God's Word (bible translation)

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GOD'S WORD

GOD'S WORD is an English translation of the Bible translated by the God's Word to the Nations Society.

1 History
2 Translation theory
3 Criticism and Observations
4 References
5 External links
- 5.1 Sources

[edit] History

The God's Word Translation (GWT) of the bible was produced by the God's Word to the Nations Bible Society in Cleveland, Ohio by members of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. The GWT had its beginnings in the New Testament in the Language of Today version of the New Testament that was published by William F. Beck 1904-1966 in 1963, though it is worth noting that the current editions of the GWT bear little resembelance to Beck's original work.

Beck completed his Bible (OT & NT) just before his death in 1966, but was awaiting textual suggestions from two colleagues, Elmer Smick, Professor of Old Testament at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and Erich Kiehl of Concordia Seminary. Smick and Kiehl ensured it was published posthumously in 1976 as An American Translation.

In 1978 it was decided that Beck's translation would be revised. Philip Glessler, a pastor from Cleveland, Ohio then formed a committee and revision work began in 1982. The work of Glessler's committee yielded another revision of the New Testament that was released in 1988 titled New Testament: God's Word to the Nations. This was later renamed the New Evangelical Translation in 1990. In 1994 the New Evangelical Translation was renamed GOD'S WORD and released under that name a year later.

The following part of the history is taken from the GOD'S WORD® website [1];

Translation Principle-- in evaluating this part of the organization's history, it's important to remember that in April 1987 the board of directors had asked Dr. Eugene W. Bunkowske -- a professor at Concordia Theological Seminary and noted missionary and translator -- to become their translation consultant. (Dr. Bunkowske had served as translation consultant to the United Bible Societies from 1974-1982 as well as UBS translation coordinator for the entire African continent from 1980-82). Dr. Bunkowske agreed, contingent upon the project embracing the new translation principle he had insisted be adopted in 1987, Closest Natural Equivalence.

Process and procedure-- By late 1991, a team of five full-time Bible scholars and three (soon four) English reviewers are assembled and begin working with unprecedented computer resources at the Society's new facility in Cleveland. In June 1992, the leadership of the organization changes as Rev. Michael Hackbardt becomes executive director. Under new leadership, the supervision of a full-time translation coordinator, the consulting role of Dr. Bunkowske, and the implementation of a new translation principle... the Old Testament and New Testament translation work moved forward at a rapid pace.

In 2003, publishing rights to GOD'S WORD were acquired by Green Key Books. For the last eight years, publishing rights were held by World Bible Publishers.

[edit] Translation theory

Communicating the literal meaning of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts that comprise the Scriptures, so we can understand what the Bible means today, requires taking a completely new look at the original languages. Many modern translations have chosen simply to follow the "traditions" of older accepted translations. Unfortunately "traditional words and grammar" may no longer mean what they once did, or are not understood. Advertising material for GWT states;[2]

"In fact, many recent versions of these traditional translations still include words that are simply the English spellings of words taken directly from the Latin translation done by St. Jerome in 347420 AD! These include such words as: justified (from the Latin justificati), reconciled (reconciliati), and grace (gratiam)."

"Translating directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, GODS WORD® uses a linguistic translation method similar to the widely accepted translation method used by missionary translators throughout the world today. As a result, it reads more easily, is more literally accurate, and communicates the intended meaning of the Bible more clearly and naturally than any other English translation. And that is important because meaning matters!"

It is precisely because meaning matters, that GWT is criticised. Of course there is a place for translations that can simplify these terms, and GWT, is one of a growing number of new 'translations' of the Bible from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, but uses a paraphrasing translation method, which goes beyond the aim of a pure (literal) translation, which may result in difficult, misunderstood terms, to produce a translation that also interprets the scripture. It is argued that this process is fraught with danger, as the passage could equally be misinterpreted, and such a process can amount to a dumbing down.

The result of this new transaltion is that it reads more easily than a literal translation, however it is claimed that it is at the same time, "more literally accurate, and communicates the intended meaning of the Bible". These claims are open to question. The so-called translation method; "Closest Natural Equivalence" is part of a present fashion in termanology in getting away from the negative connotations surrounding the word "Paraphrase". One of the first terms was "Dynamic Equivalence", this gave way to other phrases to get away from the negative connotations of "Dynamic Equivalence", such as; "Functional Equivalence", "Meaning-based Translation" and with God's Word "Closest Natural Equivalence". "Closest Natural Equivalence" does sound more technical than "Paraphrase"! Once a word for word translation gives way to thought for thought, then the danger will always be to paraphrase the passage.

[edit] Criticism and Observations

Some experts are critical of the translation techniques used in the GWT and feel it takes too much liberty in simplifying the original Greek and Hebrew texts, and in so doing deviates from the original emphasis of scripture.^[1]

Ralph Ovadal has an audio presentation^[2] in which he dissects the God's Word translation and shows how its choice of words creates imprecise and even inaccurate translations from the Greek text. Ovadal maintains that correctness has been sacrificed for ease of reading. Christian doctrines, according to Ovadal, are changed by using modern words which are not exact synonyms of the English words traditionally used to translate important doctrinal concepts (e.g. "kindness" for traditional "grace", and "approval" for traditional "justification"). By using these imprecise equivalents, Ovadal argues that this translation is at best imprecise and at worst inaccurate.

Another critic is Michael Marlowe who questions such as the Dynamic Equivalence "transaltion theory";

"Its pretensions to "scientific" principles of linguistics are dubious, as has been pointed out by numerous linguists and biblical scholars. It results in a simplification of the text in which important features of the Bible are erased"^[3].

However, an argument can be made that many of the newer translations, which use older manuscripts, could be closer to the original documents. With archeology becoming a popular science in the last couple centuries more linguistic evidences have been made aware of to translators, this, including findings that may allow newer translators to better understand the culture the original documents were written to, make translating the true meaning to a modern society a more educated task. If a people receiving any translation are unable to make any connection to older, outdated, or religious words and concepts then the "true meaning" is not being transmitted and the argument for or against any translation method is null. It is also important to note that to read only one Bible version or translation is not a good idea just as one shouldn't get their news from one source. Bias and preferences are unavoidable in any human endevour, including any form of Bible translation. Translators are fallible creatures serving an infallible God, they know that where they may faulter in their human methods God guides those who seek Him and He is the one that protects His words and teaches the reader, despite human frailty and "misrepresented" words.