Ithink Bible translation must be really difficult. I don't know if you're all aware, but the Bible was recently translated into Mongolian, and whereas there were
no known Christians in Outer Mongolia ten years or so ago, there are now about 10,000 <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/ClapHands.gif" alt="" />. The problem is that the Mongolians are largely Buddhist and there is no name for God in Mongolian. So the translators in desperation used the word for 'Buddha', and now there is a load of Mongolians going around thinking that Jesus is the Son of Buddha! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Praise the Lord, there's a new translation coming out shortly that avoids this problem; how, I don't know.
I believe that a translation should be as literal as possible so as to retain a good, up-to-date literary style. However, consider the following:-
1John 4:7, NKJV: 'Beloved, let us love one another.'
1John 4:7, NIV: 'Dear Friends, let us love one another.'
The easy thing to say is, "Well, nobody calls anybody 'beloved' these days, so 'Dear friends' must be better." But the Greek reads 'Agapetoi, agapomen' which is an alliteration, which 'Beloved, let us love' picks up rather well. Moreover, 'agapetoi' could equally well mean 'beloved of God' as 'beloved of John'. It would be possible to translate the text, 'Let us who are loved (by God) love one another.' I feel that to use the word 'beloved' keeps that ambiguity better than 'dear friends.'
On the other hand, I don't know why the NKJV uses the word, 'behold!' constantly. What's wrong with 'see' or 'look'?
To those who think the NIV is as bad as it gets; 'Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these' (Ezek 8:15). I resigned from the leadership of the church in which I was converted, when my colleagues wanted to put a copy of Luke's Gospel through every door in my village in the CEV translation. I looked through it to see what sort of translation it was and found this:-
Luke 1:50 NKJV: 'And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.'
Luke 1:50 CEV: 'He is always kind to everyone who worships Him.' <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/Eeeeeek.gif" alt="" />
[That wasn't my only reason for resigning, but it was the straw that broke the camel's back!]
Blessings,
Steve
