Choosing a TranslationChoosing a Translation

Three important issuesThree important issues

Textual criticism—Does the translation Textual criticism—Does the translation present only what can be established as the present only what can be established as the original words of God in the autographs?original words of God in the autographs?

Linguistics—Does the translation accurately Linguistics—Does the translation accurately convey the thought of the original message? convey the thought of the original message? Does it do so in language readily Does it do so in language readily understandable by the reader?understandable by the reader?

Theology—Does the translation reflect Theology—Does the translation reflect theological bias or prejudice in translating?theological bias or prejudice in translating?

Confession of the eunuchConfession of the eunuch

36 And as they went on their way, 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? baptized? 37 And Philip said, If 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.the Son of God. 38 And he 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. eunuch; and he baptized him. (Acts 8:36-38, KJV)(Acts 8:36-38, KJV)

36 As they traveled 36 As they traveled along the road, they along the road, they came to some water came to some water and the eunuch said, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” 38 And he baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch Philip and the eunuch went down into the went down into the water and Philip water and Philip baptized him. (Acts baptized him. (Acts 8:36-38, NIV)8:36-38, NIV)

Trinitarian formulaTrinitarian formula6 This is he that came by water 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. Spirit is truth. 7 For there are 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are Holy Ghost: and these three are one.one. 8 And there are three that 8 And there are three that bear witness bear witness in earthin earth, the Spirit, , the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. (1 and these three agree in one. (1 John 5:6-8, KJV)John 5:6-8, KJV)

6 This is he that came by 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. water and with the blood. 7 And it is the Spirit that 7 And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. 8 the Spirit is the truth. 8 For there are three who For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the and the water, and the blood: and the three agree blood: and the three agree in one. (1 John 5:6-8, in one. (1 John 5:6-8, ASV)ASV)

Stirring of the watersStirring of the waters

3 In these lay a great 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain went down at a certain season into the pool, and season into the pool, and troubled the water: troubled the water: whosoever then first after whosoever then first after the troubling of the water the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he of whatsoever disease he had. (John 5:3-4, KJV)had. (John 5:3-4, KJV)

3 In these lay a multitude of 3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, lame, and withered, [waiting [waiting for the moving of the waters;4 for the moving of the waters;4 for an angel of the Lord went for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred up the the pool, and stirred up the water; whoever then first, water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.]with which he was afflicted.] (John 5:3-4, NASV)(John 5:3-4, NASV)

Why do these differences exist?Why do these differences exist?

Translation Involves Careful StudyTranslation Involves Careful Study

Transfer into the receptor Transfer into the receptor languagelanguage

Discernment of the original Discernment of the original reading and production of an reading and production of an edited Greek Textedited Greek Text

Comparison and categorization Comparison and categorization of text typesof text types

Discovery and dating of existing Discovery and dating of existing manuscriptsmanuscripts

History of our English translationsHistory of our English translations

John Wycliffe (1330-1384)

History of our English translationsHistory of our English translations

Gutenberg Bible (1450)

History of our English translationsHistory of our English translations

Desiderius Erasmus (1516)

Important Facts about Erasmus’ Important Facts about Erasmus’ manuscriptsmanuscripts

• None of the Greek manuscripts Erasmus used None of the Greek manuscripts Erasmus used contained the entire NT. contained the entire NT.

• None of them were dated earlier than the tenth None of them were dated earlier than the tenth century.century.

• The one Greek manuscript of the book of The one Greek manuscript of the book of Revelation he used did not contain the final leaf; Revelation he used did not contain the final leaf; thus Erasmus used a Latin Bible and translated it thus Erasmus used a Latin Bible and translated it back into Greek to complete his edited Greek text.back into Greek to complete his edited Greek text.

