
Part 5: English Translations
• Series: The Making of the Bible
TEACHING NOTES Introduction In this session we will learn about English translations of the Bible. Session Overview: History of English Translations Original Texts Used Types of Translations Proceed with Caution History of English Translations Tyndale NT: William Tyndale (1526) 1st to translate the Bible into English (NT). Fluent in eight languages incl. Hebrew & Greek. Faced great opposition from the church. Wanted everyone to read the Bible. In an argument when Tyndale was accused of defying the laws of the Pope Tyndale said, “I defy the Pope and all his laws, and if God spares my life, ere many years, I will cause the boy that driveth the plow to know more of the scriptures than thou dost!” — William Tyndale Tyndale never finished translating the OT into English. Tyndale was strangled and burned at the stake by the church (1536). Coverdale Bible: Miles Coverdale (1535) 1st English translation of the entire Bible. Used Latin Vulgate, not Hebrew & Greek. Matthew’s Bible: John Rogers (1537) Great Bible: Miles Coverdale (1539) First authorized English Bible. Geneva Bible: 150 editions (1560-1644) Produced in Geneva, Switzerland. Influenced by John Calvin & followers. Cross-references & Calvinist notes. 1st to use chapter/verse system. Bishop’s Bible: Church of England (1568) Critical response of Calvin’s Presbyterianism. Three editions—1568, 1572, 1602 Authorized Version/KJV (1611) 6 panels of 47 leading scholars. Included the Apocrypha (14 books). Multiple editions 100,000 changes (1611-1900). New King James Version (1982-84) Original Texts Used Old Testament: Masoretic Text (MT) Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) Septuagint (LXX) After 1947 DSS began to be included. New Testament: Textus Receptus (TR) Critical Texts (uses all Greek texts) Only the KJV and NKJV use the TR. Types of Translations Word-for-Word: Seeks to preserve the original wording and syntax of the original language. Thought-for-Thought: Seeks to preserve the original meaning while making the word order and syntax more readable. Dynamic Equivalent: Seeks to be the best of both approaches above. Paraphrase: Not a translation, but an author’s opinion of what the text is saying. Except for The Message, paraphrases are written by author’s who are not trained translators. My Recommendations: English Standard Version (ESV) The NET Bible (NET) Lexham English Bible (LEB) New American Standard Bible (NASB) New International Version (NIV) Amplified Bible (AMP) Proceed with Caution While many of our English translations can be used with confidence, there are a few modern versions of the Bible that should only be used with great caution. Some modern versions are intentionally gender-neutral. Some modern versions soften offensive passages. Paraphrases are opinions, not Scripture. The Living Bible, The Message, Mirror Bible, Passion Translation are authored by a single author and NOT a team of scholars. Conclusion Translations are not divinely inspired. Translations are very accurate, but they are not infallible. The best Bible translation is the one that you will read consistently.