This book releases today:

Mark L. Ward Jr. Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2018. [Available from Amazon and Logos Bible Software.]

My endorsement:

Ward combines good writing and common sense to explain why English speakers today should both appreciate the KJV and benefit from excellent modern translations.

Other endorsements come from historic fundamentalists (Mark Minnick, Kevin Bauder), conservative evangelicals (Don Carson, Tom Schreiner, John Frame, Mark Strauss), and from an influential linguist (John McWhorter).

John McWhorter is one of Mark Ward’s heroes, so it was an honor for Ward when McWhorter interviewed him on his podcast for Slate.

Mark and I were in the PhD program together at Bob Jones University (I was there 2002–2006), and we’ve stayed in contact ever since. Most recently we roomed together at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society in Providence, Rhode Island, last November. I think I’ve read everything he has written on his website as he has released it. He’s a sharp thinker and witty writer.

Here’s a 2-min.-40-second book trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7jAH3O5AUA

Update on February 18, 2019: Mark Ward turned his book into an entertaining 45-minute documentary. My family enjoyed watching it together last night. Who knew Mark could be so witty and slapstick on camera?

Update on October 12, 2022: Mark Ward’s documentary has been behind a paywall until today. It’s now free on YouTube.

That’s the title of a short article I recently wrote for TGC.

It condenses a section from my chapter on Bible translation in How to Understand and Apply the New Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology.

I regularly play this 4-minute video in classes I teach because because it illustrates so well how complex it is to translate the Bible into English:

This illustrates how difficult it is to explain the concept of slavery in the OT and NT to people in America today. It also illustrates good translation sense. The committee members are asking exactly the right questions (especially Wayne Grudem here).

The BBC filmed this video when the ESV Translation Oversight Committee met in summer 2010. The committee debated how best to translate the Hebrew word עֶבֶד (‘ebed) and the Greek word δοῦλος (doulos). This video condenses hours of discussion. Members of the committee who speak in this video include Jack Collins, Peter Williams, Gordon Wenham, Paul House, Wayne Grudem, and Lane Dennis.

[Read more…] about Is “Slave” a Good English Translation?

Good interview. Well done, Fred and Doug.

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).

My favorite all-around book on Bible translation is a general introduction to the issue.

This more focused book is now my second favorite:

Dave Brunn. One Bible, Many Versions: Are All Translations Created Equal? Downers Grove: IVP, 2013. 205 pp.

Here’s what D. A. Carson says about it: [Read more…] about My Second-Favorite All-Around Book on Bible Translation