The Basic Tool - A Good Translation

The 66 books of the Protestant Bible were originally written in three different languages: Hebrew (most of the O.T.), Aramaic (half of Daniel and 2 passages in Ezra), and Greek (all of the N.T.). We assume that most of the readers of the Bible do not know these languages. For this reason, the basic tool for reading and studying the Bible is a good English translation, or perhaps several good English translations.

The trouble with using only one translation, be it ever so good, is that you are committed to the exegetical choices of that translation. The translation you are using may be correct; but it also may be wrong.

Let's take, for example, several different translations of 1 Corinthians 7:36:

KJV "If any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin..."

NASB "If a man think that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter..."

NIV "If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to..."

NEB "If a man has a partner in celibacy and feels that he is not behaving properly towards her..."

The KJV is very literal, but not very helpful, since it leaves the term "virgin" and the relationship between the "man" and "his virgin" ambiguous. The Corinthians, of course, would have understood exactly what he meant. In this case, the NIV reflects the best option here.

It is probably a good practice to use mainly one translation, provided it's a really good one. This will aid in memorization, as well as give you consistency. However, for the study of the Bible, you should use several well-chosen translations. This will help to highlight where difficult translations lie.

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