1 Corinthians 14:29

In another thread, dealing with mistranslations contained in the NIV, Martin posted the following:

Martin's well made point is that the NIV translators concluded that the "others" referred to the audience. However, it is also possible that the "others" refers to the "prophets." Thus rather than the audience evaluate, Paul's point contextually is that the other prophets were to evaluate.

Next, again according to Martin, the idea is that the prophets were to evaluate the other prophets and decide which of them would speak, as opposed to evaluating the message spoken. So we have two alternate meanings, possibly the ones intended by God, which have been eliminated by adding to the text.

As far as the NIV "carefully" is not in the text and is unnecessary, and "what is said" is not in the text and may reflect a misunderstanding of the meaning. Clearly the winner here is the LEB which reads, "Let two or three prophets speak, and the others evaluate."

 

Commentaries are split with some "experts" saying "others" does not refer to "prophets" with other commentaries saying "others" does refer to other "prophets." For example both Martin Luther and John Calvin agree "others" refers to other prophets.

As for the "implied" need for "carefully" many other translation teams did not "see" that implication.

 

Five wrongs do not make a right. Added words should be italicized to let the reader know they are not inspired.

 

The elephant in the room is the claim these NIV mistranslations are somehow needed for functional equivalence, but that is obviously not true. The NIV uses omitted words, added words, and different word meanings to alter the message which of course results in functional non-equivalence.

Mistranslation in the NIV
1) Isaiah 12:3 the omission of the conjunction should read, "therefore" *
2) Mark 1:41 Jesus was indignant should read, "moved with anger." *
3) John 1:16 does not seem any more flawed than many other translations, what the text actually says is "And out of His abundance we all also obtained grace against grace." *
4) John 21:5 friends should read, "children."
5) Acts 13:50 "leaders" should be italicized to indicate an addition to the text.
6) Romans 3:25 sacrifice of atonement should read, "propitiatory shelter."*
7) 1 Corinthians 16:13 "be courageous" should read, "act like men."
8) Ephesians 2:3 deserving of wrath should read, "children of wrath."
9) Colossians 1:28 the omission of "every man" (or every person) reduces the force of the teaching that the gospel is understandable to every person.*
10) 2 Thess. 2:13 to be saved should read, "for salvation."
11) 2 Thess. 3:6 who is idle should read, "who leads an undisciplined life" *
12) 1 Timothy 3:16 appeared in the flesh should read, "revealed in the flesh."*
13) Titus 3:4 love should read, "love for mankind." *
14) Hebrews 10:14 sacrifice should read, "offering."
15) James 2:5 to be rich in faith should read, "yet rich in faith."
16) 1 Peter 4:6 those who are now dead should read, "those who are dead."
17) 1 John 2:2 atoning sacrifice should read, "propitiation." *
18) 1 John 4:10 atoning sacrifice should read, "propitiation."
19) Rev. 13:8 from the creation should read, "from the foundation."
20) Rev. 22:21 be with God's people should read, "be with all."
21) 1 Samuel 15:19 the Lord should read "the voice of the Lord." *
22) 1 Samuel 15:20 the Lord should read "the voice of the Lord." *
23) 1 Samuel 15:22 the Lord should read "the voice of the Lord." *
24) Philemon 1:6 the verse should read as follows: "I pray that your participation in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ."
25) 1 Corinthians 14:29 should read "Let two or three prophets speak, and the others evaluate." The NIV added "carefully" and "what is said."

Examples 1, 9, 13, 21, 22, and 23 document omission of words or parts of words.
Examples 5, 15, 16 and 25 document addition of words.
Examples 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19 and 20 document replacement of the inspired word with a different word or different words.
Example 24 documents a translation devoid of meaning, just an array of disconnected phrases.

 

When translators add unnecessary words the additions should be in italics so the reader knows the addition is not inspired. Five wrongs do not make a right. You can disagree all you want. The vast majority of translation teams did not add "carefully" so it was not mandated by Greek inflection.

When people "evaluate" they try to do it properly, rather than sloppily. So the implication is carried forward without the additional word.

 

Hi Preachinjesus, I know you must think if I disagree with you, I must be ignorant. But here we are dealing with "experts" with some saying others must refer to prophets and other experts saying others does not refer to prophets. In other words, the underlying Greek is sufficiently ambiguous that two alternate understandings have been put forth as required by the grammar.

Carefully may be implied by the Greek, but the English "evaluate" implies careful evaluation. To add the word is "unnecessary." You do realize that some of the translator additions are unnecessary and speculative?