ElShaddai Edwards at He Is Sufficient posed this question: What makes a Bible translation authoritative?
It’s a compelling question, and one that has stuck with me for about a month now. I meant to tackle this question three weeks ago, but I have been swamped lately, so I have a lot of catching up to do. Here was my initial reaction to his post (copied directly from the comment I left):
Great question! Since I was set free of my own legalistic approach to finding THE best/most accurate translation, I have adopted a “when in Rome” mentality. I know which Bible most of the pastors at the churches we attend preach from (not that we are members at several, but between visiting parents, grandparents, etc. we can hit 4-5 fairly regularly) and I try to carry that Bible with me.
I would measure authority by how well God speaks to the individual through a given translation. I “get” the NASB, so I get from the NASB. This is not to say that a child who is touched by a children’s version should always regard that version as authoritative, but why not? Jacob called the place where he met God “Beit El,” so I would suggest sort of a “Biblia El” standard, the translation where you meet God.
I still believe this, but I think it is incomplete because it only answers the question on an individual or micro level. I recognize that anyone could receive from a given translation whether it is considered authoritative (by the reading public at large, or on a macro level) or not. However, I would still recommend this approach to help determine what one’s personal reading Bible should be.
ElShaddai discusses two of the most common measurements of authority, which are, in short:
- Popularity: Popularity = Influence = Authority; and
- Objective Excellence: Accuracy, literary style, readability, etc.
I suppose that by employing a popularity standard, the King James Version (KJV) and the New International Version (NIV) are the most authoritative. I think the influence of the King James Version is unquestionable, and the New International Version seems to be the Bible of choice for many in America.
Ironically, it is the “objective” standard that is muddied so much by subjectivity. Which translation is the most accurate? The King James or the New American Standard (NASB)? Which is the most readable? The New Living Translation (NLT), the NIV or the TNIV? Does anyone other than a small number of bibliobloggers even care? I would certainly hope so, but I fall into the small-number-of-bibliobloggers category (or should it be bibliabloggers?).
Based on the Christian Booksellers Association’s (CBA’s) list of best-selling Bible translations for October 2008 (by units sold and sales dollars), the top four selling Bible translations are the NIV, NLT, KJV and NKJV. If you (bloggers specifically) still doubt the “authority” of the NIV, check out Rick Mansfield’s post about which Bible translations are blogged the most (admittedly it is somewhat dated (8/06), but I doubt the numbers have changed that dramatically). So, if popularity is the measure, the NIV reigns supreme, followed by the NLT, KJV and NKJV.
I doubt that satisfies any of my biblioblogging brethren (and brethren includes biblioblogging brothers and sisters, and that includes you too tc) because it doesn’t really satisfy me (my own personal favorite, the NASB, is not on the list). I see only one objective (mostly) way to measure authority, apply both and see what happens.
According to the CBA’s October sales numbers the top five selling Bible translations are: 1) NIV, 2) NLT, 3) NKJV, 4) KJV, and 5) tie, English Standard Version (ESV) and Holman Christian Standard (HCSB) (ESV in units sold; HCSB in $). Now, regarding objective excellence, my own person subjectivity necessarily comes into play, but I think the most influential translations because of their historic objective excellence are 1) KJV, 2) NASB, and 3) New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) (and its predecessors the RSV, RV and ASV).
Applying both standards, the only Bible translation that is in the top five in terms of sales and also in the top three in terms of historical objective excellence is the KJV. I suppose this should come as no surprise, but it should confirm what most already suspect. Here is a little table of my findings:
Most Authoritative Bible Translation
A few qualifiers:
- I only took into account English translations.
- I only took into account those translations appearing on the CBA Best Sellers Top 10. Sorry ElShaddai, no REB on this list.
- The CBA only takes into account Christian booksellers (I don’t think, for example, Barnes & Noble and the like are accounted for).
Here they are, my top five most authoritative Bible translations:
1. King James Version - This is as objective as I can make it, and the KJV reigns supreme.
2. New American Standard Bible - #6 in $ and #8 in units sold, so it was pretty close, but, alas, only #2.
3. New International Version - Can you really argue with the numbers?
4. New Living Translation - Again, can you really argue with the numbers?
5. New King James Version - Although bloggers aren’t in love with it, it’s top 5 in units and $.
Honorable Mentions:
The greatest proof of this post’s objectivity is that these aren’t in the top five:
A. Holman Christian Standard Bible - #5 in $ and #6 in units sold, not bad at all, and one of my favorites.
B. English Standard Version - #7 in $ and #5 in units sold, a relative newcomer that will be near the top of this list soon.
