When do we have enough?

[StephenUSAFVet]

So this post will probably get some people heated. It’s not intended to, but based off of many other threads I’ve read, I can only come to the conclusion that it will attract those from both far-sides of the Bible translation spectrum.

When do we finally say that we have enough English translations? At what point does it become more about making a buck than ensuring the Word of God is available in English? Look at all the English translations we have available!

Now I am not saying we shouldn’t take advantage of many of the good translations we have available to us. I am saying that the Bible market is a huge moneymaker nowadays. I find it concerning when a single translation goes through multiple revisions within a short period of time. The English language doesn’t change that much and that fast. There’s no need to have multiple revisions within twenty years. Even fifty years. But we see it happen and we buy the latest revision like it’s the latest upgrade for our smartphones.

If anyone is like me, you may think when a new revision comes out, “The previous revision must’ve been flawed or not as accurate, because why the need to revise it? If I truly want the Word of God, and to read it in it’s most accurate in English form, I have to get this newest revision!” Does anyone else think like that?

It’s a hard place to be in because every Christian should be seeking the truth in God’s Word, and we are often left wondering when the revision we may trust is going to be purged and updated again. I see this with the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NIV.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Salty]

Why do publishers keep making new ones -
Because customers keep buying them

You say they do it to make a buck
but on the other hand a publisher could loose his shirt - it it does not sell.

I just tried to google "poor selling Bible versions- but found nothing.
As long as people keep buying - publisher will keep doing so.

Also well know preachers will have their Reference bibles - Criswell, Thompson, Rice........ and ect.

 

[StephenUSAFVet]

Why do publishers keep making new ones -
Because customers keep buying them

You say they do it to make a buck
but on the other hand a publisher could loose his shirt - it it does not sell.

I just tried to google "poor selling Bible versions- but found nothing.
As long as people keep buying - publisher will keep doing so.

Also well know preachers will have their Reference bibles - Criswell, Thompson, Rice........ and ect.

I 100% agree lol. Want to go in with me and create a veteran’s study Bible? There probably is one somewhere!

 

[StephenUSAFVet]

I’m not saying every single publisher is doing it to make a buck. And I’m looking forward to the full LSB to be printed. At some point there has to be a line drawn however.

 

[Salty]

I 100% agree lol. Want to go in with me and create a veteran’s study Bible? There probably is one somewhere!

That would be interesting - a Veterans Study Bible - where the study notes would be in the lanuage of the military.

 

[Reynolds]

That would be interesting - a Veterans Study Bible - where the study notes would be in the lanuage of the military.

That could be interesting. One of my friends is a retired Army Ranger. He went into a lumber supply store several months ago and the owner was helping him. Well, they got into it and almost got in a fist fight right at the counter. Manager broke them up and said "Store not big enough for both your ex military egos." Friend asked owner what branch he was in. Owner said Navy. My friend said "Oh, my fault. If I had known that, I would have brought in my paper and crayons and drawn you a picture." They both busted out laughing, friend bought his lumber, and owner took him out to lunch. They good friends now.

 

[Ziggy]

The Warrior's Bible Warrior’s Bible | FireBible

The Warfighter's Study bible Warfighter's Study Bible | Coming Soon

 

[Conan]

There is room for good Bible translations. I mean look at all the not so good ones. They should be dismissed right off the bat. We obviously need better ones. Not inaccurate ones.

Many people use the KJV because there is nothing better. To get as good as the KJV I need to use reformation Bibles. William Tyndale, Matthews Bible, Geneva Bible.

There are very few Bibles made from the Byzantine, or Majority Text. There is the World English Bible, a couple by single translators. There is room for more. The NASB should use it's Text to translate a revision. Its accuracy would immediately go up!

There is room for good ones. Not bad ones.

 

[Dave G]

When do we finally say that we have enough English translations?

Probably when the people making money off the endless merry-go-round ( AKA lucrative Bible sales of something like $400+ million a year ) are satisfied, which I suspect will be never.

At what point does it become more about making a buck than ensuring the Word of God is available in English?

IMO, that point passed us by a very long time ago.

I find it concerning when a single translation goes through multiple revisions within a short period of time. The English language doesn’t change that much and that fast. There’s no need to have multiple revisions within twenty years. Even fifty years.

I agree.

 

[Dave G]

But we see it happen and we buy the latest revision like it’s the latest upgrade for our smartphones.

Many who profess Christ do.
But I'm apparently in the vast minority, and I can't remember the last time since I felt the desire ( or even thought about it ) to purchase any of the modern English translations.

If anyone is like me, you may think when a new revision comes out, “The previous revision must’ve been flawed or not as accurate, because why the need to revise it? If I truly want the Word of God, and to read it in it’s most accurate in English form, I have to get this newest revision!” Does anyone else think like that?

That's the power of marketing...
Get someone to rely on a product, and then convince them to upgrade to the newest revision as often as possible...
It's like selling razor blades or anything else that is "perishable".

Simply introduce a product with a built-in finite life expectancy ( like, for instance a computer operating system ) and then every so often make it as attractive as possible for the people who already have it to be persuaded into paying for the improved version of it.

To me it's sheer genius, as far as capitalism and the profit motive are concerned.

