Subject: Good News Bible? |
Bible Note: Greetings Steve! I had just posted and asked for some examples when I came across this post. If you want to provide more that would be great, but let me touch on these two. 1) Gen. 4:26: I'm not real familiar with the TEV, but apparently they are a strong Dynamic Equivalent translation. The phrase in question here is literally "to call on the name of Yahweh." A literal translation would be more like the ones you cited. However, the meaning of the phrase definitely seems to include the ideal of worship. What does it mean to call upon the Lord if not to worship Him? So, while I probably would not translate this verse this way myself, I don't see any problem with it. 2) Lev. 23:8: Again, this translation seems to be trying to bring out the meaning for a modern reader. The LXX renders this phrase as a "Holy Day." Maybe a better translation would have been a "holiday" :-) Personally, I would take a middle of the road position on this issue. I don't like stiff formal translations for new believers, but I don't like to many liberties taken for serious study. So, for the average Christian, I think something like the TEV would be a good intro to the Bible. However, I would recommend something more like the NIV or NASB for more mature Christians. When I was really young, I even cut my teeth on a Living Bible. I won't even touch one now, but then it was a good starter for me. I do feel sorry for translators. They do not have an easy job. One of the classic examples is the phrase "coals of fire." How do you translate this? If you stay literal, you end up with some very stiff reading. If you translate based upon the idiom and say, "Burning coals" you get accused of changing the text. I'm just glad that we have so many good translations available for every level of maturity. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |