The New Testament for Gen Z

[Ascetic X]

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Are not "communicating" and "relating" intertwined? You cannot have "relating" without "communicating," and vice versa.

In translation theory, it appears to me that Baptist Believer is advocating something called "reader response theory." Are you familiar with it? It is essentially a communication theory.

Reader Response Theory states that there is no fixed meaning in a text and reading is a transaction, not passive consumption.

RRT risks reducing literary analysis to mere personal taste or emotional reactions, without textual proof.

I see the Cotton Patch version as similar to the First Nations New Testament version, an indigenous translation. The language reflects the culture and traditions of the audience, without necessarily using excessive slang or vocabulary corruptions (“sho nuff” for “sure enough”).

Ephesians 2:8,9 CPV

For you are saved by God’s favor through your trust.

And this isn’t your own doing; it’s God’s gift.

It isn't the result of your clean-cut life, so that nobody can put on airs.



John 3:1,2,3 FNV

A man named Conquers the People (Nicodemus) came to Creator Sets Free (Jesus) in secret at night. He was one of the Separated Ones (Pharisees) and a headman of the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) who sat in the Great Council.

Out of the shadows he whispered, “Wisdomkeeper, we know the Great Spirit sent you to teach us. No one can perform powerful signs like these unless the Maker of Life walks with him.”

“I speak from my heart,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) answered, “Only one who has been born from above can see Creator’s good road.”

 

[John of Japan]

Reader Response Theory states that there is no fixed meaning in a text and reading is a transaction, not passive consumption.

RRT risks reducing literary analysis to mere personal taste or emotional reactions, without textual proof.

Good points.

I see the Cotton Patch version as similar to the First Nations New Testament version, an indigenous translation. The language reflects the culture and traditions of the audience, without necessarily using excessive slang or vocabulary corruptions (“sho nuff” for “sure enough”).

Ephesians 2:8,9 CPV

For you are saved by God’s favor through your trust.

And this isn’t your own doing; it’s God’s gift.

It isn't the result of your clean-cut life, so that nobody can put on airs.

That is not too bad, but there are much worse passages in the CPV.

"In his Cotton Patch versions of the New Testament, Jesus was wrapped in a blanket and placed in an apple crate at His birth, lynched in Leesburg, Georgia, and greeted His disciples with a “Howdy” when He emerged from His tomb on Easter. Clarence’s words don’t just tell stories—they force us to reckon with the gospel’s call to justice, love, and sacrifice in our world." (The Cotton Patch Gospels – Koinonia Farm).

I believe very strongly in the principle of Authorial intent in Bible translation. Any version that veers towards reader response is ignoring the very purpose of the Bible, which is God's revelation, not just story telling.

John 3:1,2,3 FNV

A man named Conquers the People (Nicodemus) came to Creator Sets Free (Jesus) in secret at night. He was one of the Separated Ones (Pharisees) and a headman of the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) who sat in the Great Council.

Out of the shadows he whispered, “Wisdomkeeper, we know the Great Spirit sent you to teach us. No one can perform powerful signs like these unless the Maker of Life walks with him.”

“I speak from my heart,” Creator Sets Free (Jesus) answered, “Only one who has been born from above can see Creator’s good road.”

Authorial intent is lost in this excerpt. The Bible is not for one people group, but for all people:
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people (Luke 2:10).

 

[Ascetic X]

Good points.

That is not too bad, but there are much worse passages in the CPV.

"In his Cotton Patch versions of the New Testament, Jesus was wrapped in a blanket and placed in an apple crate at His birth, lynched in Leesburg, Georgia, and greeted His disciples with a “Howdy” when He emerged from His tomb on Easter. Clarence’s words don’t just tell stories—they force us to reckon with the gospel’s call to justice, love, and sacrifice in our world." (The Cotton Patch Gospels – Koinonia Farm).

I believe very strongly in the principle of Authorial intent in Bible translation. Any version that veers towards reader response is ignoring the very purpose of the Bible, which is God's revelation, not just story telling.

Authorial intent is lost in this excerpt. The Bible is not for one people group, but for all people:
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people (Luke 2:10).

While we must advocate for scriptural integrity and accurate translations, I do see a place for certain paraphrases and indigenous versions that can connect powerfully with various cultures, at least as a way to ease people into the Bible. King James language can be difficult for some and it can make the narratives seem alien, distant, far removed from an individual’s life realities.

 

[John of Japan]

While we must advocate for scriptural integrity and accurate translations, I do see a place for certain paraphrases and indigenous versions that can connect powerfully with various cultures, at least as a way to ease people into the Bible. King James language can be difficult for some and it can make the narratives seem alien, distant, far removed from an individual’s life realities.

I have to disagree with this based on the doctrine of verbal-plenary inspiration. Quoting Deut. 8:3, Christ said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). As a Bible translator, this means to me that I must carefully translate every word of the source text that is possible to translate. (There are untranslatable particles in both Hebrew and Greek.) Again, as I'm sure you know, the Greek of 2 Tim. 3:16 translated "inspiration" is theopneustos, literally "God breathed."

So as a Bible translator and Bible teacher, I do not feel free to paraphrase (other than when absolutely necessary due to idioms, what I call micro-paraphrase), omit, etc. any word of the Word of God.

Concerning indigenous versions, I believe that every people group should have the Bible in their heart language. If an indigenous people has the Bible, or at a minimum the NT, in their heart language, I see no need for a version of some kind in an English dialect. The thing is, there are still said to be around 3000 languages around the world with not a single verse of the Word of God in their language. That being true, why in the world would we spend more time and money on another English version of any kind?

 

[Deacon]

I understand John's reluctance to use paraphrase as his translation method - his canon is to be as close to the originally inspired words as possible.
Yet I'm not as hesitant about using paraphrase as a method of translation as John, perhaps because I have made it a habit to use multiple translations when I study the Scriptures.
Paraphrase can be a power tool to communicate the basic meaning of a passage, particularly to those who are unfamiliar with a passage.
The use of paraphrase is one way of communicating God's word to the world.

I'm also not so negative about the number of translations available, the multiple translations are a product of those who study the Scriptures.
If one person in 10,000 who study the Scriptures is capable of translating from the biblical languages to English, then perhaps 1 in a million or more might be able to competently translate from the biblical languages to another language.
Translators like John are rare birds!


Rob

 

[John of Japan]

Thank you, Rob. Good words.

I believe that a Bible translator has a spiritual gift, based on 1 Cor. 12:30, "Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" There is only one word in Greek for translate (written) and interpret (spoken). Cf. also 1 Cor. 14:5, 13, 27.

Language and translation come easy for me. Two of the best years of my life were going down into Tokyo, a 2 hour trip one way, five days a week for two years (but the first several months was with a tutor). Then in making a new translation of the Japanese NT with my dear friend "Uncle Miya" Miyakawa (in Heaven now) we had tons of fun. Loved it! Now my team is translating the OT.

The website is at: www.lifelinebible.org. There are some of my English resources there too, several books both published or not, if you are interested.