Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 46:3 (Sep 2003)
Article: Three Recent Bible Translations: A Literary And Stylistic Perspective
Author: Daniel E. Ritchie

JETS 46:3 (September 2003) p. 533

Three Recent Bible Translations: A Literary And Stylistic Perspective

Daniel E. Ritchie

[Daniel E. Ritchie is professor of English and director of the humanities program at Bethel College, 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul, MN 55112–6999.]

When I ask advice about travel, a car, or any other costly purchase, I hate it when the salesperson says, “So, what are you looking for?” If I knew the answer, I would not have asked in the first place. I want the authority figure to guide me to the best product around, that is all. The salesperson recognizes, however, that his products satisfy a range of different needs, and without knowing that I want good gas mileage and reliability rather than aesthetic appeal and quick acceleration, he cannot recommend the Focus or the new Thunderbird.

“What Bible do you recommend?” is now the same kind of question. In the 1950s and 1960s, the choice for Protestants was largely between the KJV and the RSV. The NASB and NIV complicated our response, but rightly or wrongly many of us felt we could still give an authoritative answer. It seemed like a straightforward question. After all, ours is a faith that is dependent on an authoritative book. But which one is it?

To complicate matters, we live in an age that recognizes no authority, or at best multiple authorities. New readers are profoundly shaped by this, and by the visual and digital cultures that thrive on variety and change. It is therefore neither accidental nor lamentable that Bible translations are proliferating in our age. The energy that these three translations have harnessed are signs of faithfulness, not decline. We will need several different kinds of Scripture in the coming decades. “So, what are you looking for?”

If you need to be shaken up a bit, or you are buying for a friend who is more familiar with the Simpsons than with Samson, you will want The Message, Eugene Peterson’s translation. At his best, Peterson is the J. B. Phillips of this generation, presenting God’s message in some of the most effective language of our day. The New English Translation, or NET Bible, is a study Bible. With nearly 60,000 footnotes on the literal meanings of Greek and Hebrew words and the relevant translation issues, it will be especially helpful to missionaries, translators, students, and expository preachers. Its virtual place of publication (www.netbible.org) highlights the NET’S self-understanding as “leverag[ing] the internet” to enable people worldwide to overcome the cost of biblical materials. A free electronic copy of the NET Bible may be downloaded from its website. The English Standard Version (ESV) is

JETS 46:3 (September 2003) p. 534

You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
Click here to subscribe