Exactly why are we making other translations beyond the King James Version of 1611? The King James Version has been the primary translation of the Christian community for 400+ years (1611-2021). There is no doubt that this Bible alone has affected the lives of hundreds of millions and has influenced the principles of Bible translation for the past four centuries. Should the KJV still be considered a trustworthy translation? What makes up a trustworthy translation? What translations are the most trustworthy?
JOHN 1:14, 18 (et al.): How Should Translators Handle the Greek Word “monogenes”: “only begotten,” “unique,” “only,” or “one and only”?
The KJV and ASV translations of Gk (μονογενής monogenēs) in six NT passages (Jn. 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; He. 11:17; 1 Jn. 4:9), usually in the phrase “only begotten Son” (all the references except that in He. 11:17 are to Jesus’ relationship to God). Most scholars are against the legitimacy of the KJV rendering “only begotten” in the six passages mentioned above. It should be noted that John uses monogenēs nine times, while Luke uses it three times and Paul once.
Defining and Redefining Bible Translation Terminology
For some time now terms ending in the word “equivalent” or one of its variations have been preferred in describing translation philosophies. I have a problem with this word, and all translators really should have the same problem with it: it begs the very question we are debating.
TRANSLATING TRUTH: Philippians 2:6 “Equal With God”?
Does harpazo or any of its derivatives have the sense of ‘holding in possession,’ ‘retaining,’ or does it mean ‘seize,’ ‘snatch violently’?
JOHN 1:1 The θεὸς Dilemma of “a god” or “God”?
John 1:1 is all about capitalization and the tiny word “a,” which in grammar is called the indefinite article. And yet, this clause has been the most debated verse for centuries. So, was the Word “God” or “a god”?
TITUS 2:13 and 2 PETER 1:1: What Is the Long-Debated Controversial Granville Sharp Rule?
There is a single article (the) preceding two nouns of the same case (God, Savior) that are joined by the conjunction “and.” More than 140 years ago, Granville Sharp developed what became known as “the Granville Sharp rule,” applying it in such constructions. It claims that, since the article (the) is not duplicated before the second noun (Savior), the two nouns have to refer to the same person or subject.
OTTC Genesis 2:4: Is the Father’s Personal Name Important?
What Is God’s personal name? Not surprisingly, the bulk of the 2 billion+ members of the churches of Christianity would likely find that question difficult to answer. And of those who can answer it, they have likely heard the common myth that has been passed down for centuries.
Does It Matter Which Bible Translation?
UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, all major English Bible translations were based on the premise that the goal of Bible translation is to take the reader as close as possible to the words that the biblical authors actually wrote.
How Should John 8:58 Be Translated?
John 8:58 is one of the most hotly debated verses in the Bible, so our investigation is likely to offend someone.
The Basics of the Bible Translation Process
While I cannot address this subject at length, it needs to be addressed, to lay the foundation for you, the reader. My approach here is to assume that you have no knowledge of Bible translation issues, or the process of translating from the Original Languages (OL) of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, into what we call the Receptor Language (RL), such as English. However, this does not mean that we will pass over all the elements of this subject because some of them are essential to the issues of literal translation.