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Most of us have a favorite Bible translation. Which one is best for studying and teaching?
- Why?: Most of us have a favorite Bible translation. Which one is best for studying and teaching?
- What?: With all the English translations available, which should you use for study and for teaching? That's really two questions so let me address teaching first. This is actually the harder of the two questions. Let me say that, with the assumption that you teach in a church that teaches and preaches the Bible faithfully and that understands that the Bible is the very word of God, you should choose a translation that is consistent with your church's theological leanings. The translation you teach from should be understandable by most or all of your learners. If they can't understand the words, they can't be transformed by reading or hearing them. The easier question is which translation to use in your study. The answer starts with your favorite translation. Know where it falls on the spectrum that ranges from word-for-word or "formal equivalence" to thought-for-thought or "dynamic equivalence." Then, pick another translation that comes from the same place on the spectrum and at least two translations that are from other places on the spectrum. I do not recommend using paraphrased Bibles such as the Message or the Living Bible except as devotional reading. For study, use actual translations from the original languages. With those caveats, here's my method: These days I teach from the English Standard Version, which is balanced, but tends toward the word-for-word end of the spectrum. Then, for study, I add the Christian Standard Bible, which is balanced between the two extremes. Then, I use the New American Standard, which is one of the most reliable word-for-word translations and the New Living Translation, which is one of the most reliable thought-for-thought translations.
- So What?: Looking at multiple translations from across the spectrum, the similarities in translation can give you confidence that you understand what the original writers meant for you to understand. When you see differences between translations, you know to be a bit more cautious in your interpretation. Try to understand why translation choices were made and what differences in the original languages those translators were addressing.
- So What Now?: Before you study anything else for your lesson, you need to study the Bible. If you are reading English translations, use more than one and use translations from across the spectrum of word-for-word to thought-for-thought. Then you can know what other study aids might be helpful in preparing your lesson so that your learners may hear and be transformed by the Word of God.
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By Dr. Danny R. Bowen @ TeachersOfTheBible- Why?: Most of us have a favorite Bible translation. Which one is best for studying and teaching?
- What?: With all the English translations available, which should you use for study and for teaching? That's really two questions so let me address teaching first. This is actually the harder of the two questions. Let me say that, with the assumption that you teach in a church that teaches and preaches the Bible faithfully and that understands that the Bible is the very word of God, you should choose a translation that is consistent with your church's theological leanings. The translation you teach from should be understandable by most or all of your learners. If they can't understand the words, they can't be transformed by reading or hearing them. The easier question is which translation to use in your study. The answer starts with your favorite translation. Know where it falls on the spectrum that ranges from word-for-word or "formal equivalence" to thought-for-thought or "dynamic equivalence." Then, pick another translation that comes from the same place on the spectrum and at least two translations that are from other places on the spectrum. I do not recommend using paraphrased Bibles such as the Message or the Living Bible except as devotional reading. For study, use actual translations from the original languages. With those caveats, here's my method: These days I teach from the English Standard Version, which is balanced, but tends toward the word-for-word end of the spectrum. Then, for study, I add the Christian Standard Bible, which is balanced between the two extremes. Then, I use the New American Standard, which is one of the most reliable word-for-word translations and the New Living Translation, which is one of the most reliable thought-for-thought translations.
- So What?: Looking at multiple translations from across the spectrum, the similarities in translation can give you confidence that you understand what the original writers meant for you to understand. When you see differences between translations, you know to be a bit more cautious in your interpretation. Try to understand why translation choices were made and what differences in the original languages those translators were addressing.
- So What Now?: Before you study anything else for your lesson, you need to study the Bible. If you are reading English translations, use more than one and use translations from across the spectrum of word-for-word to thought-for-thought. Then you can know what other study aids might be helpful in preparing your lesson so that your learners may hear and be transformed by the Word of God.