C. New Revised Standard Version - #8 in $ and #9 in units sold, still a classic if not a little stale.
Bookmark
Great post, Peter. I think I would be a little more willing to put the NIV in the Objective Excellence column, having it also “bridge the gap” with the KJV.
It will be interesting to see if the NLT continues to be the standard bearer for functional equivalence or whether something from the median bucket will be more preferred, e.g. the TNIV or HCSB. I think we’re in a sorting out period with the NLT and we need to be cautious not to view “popularity” the same as “excellence”. If the NLT is eventually measured to be “as good as it gets” for functional translation, that would be an objective measurement of excellence as well and it could be seen as authoritative.
Yes, I struggled with where to put the NIV, I think it’s an excellent translation (a fact that is, in part, evidenced by its popularity), so I would incline to agree with you. I think the only reason I kept it out of the other column is because it’s only 30+ yrs. old. I do think it will stand the test of time, but it’s only about my age.
I think the HCSB suffers as much from marketing (or lack thereof) as anything else. As a translation it is great, in my opinion. I think the NLTse is definitely a tremendous improvement over the 1st ed., and its sales #s are through the roof.
Thanks.
I agree with your honorable mention B.
Not sure I agree with the ‘popular’ foundation = authority, though. Especially for #4 NLT.
I just found you today via Higher Calling and wanted to say hi.
I cannot speak from any authoritative position, but I personally like the NKJV regardless of what anyone else claims to like. It has the strength of the KJV but a readability to it. Sorry…I just never could get into the king James English (like reading Shakespeare…never liked that either). And the NKJV has some translational corrections to the KJV. They are not doctrinal in nature, but they are there nonetheless.
Thanks for a great post. And there are my two cents. =)
Wes, you know I wish the ESV were higher on my list, I really do. I agree that popularity should not be the exclusive measure, but it has to factor in somewhere. I don’t think you would have so many people buying some of the more popular translations if there weren’t authority figures using them. E.g. pastor of megachurch “A” preaches out of Bible “X” so 5,000 sheep buy Bible “X”. I still think the ESV will get there, sooner rather than later.
Kaye, thanks. I had the opposite experience with the NKJV. It was kind of familiar, but not quite as familiar as the KJV, so it took me a while to get into the NKJV, but I finally did. Now, our pastor has a new NKJV and he has started to preach of it, so I’m back into my NKJV a little more regularly.
Peter: I think the only reason I kept [the NIV] out of the other column is because it’s only 30+ yrs. old. I do think it will stand the test of time, but it’s only about my age.
Well… the NIV was released in 1978 (NT 1973), so yes - 30 years old. But the NASB was released in 1971 (NT 1963), so you’re only talking about a difference of 7-10 years. That might seem significant now, but they’re from the same generation of translators.
[...] What Makes a Bible Translation Authoritative? My Top Five [...]
ElShaddai, point taken. But, the NASB was a revision of the ASV (c.1901), so I gave it a little “historic” bump, like the KJV and NRSV, but on the whole you are correct.
Ahhh… going to play *that* card, are you? I see… hard to argue against longevity, though would that be more “popularity” or “objective excellence”? I considered it the former…
I have to. Popularity is certainly a part of longevity, there’s no longevity without it, but I think “historic objective excellence” is just as much a part. For the most part, I agree with you, and I’ll admit to letting my own personal preference for the NASB influence my Top 5, but, at most, the NASB and NIV flip spots with the NIV #2 and the NASB #3. So, I’ll give that much (or, rather, little).
Genius breakdown brother.
KJV is one of those irrefutable truths - go figure. IMHO, Holman’s is right up there with the Latin Vulgate (again, go figure from the Th.D. here).
What’s odd is do this chart a decade ago. The Message would be on there. TLB would be on there. Funny how the closer the real Church seems to be emerging, and the “emerging church” is just getting close to an abyss, best version rise to the top.
Plan on this being spray painted on the Wall.
Peace,
HiScrivener
Funny thing… just yesterday I ordered my first HCSB. I was thinking of purchasing the new ESV with all of the study notes, but I really wanted a bible that just had cross references and reads well.
