Just Released: The Complete Guide to Bible Translations

His book may prove interesting.I have no idea where RR lands on the versions issue.But I have a sneaking suspicion he may not care for the TNIV -- just a hunch.But hopefully he won't be as extreme as Grudem and Piper on the subject.He should be more knowledgeable than Leland Ryken though.

 

This looks like an interesting book. This quote tickled me.

Regarding the Catholic Church:

Yeah, like salvation by grace through faith alone. :laugh:

 

Well,if he has issues against the TNIV his reasons would not be considered "good" from this fellow.I'd be interested to know what his "issues" were though.But,it might just be an echo from Grudem & Co.

 

I believe he would have issues with the TNIV.

But I don't know of any new issues that anyone can come up with that have not been considered against the TNIV already.

At any rate, the TNIV continues to be my primary text of choice.

As a footnote, RR books are NASB-based.

 

A Calvinist friend of mine was at a conference, featuring Grudem and Piper, where he overhead Piper condemning the NIV.

About two years ago, I loss all respect for Piper on matters of Bible translations.

 

Well, as TCG has said,I don't think anyone is going to come up with anything new against the TNIV -- it's going to be more of the same-ole'-same-ole'.

After all the deliberate lies about the TNIV and its translators do you blame me for having a battle-weary stance by now?

 

Piper has been quite open about his distaste for the NIV/TNIV.

Actually he went so far overboard in his remarks once that even Wayne Grudem rebuked him for it.Now that's saying something!

Yeah, in other matters I respect Piper a great deal -- but he has crossed the line (along with Al Mohler) regarding his sinful stance on the subject of the NIV/TNIV.

 

Yes,I would like to hear what he has to say too.I really want to be impressed.

 

Can someone please post the bibliographic info on this new book?

 

The Complete Guide to Bible Translations:
How They Were Developed
Understanding Their Differences
Finding the Right One for You
By Ron Rhodes

272 pages
Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0736925464


Amazon LINK

Fetchbook.info LINK

Rob

 

That says quite a lot.

Piper is contradicting his own stance on God's grace to behave like that.

At the same time, he's marginalizing a segment of the Body of Christ (I wonder if he's still friends with DA Carson, who is pro-TNIV?).

 

Marcia, it has been half a year. Have you completed his book yet? If so give us a bit of his take on the TNIV.

 

A book dealing with the same subject matter was published in 2000. It's called Essential Guide To Bible Versions. The author is Philip W. Comfort Ph.D.

-- Differences between Bible Versions -- Do They Matter?

-- Where Does The Bible Text Come From?

-- How Are Bible Translations Made?

He is an expert in this field of study.

 

I just finished reading this library book. It's okay. He laid out some basics which have been adequately covered by other books on the same subject -- but still worthwhile to consult. He tried to be evenhanded.

Here is a little list showing what he considered the reading level of various translations and their respective translation methods.

GW -- Actually Dynamic Equivalence --4.3
NLT -- DE ---------------------------6.3
NIrV -- Simplified --------------------3rd grade
ESV --- Formally Equivalent ---------- 8th grade
NET Bible -- DE ( He said so on page 169. However, on page 216 he said it's midway between FE and DE)
The Message -- Paraphrase --------- 4.3
HCSB -- Balanced ------------------- 7.5
TNIV -- Somewhere between FE and DE. 7th grade
NJB --- Fairly literal ------------------High School
NAB --- Relatively literal --------------6.6
KJV ---- FE --------------------------12
RSV --- FE ---------------------------Middle School
AMP --- No designation --------------- 11th
NASB -- FE --------------------------- 11th
GNT --- DE --------------------------- 6th
NIV ---- In-between. ----------------- 7th
NKJ ---- Complete Equivalence -------- 8th
NRSV -- FE ( But he says that some would place it on the border of FE and DE) 9th grade
REB --- DE ---------------------------- High School
NCV --- DE ---------------------------- 5.6

 

I really disagree with his placement of The Message at 4.3. Another chart places it at the 7th grade level and another one puts it at 8.5. I would say the last one is more accurate.

Rhodes contradicts himself on the NET Bible. First he calls it a dynamic equivalent (on p.169)--then he says on page 216 that the NIN, HCSb and NET Bible are all midway between FE and DE. I'd say he's more on-the-mark with the later view.

I really think that the ESV should be paced on a higher reading register than 8th grade. Likewise, the RSV should be paced at a higher level than Middle school. Ditto the NRSV which he places at the ninth grade level.

And does anyone think that the NKJ is at the 8th grade level? Does anyone seriously think it's just a bit more challenging than the NIV? Is it just a little more difficult than the HCSB at 7.5? No, it's just under the level of the KJV.

For him to place the NJB as being fairly literal is wrong. It's clearly using DE.

Since he places the NAB as using a relatively literal method -- then the NIV/TNIV should be placed right there or even slighly more FE.

 

Rippon, I noticed in your list that the NKJV was listed as this:

NKJ ---- Complete Equivalence -------- 8th


that seems to be the only version listed as " Complete Equivalence ".
Can you define what that means? Thanks! I appreciate your list, BTW.