Bible Question:
Since discovering the NAS while in high school I have been using the it as my primary Bible text. That was before the OT translation was published. I have complete confidence in its accuracy as a translation and I have used it often and extensively when discussing matters of faith, trying to open hearts to God's Word and in personal study because the language is clear and unambiguous. I have a deep knowledge of and an appreciation of the Elizabethan writers, gained in college, so I can make my way through the ''Authorized'' (King James) version if I must. Often I now use the English Standard Version (ESV) for serious study help along with the NASV. When privileged to preach from the pulpit or at the graveside I extensively use the Phillips translation of the New Testament, and paraphrases the Living New Testament and The Message (MSG) from Eugene Peterson. However, listening to a recent Sunday School lesson aimed at establishing the KJV as the only correct interpretation of the Bible, the name Frank Logsdon was raised in conjunction with a knock on the NASV. The reference stated that this man was on the translation team but disavowed his work and the whole project in a letter to D. Lockman (or the Foundation) which also asked that his name be removed from the NASV credits. This is the second time in the past decade that I have heard a KJV partisan dismiss the whole work of 54 translators based on this recanting of one man, although this is the first time I have been able to get a name to put with the claim of total failure/inaccuracy of the NAS. I can find no reference to this man anywhere apart from the citation of his letter in (as yet) unnamed book supporting the claim of KJV being the only true translation of God's Word. (At the extremity of this position, I have been told that instead of translating Scripture into native tongues we must rather teach English to the whole world-presumably Elizabethan English at that.) What is known of Mr. Frank Logsdon? Or is this Just an apocryphal story? And if the defection of one man would invalidate the NASV, what do we make of our Declaration of Independence, since two of the signatories returned to allegiance to the English King and Crown before the end of 1776? DOC out |
Bible Answer: Check out drwile.com and search for Logsdon or Lockman. A blog there includes a response identified as being from Lockman Foundation detailing Frank Logsdon’s involvement with the NASB Here is the supposed response from Lockman. The Board of Directors of The Lockman Foundation launched the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE translation work in the late 1950’s following the completion of the AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT. Dr. S. Franklin Logsdon was acquainted with Dewey Lockman, president of The Lockman Foundation, prior to Mr. Lockman’s death in 1974. Mr. Logsdon was never a member of the Board of Directors, nor was he an employee of The Lockman Foundation. Mr. Logsdon had no authority to hire employees or translators for the Foundation, to set policy, to vote, to hold office, to incur expenses, etc. He cannot be considered cofounder of the NASB, nor part of The Lockman Foundation, nor part of the NASB translation team, nor did he write the forward of the NASB. According to our records, he was present at board meetings on two occasions, once to hear a travel report; and once to deliver an inspirational thought. Mr. Logsdon last wrote to Mr. Lockman in fall of 1973 that he was moving to Florida. Mr. Lockman replied that he was surprised and saddened by his decision to leave the area. Mr. Lockman passed away in January of 1974, and no further correspondence was exchanged between Frank Logsdon and The Lockman Foundation. He resided in Florida until his passing some years ago. |