Next month I’m planning to teach a class called “Greek Reading” at Faith Bible Seminary, and they asked me to devote a half-day to the topic of Bible translation.

I’ve spent a good deal of time studying New Testament Greek. For example:

• I’ve read the Greek New Testament almost daily since 1998.
• I took ten semesters of Greek in college and seminary (not including many other courses that built on that foundation), finishing with Don Carson’s “Advanced Greek Grammar.”
• I passed Greek proficiency exams at two seminaries.
• I graded Greek proficiency exams at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
• I passed the comprehensive exams that Don Carson wrote for my PhD in NT at Trinity, which requires the student to sight-read the Greek NT.
• I’ve taught nearly twenty introductory and intermediate semester-long Greek courses on the college and seminary level.
• I’ve written papers and publications that deal largely with Greek exegesis.

But my knowledge of NT Greek is merely novice-level compared to the best NT professors and Bible translators. Further, I had never thoroughly studied the topic of Bible translation.

This class has given me the opportunity to read over 100 books and articles in my library on Bible translation. As with just about any subject, the more you study it, the more you realize how much you don’t know. (That’s one reason I’m planning to interview Craig Blomberg during class next month.)

I recommend other helpful resources at the end of this post, but one book stands out as the best all-around resource on Bible translation that I’m aware of:

Gordon D. Fee and Mark L. Strauss. How to Choose a Translation for All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding and Using Bible Versions. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007.

It has at least seven strengths:

1. It’s accurate. It’s sufficiently nuanced, and it’s linguistically informed. (The authors have written on Bible translation and worked on Bible translations—most recently the updated NIV as members of the prestigious CBT.)
2. It’s clear. It’s easy to understand.
3. It’s accessible. A seventh-grader could easily understand it (as Bruce Waltke notes below).
4. It’s concise. It’s not wordy, and it’s short—only 170 pages. And it has many logical headings (see the outline below).
5. It’s fair. It courteously explains different views without mocking them or their opponents.
6. It’s thoughtful. Its tone is appropriately sober without being alarmist.
7. It’s practical. It’s filled with common-sense observations and applications.

Endorsements

Yet another book on translation? Yes, and this is the one I shall now recommend to concerned Christians who want to understand what the perpetual flap over Bible translation is all about. Few will agree with every judgment in its pages, but for courtesy to all sides, accuracy in technical matters, clarity of writing, a deep commitment to faithful rendering of the original, and an abundant supply of that least common gift, “common sense,” this is the book on translation that deserves widest circulation.
—D. A. Carson, Research Professor of the New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Finally, a book that translates for the average person what is good about translation and how they work! It’s a little like you can’t tell the players without a scorecard. So here’s a very helpful scorecard on what to look for in Bibles and why. In sum, well done, much needed, thanks.
—Darrell Bock, Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

Lay people often imagine that Bible translation is simply a matter of replacing one word in the original language with one word in the target language. Those involved in such work know that the matter is much more complex and that translation always involves interpretation. This work provides laypersons and specialists alike with a superb summary of the issues involved. Written in a style that is accessible to all, Fee and Strauss have cast theoretical and complex problems into everyday English. They have provided pastors and teachers who seek to guide their people through the translation maze with one of the finest resources available.
—Daniel I. Block, Professor of Old Testament and PhD Program Coordinator, Biblical Studies, Wheaton College Graduate School

This book, a must-read for pastors and Christians who love and read the Bible, is sensible (i.e., explains the why, what, and how of translation), sober (i.e., shows the strengths and weaknesses of all the major English versions), simple (i.e., in language a seventh grade can understand, and salted with illustrations), and spiritual (i.e., fills one with praise to God for the work of all translators and stops the unjust demonization of any translation).
—Bruce Waltke, Professor of Old Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando

Outline

The book has five parts and eleven chapters.

Part 1: The Task of Translation

1. The Need for Translation

• The Why of Bible Translation
• The What of Bible Translation
• The How of Bible Translation

2. The Meaning and Task of Translation

• Two Approaches to Translation: Form or Function?
  • Formal Equivalence
  • Functional Equivalence
  • Translation Spectrum [The below chart is from p. 28.]

  

  • The Best Approach: Choosing a Bible
  • All Translation Is Interpretation
  • Isn’t That Just a “Paraphrase”?
  • Original Meaning and Contemporary Relevance
• The Goals of Formal, Functional, and Mediating Versions
• Translation and the Doctrine of Inspiration
• Standards of Excellence in Translation
  • Accurate
  • Clear
  • Natural
  • Audience-Appropriate
• For Further Reading
  • Beekman, John, and John Callow. Translating the Word of God. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1974.
  • Nida, Eugene A., and Charles R. Tabor. The Theory and Practice of Translation. Leiden: Brill, 1969.
  • Scorgie, Glen G., Mark L. Strauss, and Steven M. Voth, eds. The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God’s Word to the World; Understanding the Theory, History, and Practice: Essays in Honor of Ronald F. Youngblood. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
  • Waard, Jan de, and Eugene A. Nida. From One Language to Another: Functional Equivalence in Bible Translating. Nashville: Nelson, 1986.

