Improvement of the NIV

Lets take a look at how the NIV renders "mono" (G3441) which means "alone" and thus carries the idea of being the only one being discussed. Many times it is rendered correctly as "alone" and at other times it should be rendered alone, but other English words seem to be used arbitrarily. This is the Greek word SavedByGrace indicated would have been used by Luke if he had wanted to say "only." However, Luke seems to use "mono" to mean "alone."

Thus in Luke 6:4, where the NIV goes with "lawful only for priests" a more consistent rendering would be "lawful for priests alone."

In Luke 9:18 instead of "praying in private" the NIV should go with "praying alone."

In Luke 10:40 "doing the work by myself" the NIV should go with "doing the work alone."

In Luke 24:12 "strips of linen lying by themselves" should read "linen wrappings alone."

In Luke 24:18 "are you the only one visiting" should read "are you alone visiting."

Acts of the Apostles 11:19, "spreading the word only among Jews" should read "spreading the word to Jews alone."

It is really not that hard to translate word or phrase meanings more consistently than does the NIV. For example in Luke's writings, the NIV goes with alone 3 of the 9 times it translates mono, but the NASB sticks with alone 6 out of the 9 times. On the other hand, I found only one translation (Darby) that went with "alone" all 9 times.

 

Yes all translations can be improved, but our efforts should focus on the most widely used versions, fixing a version few use fails the good steward test. Obviously the NIV fails with regard to its claimed "transparency." But it scores well on the Dynamic Non-Equivalence test.

 

Several Greek words share the same (or one of same) roots:

1) G3439 - monogenēs meaning "single of its kind"
2) G3440 - monon meaning "only" or "alone"
3) G3441 - monos meaning "only" or "alone"
4) G3442 - monophthalmos meaning "with one eye"
5) G3443 - monoō - meaning "to make single"
Thus the root meaning seems to be "single" as in "alone or only"

Therefore when Luke refers to a son or daughter that is the only one of its kind, going with monogenes as "only" seems sound because the term "son" or "daughter" makes "of its kind" redundant. However if there is more than one offspring, then "one of a kind" or unique is not redundant. Anyway, that is my two cents.

 

Yes the LXX is useful in providing us insight into the Jewish understanding of the Hebrew OT. H3173 yachiyd is a separate Hebrew word from "beloved" so I do not think we should pour "love" into monogenes.

H3173 has three meanings (1) only, (2) solitary and (3) only one carrying the idea of cherished.

Note that in Luke 3:22 a different word (from monogenes) is used say "beloved Son" referring to Christ.

 

Well we can certainly agree to disagree. All the best.

 

Well we can certainly agree to disagree amicably!

Just because monogenes was used in the LXX translate one or perhaps two the meanings of the Hebrew H3173, does mean it has the third meaning "cherished one". Thayer's and Strong's does not include the "beloved one" among the historical meanings. Perhaps your view is supported by BGAD or other lexicon you have?

 

Yes, I understood your argument, but disagree. And apparently no Lexicon supports the"beloved one"as within the historical range of meanings of monogenes. I thought about your argument and concluded the Hebrews author use monogenes to reflect the "one and only" meaning of H3173.

 

Flaws found 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 should read, "...grace after grace."
4) John 21:5 friends should read, "children."
5) Acts of the Apostles 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 Thessalonians 2:13 to be saved should read, "for salvation."
11) 2 Thessalonians 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) Revelation 13:8; 17:8 from the creation should read, "since the foundation." And Matthew 25:34 and Hebrews 4:3 since the creation should read "since the foundation."
20) Revelation 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 all of you in Christ Jesus."
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."
26) 1 Corinthians 6:19 "your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you" should read "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in all of you.
27) Matthew 3:11 should read, ""As for me, I baptize all of you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize some of you with the Holy Spirit and others with fire.
28) Matthew 11:12 should read, ""Since the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of the heavens has been forcefully sought, and forceful people are laying hold of it."
29) 1 Corinthians 2:14 does not say all things that come from the Spirit, therefore the verse should read: The person without the Spirit does not accept some of the things of the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit,
30) Titus 2:11 "Offer" has been added which alters the message, the verse should read: For the grace of God, who provides salvation, has appeared to all people.
31) 1 Corinthians 3:1: Siblings I could not speak to you as people with the Spirit, but as to people without the Spirit, as babes in Christ who have yet to learn from the Spirit.
32) Acts of the Apostles 13:48: When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord and as many as accepted direction to eternal life believed.
33) Revelation 14:3, redeemed should read purchased.
34) 2 Peter 2:4, "hell" should be translated "Tartarus."
35) Romans 12:10, "love" should be translated "sibling love"
36) Acts of the Apostles 28:2, unusual kindness should be "love for humankind."
37) 1 Peter 2:3 should read "kindness of the Lord."
38) Luke 6:4 should read "lawful for Priests alone."
39) Luke 9:18 "praying in private" should read "praying alone"
40) Luke 10:40 "doing the work by myself" should read "doing the work alone."


Examples 1, 9, 13, 21, 22, 23, and 35 document omission of words or parts of words.
Examples 5, 15, 16, 25, 29 and 30 document addition of words.
Examples 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 33, 34, 37, 38, 39 and 40 document replacement of the inspired historical meaning with a different meaning.
Example 24 and 28 documents a translation devoid of meaning, just an array of disconnected phrases.
Example 27 clarifies the confusion produced by the Greek plural "you."
Examples 31 and 32 present an unambiguous correction to the NIV translations.

When translators "add" words or phrases, "omit" words or phrases, or translate words or phrases outside of the historical-grammatical meaning unnecessarily, in order to make doctrine driven choices, they are presenting a flawed translation in my opinion. All translations have flaws, the product of fallible people, but the NIV flaws seem abundant to me.