Plus, the HCSB was really cheap compared to other bibles at amazon.
I tell you what has been one of the most valuable tools for me is e-sword. That free bible software. That is a must download for any student of scripture!
Thanks for this post Peter
Vee
Brialliant post! Great analysis. I was also a little surprised to not see the NIV in the Objective Excellence column, but understand your stance of longevity. One could also probably make the arguement about relative time, and that even though it is only 30 years old that it has maintained a certain level of acceptance during that time…
I am also a big fan of the ESV, and think that it is continuing to grow in popularity and stature.
Thanks! Great stuff dude! Keep up the great work!
Dan
For the most part, I agree with you, and I’ll admit to letting my own personal preference for the NASB influence my Top 5 [...]
No worries… I was NASB-only for 20+ years, so I’ve put in the time to know where you’re coming from!
Peter M, I have mixed feeling about your list.
Where is the TNIV? Why is the NRSV only an honorable mention?
You’re in trouble now Peter.
Hiscrivener, thanks. I like the HCSB too, but it doesn’t seem to crack the top 3 on any list, it hovers around 5, 6 or 7.
LivingJourney, that’s how I came across my HCSB, which I love. esword rocks, no doubt. I’m still planning on getting the ESVSB though, you should too.
Dan, thanks. If you saw what I commented to ElShaddai, I think the NIV will stand the test of time.
tc, the TNIV was no where in the top 10 in either units sold or dollars, and popularity was one of the 2 criteria. If the CBA’s numbers are wrong, let me know otherwise, I qualified the numbers as best I could. Perhaps it was too narrow a snapshot, and I’m open to looking at other numbers. The NRSV had the same problem, it was on both top 10 lists, but near the bottom.
Scripture Zealot, elaborate please (but I kind of figured as much when I wrote this).
I was just saying you’re in trouble with TC because you didn’t mention the TNIV. Most of us will say, “Sorry TC, the TNIV isn’t mentioned because…” to circumvent his dismay over its absence in any blog post regarding favorite translations. (wink, grin)
Jeff
Ah, gotcha. Well, I’m not saying it shouldn’t be on the list, I have very little exposure to the TNIV, but the numbers don’t quite support it just yet.
I know they divide the NIV and TNIV on the best-seller lists, but the fact is that the TNIV is really just an updated, well-revised NIV. I personally prefer to slash them (NIV/TNIV) and think of them that way, thus putting the TNIV right up there in authority with the NIV.
But, that’s just my own subjective opinion.
I happen to agree Gary, and I have absolutely no problem if anyone else wants to do that too. It is perfectly okay with me for the TNIV to piggyback off the NIV’s success.
Hello! I found your website. My name is Anders Branderud and I am from Sweden.
Historical Scholars in leading universities (for example Bart Ehrman) agrees that NT has been redacted.
So who then was the historical Jesus?
Ribi Yehoshua said:
“Don’t think that I came to uproot the Torah or the Neviim [prophets], but rather I came to reconcile them with the Oral Law of emet (truth). Should the heavens and ha-aretz (the land, particularly referring to Israel) exchange places, still, not even one ‘ (yod) nor one ` (qeren) of the Oral Law of Mosheh shall so much as exchange places; until it shall become that it is all being fully ratified and performed non-selectively. For whoever deletes one Oral Law from the Torah, or shall teach others such, by those in the Realm of the heavens he shall be called “deleted.” Both he who preserves and he who teaches them shall be called Ribi in the Realm of the heavens. For I tell you that unless your Tzedaqah (righteousness) is over and above that of the Sophrim (Torah Scribes), and of the [probably 'Herodian'] Rabbinic-Perushim (corrupted to “Pharisees”), there is no way you will enter into the Realm of the heavens! “
NHM 5:17-20
Finding the historical Jew, who was a Pharisee (today’s Orthodox) Ribi (see http://www.netzarim.co.il), brings, for the first time in your life, his *true* formula for profound meaning, inner happiness and purpose in your life.
From Anders Branderud
Geir Toshav, Netzarim in Ra’anana in Israel (www.netzarim.co.il) who is followers of Ribi Yehoshua – the Messiah – in Orthodox Judaism
Welcome, Anders. I am vaguely familiar with the Netzarim, they are a Messianic Jewish organization out of Israel, aren’t they?