

fellow of St. Johns College, Cambridge, and for

ten years chief lecturer there in Greek, was one

of the men selected for the second Cambridge

company.” (Allen 5)


Here are some actual handwritten notes from

his translation work recorded about 1604

(most translator notes were lost in a great fire

in London).

John Bois’ handwritten translation notes on James 3:4 of the AV

The AV settled on: “yet are they turned about with a very small

helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.”

The NIV states: “they are steered by a very small rudder wherever

the pilot wants to go.”

The first line: “…whithersoever the sway of the governor listeth.”


The point of this is not an exercise in

translation, but to show the diligence and

carefulness in which every word was

considered for the translation.

The process was slow and methodical—they

labored over minute details.

It was finally completed in 1611.


Although the translators of the King James

Bible were diligent to produce an excellent

translation that endures even today, they did

not have the quality of manuscripts and the

number of manuscripts available today.

We have, in effect, removed a thousand years

of copying by using these earlier manuscripts.


Consequently, modern translations have

deeper historical roots—placing them closer to

the original manuscripts.

Thus, in general, we can have better confidence

in our modern translations because they are

based on better manuscripts.


Let’s now turn our attention to one of those

more modern translations, the NIV.

The translation effort to produce the New

International Version (NIV) “involved more than

a hundred scholars working in excess of

200,000 man-hours over a period of twenty-

five years at a cost of more than two million

dollars” (Youngblood 239).

THE NIV COMMITTEE ON BIBLE TRANSLATIONTHE NIV COMMITTEE ON BIBLE TRANSLATION

Photo July 2010, after finishing the revised NIV (2011). Left to right: Bruce

Waltke, Ron Youngblood, Larry Walker, Jeannine Brown, Karen Jobes, Gordon

Fee, Dick France, Bill Mounce, Craig Blomberg, David Instone-Brewer, Michael

Williams, Paul Swarup, Ken Barker, Doug Moo, Mark Strauss.


When establishing the translation committee

for the NIV, they searched for top scholars in

ancient biblical languages, as well as

specialists in history, archaeology, theology,

grammar and style. Numerous translators

assisted with the effort.

The translators came from a variety of

Protestant denominations.


These scholars were organized “into

committees on four different levels so the New

International Version could be checked, double

checked and then checked again” (Barnard

126).


The NIV translators sought to be faithful both to

the original and to the receptor language—

trying to get across to the reader what the

original author meant.


They basically wanted to achieve three things:

They wanted a translation produced by scholars

who held to a high view of Scripture.

They wanted an accurate translation—one that

brought over into English the meaning that the

original authors intended.

They wanted the translation to be in the language

of ordinary people—English the way we

speak it today.


They also endeavored to “combine the dignity

requisite for public use, the intimacy needed for

private use, and the accuracy necessary for

study” (Youngblood 244-245).

TYPES OF TRANSLATIONSTYPES OF TRANSLATIONS


For all the variety of Bibles available to us,

there are basically three types of Bible

translations, although they often overlap:

Word for word

Thought for thought

Free Paraphrase


The challenge to every translator is to be

faithful to the original language and to be

faithful to the receptor language.


Word for Word Thought for Thought Free Paraphrase

Interlinear NASB KJV RSV NIV NJB GNB JBP NLB MSG

NKJV TNIV

ESV

KJVKJV Let this mind be in Let this mind be in

you, which was also you, which was also

in Christ Jesus: in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the Who, being in the

form of God, form of God,

thought it not thought it not

robbery to be equal robbery to be equal

with God: But made with God: But made

himself of no himself of no

reputation…reputation…

——Phil 2:5Phil 2:5--7a7a

NIVNIV Your attitude should Your attitude should

be the same as that be the same as that

of Christ Jesus: of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very Who, being in very

nature God, did not nature God, did not

consider equality consider equality

with God something with God something

to be grasped, but to be grasped, but

made himself made himself

nothing.…nothing.…


MSGMSG Think of yourselves Think of yourselves

the way Christ Jesus the way Christ Jesus

thought of himself. thought of himself.

He had equal status He had equal status

with God but didn’t with God but didn’t

think so much of think so much of

himself that he had himself that he had

to cling to the to cling to the

advantages of that advantages of that

status no matter status no matter

what. Not at all. what. Not at all.

