Does Anyone Know Anything....

[wpe3bql]

.... about the "God's Word Translation" Bible??

I purchased a Bible Translations Comparison chart put out by Rose Publishing. Most of the translations it lists I've at least heard about, but I've never read anything about this translation.

According to the chart, it came out in 1995 and was published by the Lockman Foundation/Zondervan. It states that is was the work of 84 "biblical scholars and English reviewers 'to ensure accurate, natural English.'"

Evidently it was primarily aimed at a younger (teenage) audience since its reading grade level is that of 5.1 (early fifth grade).

FWIW, here is how it translates John 3:16-17: "God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world."

Comments?

 

[rsr]

The Lockman Foundation was not involved in the translation.

Check out Michael Marlow's analysis:

It seems that even though all of those involved in the production of the God's Word translation were Missouri Synod Lutherans who sought to produce a version acceptable to conservatives, they were either unaware of or disregarded some points of exegesis that are especially important to Lutherans. Judging from the sample passages dealt with here, it also seems they were not in the habit of consulting scholarly commentaries in general, and had little appreciation for the communicative function of Biblical imagery. These problems are typical of the "Dynamic Equivalence" versions generally. The claim made in the preface of the God's Word translation, that it "avoids the loss of meaning and oversimplification associated with function-equivalent translation," is untrue. But its shortcomings are not much greater than those of the Good News Bible and the Contemporary English Version. All of these versions may be found useful in ministry with young children, but they are not necessary or suitable for adults.

http://bible-researcher.com/godsword.html

 

[wpe3bql]

Thanks for the information.

I probably won't buy one of these Bibles in the near future.

OTOH, I'm not one who is adamantly opposed to some of its features. Guess I'll stick with the NLT 2d edition if I want to refer to a more up-to-date version.

 

[franklinmonroe]

.... about the "God's Word Translation" Bible?? ...

The God's Word translation has been a topic of discussion here before. Here is just one link --

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=58411&highlight=God's+Word