Part 2: Making Words Work

3. Translating Words

• Lexical Semantics: Words and Their Meanings
• Collocations
• Wordplays and Verbal Allusions
• Technical Theological Terms
• For Further Reading
  • Cotterell, Peter, and Max Turner. Linguistics and Biblical Interpretation. Downers Grove: IVP, 1989.
  • Nida, Eugene A., and Johannes P. Louw. Lexical Semantics of the Greek New Testament. Atlanta: Scholars, 1992.
  • Silva, Moisés. Biblical Words and Their Meaning: An Introduction to Lexical Semantics. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.

4. Translating Figurative Language: Idioms, Metaphors, and Poetry

• Translating Biblical Idioms
• Metaphors and Similes
• Live versus Dead Metaphors
• The Extended Metaphor: Poetry
  • Structure
  • Meaning
• Other Figures of Speech
  • Rhetorical Questions
  • Hyperbole, Irony, and Sarcasm
  • Synecdoche and Metonymy
• Conclusion
• For Further Reading
  • Caird, G. B. The Language and Imagery of the Bible. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1980.
  • Ryken, Leland. Words of Delight: A Literary Introduction to the Bible. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992.

5. The Greek Genitive: A Problem of Its Own

• Whose “Co-worker”?
• Patience of Hope?
• The Word of . . .
• The Fellowship of . . .
• Some Conclusions
• For Further Reading
  • Beekman, John, and John Callow. “The Genitive Construction.” Pages 249–77 in Translating the Word of God. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1974.
  • Wallace, Daniel B. “The Genitive Case.” Pages 72–136 in Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996.

Part 3: Translation and Culture

6. Cultural Issues in Translation

• Historical and Cultural Background
  • Traditional Bible Language
  • Implicit and Explicit Background Information
  • Cultural Connotations
  • Jews or Jewish Leaders?
• Euphemisms
• Weights, Measures, and Money
  • Weights and Measures
  • Money
• Conclusion
• For Further Reading
  • Beekman, John, and John Callow. Translating the Word of God. Dallas: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1974.
  • Hill, Harriet. The Bible at Cultural Crossroads: From Translation to Communication. Manchester: St. Jerome, 2006.
  • Nida, Eugene A., and William D. Reyburn. Meaning Across Cultures: A Study on Bible Translating. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1981.
  • Wendland, Ernst R. The Cultural Factor in Bible Translation. London: United Bible Societies, 1987.

7. Gender and Translation

• The Nature of Gender Accuracy
  • Biological Gender versus Grammatical Gender
  • Man or Person?
  • Brothers or Brothers and Sisters?
  • Fathers, Forefathers, or Ancestors?
  • Sons, Children, or Descendants?
  • Some Clarifications
• Some Difficult Issues
  • Ambiguous Passages
  • Masculine Resumptive Pronouns
  • The Humanity of Jesus Christ
  • Messianic Passages
• Conclusion
• For Further Reading
  • Carson, D. A. The Inclusive-Language Debate: A Plea for Realism. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998. 
  • Strauss, Mark L. Distorting Scripture? The Challenge of Bible Translation and Gender Accuracy. Downers Grove: IVP, 1998.
  • For a contrary view: Poythress, Vern S., and Wayne A. Grudem. The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Masculinity of God’s Words. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000. [Update: Poythress, Vern S., and Wayne A. Grudem. The TNIV and the Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004. ]

Part 4: Other Translation Issues: Text and Presentation

8. The Question of the Original Text

• The Need for Textual Criticism
• Some Illustrations of Textual Differences in English Translations
  • Harmonization
  • Conformity
  • Clarification
  • Theologically Motivated Changes
• Conclusion
• For Further Reading
  • Metzger, Bruce M. The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
  • Tov, Emanuel. Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible. 2nd ed. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2001.

9. Issues of Style and Format

• Style and Reading Level
• Paragraphs, Chapters, and Verses
• Translation or Transliteration
  • Anathema
  • Maranatha (Marana Tha)
  • Sheol, Hades, Gehenna
  • The Divine Nature
• Capitalization
• Exegetical Uncertainties and the Use of Footnotes
• “Red Letter” Editions
• For Further Reading
  • Barker, Kenneth L., and Edwin H. Palmer. The NIV: The Making of a Contemporary Translation. Grand Rapids: Academie, 1986.

Part 5: The Bible in English

10. A Brief History of the Bible in English

• The English Bible before Printing
• The First Printed Bibles
• The King James Version (1611)
• From the Revised Version to the Revised Standard Version
• For Further Reading
  • Bruce, F. F. History of the Bible in English: From the Earliest Versions. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1978.
  • Metzger, Bruce M. The Bible in Translation: Ancient and English Versions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001.