When the time came, When the time came,

he set aside the he set aside the

privileges of deityprivileges of deity..…..…



Τουτο γαρ φρονεισθω εν υμιν ο και εν Χριστω Ιησου This for let mind be in you which also in Christ Jesus

[was];

Interlinear New Testament: Philippians 2:5


But are there a lot of words or verses for which

the scholars are unsure about?

In reality, there is only a small percentage of

words or verses where scholars are unsure

about their meaning/translation.


When this happens, modern translations

usually note that the meaning is uncertain

(cf. Ezek. 28:13).

AV: “… the workmanship of thy tabrets and of

thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that

thou wast created.”

NIV: “Your settings and mountings were made

of gold; on the day you were

created they were prepared.”


In some cases archaeological discoveries have

clarified uncertain words.

We should note that no major doctrines

rest on any of these unclear words or verses.

How do we apply this?

WHY DO WE NEED NEW OR DIFFERENT WHY DO WE NEED NEW OR DIFFERENT

TRANSLATIONS?TRANSLATIONS?


Why do we need new or different translations?

First of all, languages change and, therefore,

translations require updating.


When we look at the Authorized Version (AV, or

KJV Bible), it has been estimated that over 800

words have changed their meanings over time.

About 200 words have changed their meanings

substantially.


For example, the simple word “let” in the KJV

(cf. 2 Thess. 2:7) means “restrain” or “stop.”

Whereas, today it always means “permit” or

“allow.”


As we continue to learn about the original

languages, customs, geography and events, we

continue to improve the accuracy of

translations (e.g. Martin Luther and “penance”

vs. “repentance”).


But beyond this, we all share a common

problem: if we read a particular translation long

enough, we become so used to it that it no

longer speaks to us with power.

It can be beautiful, like the AV, or modern, like

the NIV, but if we read it so much, we can grow

calluses on our hearts to the words.


There is also the issue that whenever we

translate, there may remain a residue of

untranslatable truth.

Often a different translation can bring out

another nuance of meaning—it may be just

what the Lord wants to speak to us.

When it comes to Bible translations,

more may be better.


Don’t get locked into the King James only

mentality.

Use a more thought-for-thought or paraphrased

translation when doing general reading or

devotions.

Use a more word-for-word translation when

doing Bible studies, especially when related to

the original languages.

ARE THERE BAD TRANSLATIONS?ARE THERE BAD TRANSLATIONS?


Having a number of really good translations

also helps us avoid bad translations, such as

the New World Translation of the Holy

Scriptures published by the Watchtower Bible

and Tract Society (or Jehovah’s Witnesses).


Since JWs don’t believe in the deity of Christ,

here’s one example of how they insert their

bias into the Bible:

Colossians 1:13-20

in the NWT

Note the insertion of

the word “other” into

the text, implying that

Christ was a created

being (i.e., that all

other things were

created by Him except

that the Father created

the Son).


Inserting the word “other,” even in brackets, is

unjustifiable from the passage. It nowhere

implies that Christ is less than or subordinate

to the Father.

On the contrary, it emphasizes His

preeminence over created things (as the

Creator) and His equality with the Father.


Translations are not infallible, and they do go

through revisions. But keep in mind that even

in New Testament times the “translation in

hand” is referred to as Scripture (Lk. 4:21; Jn.

5:39; Acts 8:32; 17:2, 11).

Further, the New Testament authors often

quoted from a translation (the Septuagint, or

LXX) rather than the Hebrew text.


Thus, we can trust the integrity of the

translators and their work and we can have

confidence in the translations we have.


But what about the transmission of the texts

our translations are based on? Can we trust

these texts?

That is for another lesson.

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY

Allen, Ward. Translating for King James. Kingsport Press: Kingsport Tennessee, 1969.

Barnard, Richard. God’s Word in Our Language: The Story of the New International Version. Colorado Springs: International Bible Society, 1989.

Gilbert, Greg. Why Trust the Bible. Wheaton: Crossway, 2015.

Glassman, Eugene. The Translation Debate. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1981.

Goodrick, Edward. Let’s Put 2 Timothy 3:16 Back in the Bible. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 25, Dec. 1982.

Moo, Douglas. We Still Don’t Get It: Evangelicals and Bible Translation Fifty Years After James Barr. Presidential Address to the Evangelical Theological Society.

BIBLIOGRAPHYBIBLIOGRAPHY

Youngblood, Carolyn. The New International Version

Translation Project: Its Conception and Implementation.

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 21:3

(September, 1978).

can we trust the bible? - coweta community church · 2019-07-16 · can we trust the bible?...

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