History of our English translationsHistory of our English translations

King James Version 1611

History of our English translationsHistory of our English translations

The Puritans 1620

Important Manuscripts DiscoveredImportant Manuscripts Discovered

Codex Sinaiticus (Dated 350 was discovered Codex Sinaiticus (Dated 350 was discovered in 1859)in 1859)

Codex SinaiticusCodex Sinaiticus

Important Manuscripts discoveredImportant Manuscripts discovered

Codex Sinaiticus (Dated 350 was discovered in 1859)Codex Sinaiticus (Dated 350 was discovered in 1859) Codex Vaticanus (Dated 325-350)Codex Vaticanus (Dated 325-350) Codex Alexandrinus (Dated 400)Codex Alexandrinus (Dated 400) Chester Beatty (Dated 200 was purchased in the Chester Beatty (Dated 200 was purchased in the

1930’s)1930’s) Bodmer Papyrus II (Dated 150-200 was purchased in Bodmer Papyrus II (Dated 150-200 was purchased in

1950’s-1960’s)1950’s-1960’s) Such discoveries gave textual scholars a look at many Such discoveries gave textual scholars a look at many

more manuscripts that were centuries older than those more manuscripts that were centuries older than those used by Erasmus.used by Erasmus.

What did the manuscripts reveal?What did the manuscripts reveal?

Manuscript “Families”

Alexandrian Western Byzantine

The Alexandrian text The Alexandrian text Early as the late second and early third century.Early as the late second and early third century. Represented in two of the oldest complete Represented in two of the oldest complete

manuscripts we have of the NT (Vaticanus and manuscripts we have of the NT (Vaticanus and Sinaiticus). Sinaiticus).

Codex Vaticanus is quoted among the church fathers Codex Vaticanus is quoted among the church fathers and even has many similarities to an earlier partial and even has many similarities to an earlier partial papyrus (ppapyrus (p7575).).

Shows the least tendency by the copyists to “smooth Shows the least tendency by the copyists to “smooth out” difficulties.out” difficulties.

It appears to be the most dominant from the second to It appears to be the most dominant from the second to eighth century. eighth century.

The Western text typeThe Western text type

Very old as indicated by similar readings in Very old as indicated by similar readings in the Old Latin versions.the Old Latin versions.

Many more words than the other two Many more words than the other two manuscript types and unique readings. manuscript types and unique readings.

It exists primarily in areas where Latin was the It exists primarily in areas where Latin was the predominant language. It appears to have predominant language. It appears to have phased out by the 5phased out by the 5thth century. century.

The Byzantine text typeThe Byzantine text type

Not as old as the other two. Its earliest representative Not as old as the other two. Its earliest representative is dated around the 5is dated around the 5thth century. century.

Early church fathers quotes do not conform to the Early church fathers quotes do not conform to the pattern of the Byzantine text type. pattern of the Byzantine text type.

It appears to have become dominant in the 9It appears to have become dominant in the 9 thth century, century, after the demise of the Alexandrian and primarily in after the demise of the Alexandrian and primarily in the eastern part of the empire where Greek was the eastern part of the empire where Greek was spoken.spoken.

Manuscripts from this textual tradition were used by Manuscripts from this textual tradition were used by Erasmus in his edited text for the KJV.Erasmus in his edited text for the KJV.

New Greek EditionsNew Greek Editions

Constantin Von Tischendorf (1831) Constantin Von Tischendorf (1831) Cambridge scholars Westcott and Hort (1881)Cambridge scholars Westcott and Hort (1881) Nestle (1936)Nestle (1936) United Bible Societies (1966) United Bible Societies (1966)

What affect does this have on What affect does this have on translations?translations?

Omission of or notes about verses found in the Omission of or notes about verses found in the KJV (NKJV) that may have inadequate or KJV (NKJV) that may have inadequate or weaker textual supportweaker textual support

Inclusion of words or phrases not found in the Inclusion of words or phrases not found in the KJV (NKJV) that have adequate or strong KJV (NKJV) that have adequate or strong textual supporttextual support

Different words where another reading is Different words where another reading is better attestedbetter attested

ConclusionsConclusions We cannot say that the KJV ought to be chosen We cannot say that the KJV ought to be chosen

over all other translations because it is based on the over all other translations because it is based on the “textus receptus” as its ardent supporters affirm. “textus receptus” as its ardent supporters affirm. However this does not make the KJV (NKJV) However this does not make the KJV (NKJV) unusable.unusable.

On the merits of the textual tradition itself (nothing On the merits of the textual tradition itself (nothing else considered) it would seem preferable to choose else considered) it would seem preferable to choose a translation that most accurately represents the a translation that most accurately represents the original wording of Scripture. These would original wording of Scripture. These would include the 20include the 20thth century versions (ASV, NASV, century versions (ASV, NASV, NIV, ESV)NIV, ESV)