11. Contemporary Bible Versions

• Formal Equivalent Versions
• Mediating Versions
• Functional Equivalent Versions
• Some Recommendations
• For Further Reading
  • Comfort, Philip W. The Essential Guide to Bible Versions. Wheaton: Tyndale House, 2000.
  • Dewey, David. A User’s Guide to Bible Translations: Making the Most of Different Versions. Downers Grove: IVP, 2004.
  • Kubo, Sakae, and Walter Specht. So Many Versions? Twentieth-Century English Versions of the Bible. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1983.
  • Lewis, Jack P. The English Bible from KJV to NIV: A History and Evaluation. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991.

Recommended Reading

In addition to Fee and Strauss’s book, the following books and articles are especially helpful (with asterisks by the most helpful ones):

1. Blomberg, Craig L. [with Jennifer Foutz Markley]. “Translation and Translations.” Pages 37–61 in A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010.
2. ———. Review of Leland Ryken, The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation. Denver Journal 6 (2003).
3. ———. “The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy.” Denver Journal 4 (2001).
4. ———. “Today’s New International Version: The Untold Story of a Good Translation.” Pages 85–115 in Perspectives on the TNIV from Leading Scholars and Pastors. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.
5. Bock, Darrell L. “Do Gender-Sensitive Translations Distort Scripture? Not Necessarily.” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 45 (2002): 651–69.
6. Carson, D. A. “A Review of the New Revised Standard Version.” Reformed Theological Review 50 (1991): 1–11.
7. *———. The Inclusive-Language Debate: A Plea for Realism. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.
8. *———. “The Limits of Functional Equivalence in Bible Translation—and Other Limits, Too.” Pages 65–113 in The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God’s Word to the World; Understanding the Theory, History, and Practice: Essays in Honor of Ronald F. Youngblood. Edited by Glen G. Scorgie, Mark L. Strauss, and Steven M. Voth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
9. Decker, Rodney J. “The English Standard Version: A Review Article.” Journal of Ministry and Theology 8, no. 2 (2004): 5–56.
10. *Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas Stuart. “The Basic Tool: A Good Translation.” Pages 33–53 in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
11. Siebenthal, Heinrich von. Review of Vern S. Poythress and Wayne A. Grudem, The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Masculinity of God’s Words. Trinity Journal 23 (2002): 112–18.
12. *Strauss, Mark L. “Current Issues in the Gender-Language Debate: A Response to Vern Poythress and Wayne Grudem.” Pages 115–41 in The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God’s Word to the World; Understanding the Theory, History, and Practice: Essays in Honor of Ronald F. Youngblood. Edited by Glen G. Scorgie, Mark L. Strauss, and Steven M. Voth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
13. ———. Review of Leland Ryken, The Word of God in English. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 46 (2003): 738–40.
14. ———. “Why the English Standard Version (ESV) Should Not Become the Standard English Version: How to Make a Good Translation Much Better.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. Providence, RI, November 21, 2008. [I was present when Strauss presented this paper.]

Articles on the Updated NIV

1. “Updating the New International Version of the Bible: Notes from the Committee on Bible Translation.” August 2010.
2. “The Development and Use of Gender Language in Contemporary English: A Corpus Linguistic Analysis; Prepared for the Committee on Bible Translation by Collins Dictionaries.” September 2010.
3. Hansen, Collin, ed. “Perspectives in Translation: A Discussion on English Bible Versions.” A discussion hosted by The Gospel Coalition and BibleGateway.com. October 28, 2010–February 28, 2011.
4. Poythress, Vern S. “Gender Neutral Issues in the New International Version of 2011.” Westminster Theological Journal 73 (2011): 79–96.
5. Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. “An Evaluation of Gender Language in the in the 2011 Edition of the NIV Bible.” Updated June 6, 2011.
6. “A Brief Response from the Committee on Bible Translation to the Review of the updated NIV by the Committee on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.” June 9, 2011.
7. “On the Gender-Neutral 2011 New International Version.” A resolution at the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. June 15, 2011. (Cf. Denny Burk, “The SBC Resolution on the NIV.”)
8. “A Brief Response from the Committee on Bible Translation to the Resolution Introduced on the Floor of the Southern Baptist Convention Regarding the Updated New International Version.” June 15, 2011.
9. Wallace, Daniel B. “A Review of the New International Version 2011.” Parts 1, 2, 3, 4. Parchment and Pen. July 21–28, 2011.
10. Decker, Rodney J. “An Evaluation of the 2011 Edition of the New International Version NT.” A paper presented at the Bible Faculty Summit in Ankeny, IA, July 28, 2011.

Related:

1. My Second-Favorite All-Around Book on Bible Translation
2. How to Disagree about Bible Translation Philosophy
3. Reproduce the Meaning
4. Thank God for Good Bible Translators and Translations
5. The Importance of Dignified Translations
6. Which Bible Translation Should I Use? A Comparison of 4 Major Recent Versions: ESV, NIV, HCSB, NLT
7. The History of the NIV Translation Controversy
8. How Not to Argue about Which Bible Translation Is Best

Update on 3/31/2017: In my latest attempt to explain how to interpret and apply the Bible, I include a chapter on Bible translation (pp. 50–81).