It’s a hard place to be in because every Christian should be seeking the truth in God’s Word, and we are often left wondering when the revision we may trust is going to be purged and updated again.

I agree.

That's why I "got off the bus" a while back, as far as English translations are concerned.
I simply found one that I am firmly convinced uses the correct Hebrew and Greek texts as its bases for translation, as well as doing the work of translation as faithfully as was humanly possible, and stuck with it.

Granted, the English is outdated and it reads a bit difficult at first, but one gets used to it.
I've also been using it for over 40 years, and I'll keep using it for another 40, God willing...
though I seriously doubt that I will live as long as George Mueller did.

Just my thoughts.

 

[StephenUSAFVet]

Many who profess Christ do.
But I'm apparently in the vast minority, and I can't remember the last time since I felt the desire ( or even thought about it ) to purchase any of the modern English translations.

That's the power of marketing...
Get someone to rely on a product, and then convince them to upgrade to the newest revision as often as possible...
It's like selling razor blades or anything else that is "perishable".

Simply introduce a product with a built-in finite life expectancy ( like, for instance a computer operating system ) and then every so often make it as attractive as possible for the people who already have it to be persuaded into paying for the improved version of it.

To me it's sheer genius, as far as capitalism and the profit motive are concerned.

I agree.

That's why I "got off the bus" a while back, as far as English translations are concerned.
I simply found one that I am firmly convinced uses the correct Hebrew and Greek texts as its bases for translation, as well as doing the work of translation as faithfully as was humanly possible, and stuck with it.

Granted, the English is outdated and it reads a bit difficult at first, but one gets used to it.
I've also been using it for over 40 years, and I'll keep using it for another 40, God willing...
though I seriously doubt that I will live as long as George Mueller did.

Just my thoughts.

Do you mind me asking what translation that is?

 

[Revmitchell]

So this post will probably get some people heated. It’s not intended to, but based off of many other threads I’ve read, I can only come to the conclusion that it will attract those from both far-sides of the Bible translation spectrum.

When do we finally say that we have enough English translations? At what point does it become more about making a buck than ensuring the Word of God is available in English? Look at all the English translations we have available!

Now I am not saying we shouldn’t take advantage of many of the good translations we have available to us. I am saying that the Bible market is a huge moneymaker nowadays. I find it concerning when a single translation goes through multiple revisions within a short period of time. The English language doesn’t change that much and that fast. There’s no need to have multiple revisions within twenty years. Even fifty years. But we see it happen and we buy the latest revision like it’s the latest upgrade for our smartphones.

If anyone is like me, you may think when a new revision comes out, “The previous revision must’ve been flawed or not as accurate, because why the need to revise it? If I truly want the Word of God, and to read it in it’s most accurate in English form, I have to get this newest revision!” Does anyone else think like that?

It’s a hard place to be in because every Christian should be seeking the truth in God’s Word, and we are often left wondering when the revision we may trust is going to be purged and updated again. I see this with the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NIV.

Just my thoughts.

why does there have to be enough? Choose what you like, use that, ignore the rest. How are those other ones effecting you personally?

 

[Dave G]

Do you mind me asking what translation that is?

I don't mind at all.
It's the English Authorized Version, commonly called the "King James Version", and was first published in 1611.

May God bless you sir.

 

[Reformed]

why does there have to be enough? Choose what you like, use that, ignore the rest. How are those other ones effecting you personally?

Agreed. With all the important things we have to deal with, too many bible translations is at the bottom....IMHO.

 

[Salty]

I don't mind at all.
It's the English Authorized Version, commonly called the "King James Version", and was first published in 1611.
.

But keep in mind - virtually no one uses the 1611 -
Most people use the 1769

 

[rlvaughn]

But we see it happen and we buy the latest revision like it’s the latest upgrade for our smartphones.

I have not thought of that before, but that is a good comparison. I have seen people just chomping at the bit, can't stand it till the next smartphone comes out so they can buy it. And some of the new translation or latest upgrade rhetoric sounds much the same. I think some of this, both regarding smartphones and new translations, is a more peculiarly American problem than it is for most of the rest of the world.

 

[Dave G]

But keep in mind - virtually no one uses the 1611 -
Most people use the 1769

I agree.
I also use the 1769.

 

[StephenUSAFVet]

why does there have to be enough? Choose what you like, use that, ignore the rest. How are those other ones effecting you personally?

Never said it affected me personally. But please tell me how many arguments on this forum alone, you’ve seen regarding translations. I do pick, not what I like, but what I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to read and study from.

 

[Conan]

Never said it affected me personally. But please tell me how many arguments on this forum alone, you’ve seen regarding translations. I do pick, not what I like, but what I feel the Holy Spirit leading me to read and study from.

I wonder how many times the KJV has been revised? Dozens no doubt?

 

[rlvaughn]

I wonder how many times the KJV has been revised? Dozens no doubt?

This is a tricky question, the answer often influenced by the opinion about the KJV belonging to the person giving the answer, and what they are trying to prove or disprove. There is also the often not exacting use of words such as "revision" and "edition". Promotional material of Thomas Nelson for the New King James Version sometimes calls it the fifth major revision to the King James Version.