From the Heart of the Pastor

In last week’s block I began addressing the challenge of choosing a Bible.  Different Bibles translate the original languages differently.  As I said last week, each Bible translation has been translated by a team of individuals according to a particular “translations philosophy.”  First, there is “Formal Equivalence.”  A Bible that has been translated according to formal equivalence is trying to give a word for word translation of the Greek and Hebrew.  The second translation philosophy to be familiar with is “dynamic equivalence.”  This is the method by which the NIV is translated allowing it to be so easy to read.  This method of translation is not “word for word” but “thought for thought.”  In the case of the NIV or similar translations, the translators read a phrase in the original Greek and ask themselves, “what does that phrase mean and how can we communicate the meaning of the phrase best in English?”  They are not really interested in the literal meaning of each word, but the meaning of the whole phrase together.

Consider an example.  In the formal equivalence translation of the New American Standard Bible, Colossians 2: 9-10 reads, “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.”  Now consider the same two verses in the NIV, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”  Did you notice the differences?  The NIV changes “him” to “Christ” for clarity.  It changes the word “dwells” which is literally what the Greek says to “lives” which 21st Century folks understand a little better.  So it is a matter of preference.  Both are the Word of God and fully reliable and trustworthy.

There is a third option.  The paraphrase has become extremely popular over the last several years.  The important thing to note about a paraphrase is that it is not a translation at all.  It is a restating of a previous English translation in a more understandable way.  The Living Bible is a paraphrase as is The Message.  Consider how The Message paraphrases Colossions 2: 9-10, “Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.”  Wow, there is a lot of liberty taken there with the original language.  But that is the point, the author of The Message is not translating but paraphrasing.  Next week I will share with you the translation I personally prefer and some practical tips for picking a Bible.

In Christ,

Blain Craig