Modern English Bible translations
There are many attempts to translate the Bible into modern English which is defined as the form of English in use after 1800. Since the early 19th century, there have been several translational responses to the rapid spread of Christianity throughout the world. Various denominational and organizational goals have produced, and continue to produce, Bibles that fit the needs of English speakers in all walks of life. Differing base texts, theological emphasis, style, and translation aims (e.g. readability vs literality) are just a few of the variables that contribute to the wide range of Bibles available today.
As this diagram illustrates there was a long gap between the creation of the King James Version of the Bible and the Revised Standard Version. The formal equivalence translations have now been continued with new versions of the Revised Standard, the American Standard and the King James.
One of the biggest changes in the late 20th Century was the appearance of Bibles which were much less literal in their translation style, a translation technique known as dynamic equivalence. This was led by the introduction of The Living Bible, published by its author, Kenneth Taylor in 1971. Taylor had begun quite simply because of the trouble his children had in understanding the literal (and sometimes archaic) text of the King James version of the Bible. His work was at first intended for children, but then he wondered if he could also make it easier for adults to understand the whole Bible. He took as his basis the literal American Standard Version of 1901, and what he produced was a dramatic departure from the King James version. It proved to be a a watershed in Bible translations, awaking the world to the advantages of dynamic equivalence. However, although The Living Bible is regarded by many as a good translation, it has comes in for a lot of criticism.
In spite of this widespread criticism, The Living Bible opened the floodgates to a less literal style of translation. Realizing the immense benefits of a Bible which was more easily accessible to the average Christian, and responding to the criticisms of the Living Bible, the main English-speaking Bible societies came together to produce a brand new Bible in this more readable style: thus was the Good News Bible born; this translation has gone on to become one of the best selling in history.
Another project aimed to create something in between the very literal translation of the King James Bible and the very informal Good News Bible. The goal was to create a Bible that would be very scholarly, but not too formal. The result of this project was the New International Version.
Today, there is a range of translations running the full gamut from the most literal, such as the New King James Version to the most free such as The Message and The Word on the Street.
18th and 19th Century Translations
| Name | Date |
|---|---|
| Ferrar Fenton Bible | 1853 |
| Quaker Bible | 1764 |
| Thomson's Translation | 1808 |
| Webster's Revision | 1833 |
| Young's Literal Translation | 1862 |
| Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible | 1830 |
| Julia E. Smith Parker Translation | 1876 |
| Revised Version | 1895 |
20th and 21st Century Complete Bible
The following table includes an indication of the type of translation as follows: (de) = dynamic equivalence (fe) = formal equivalence (de/fe) = more dynamic than formal (fe/de) = more formal than dynamic
New Testament only
| Gaus, Andy | Unvarnished New Testament |
| WET | Wuest Expanded Translation |
See also
- Comparison of English Bible translations - comparing verses, in the many different Bible versions is often the best way to judge a translation
- Jewish English Bible translations
- Bible translations - for a view of translation into languages other than English.
- Bible errata
External links
- Rating the Translations
- Translations of the Bible Into English
- The Australian Bible, bible in Australian vernacular
- EasyEnglish Bible
- Online Jewish translation of the Bible With Rashi's commentary by The Judaica Press at chabad.org