Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament [Paperback]

I have had Jason BeDuhn's book on Bible translations of the New Testament for 4 months now and the first reading was a very enjoyable read for someone interested in Bible translations. The second reading, which was more of a study of its contents and arguments, opened my eyes further to what has happened and is still happening in the Bible translations commonly used today. I keeping returning to it for reference. BeDuhn examines 9 popular Bible translations of the N.T alongside the Greek that these same translate. He chooses 9 scripture passages or words to examine which, because of their Christological and theological importance, the accuracy and bias in those Bible translations in use to day can be assessed. His style is clear and concise and yet at the same time broad enough for a proper analysis of the subject matter and allowing the underlining Greek of the New Testament speak for itself. The results of his examination of the translations such as the New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, the Good News Bible, the New World Translation and 5 others brings surprising results. He opens up his examination of these Bibles' accuracy and bias(which his preface and introduction shows what he means by these terms and why he embarked on such a work as this) by first taking a look at the origins of modern English Bibles, then methods translators use to render into English the original biblical languages and before looking at specific places and words that are crucial for translators to get 'right' if they wish to claim to be free of unwarranted bias and to produce an accurate translation that neither adds or takes away from the original Greek. This book is, I feel, I must read for both scholars and 'laymen' alike. If any wish to disagree with his analysis and conclusions based on these same then Jason BeDuhn would no doubt be very interested to hear of them. Really, this book is like a gauntlet thrown down for _all_ those translations he assesses. Finally, I would like to whet the appetite for others who might already be tempted to gain for themselves this book that in his chapter "A Final Word" a particular translation comes 'top' for accuracy(based upon those words/passages he has chosen) and it is not from those whom have been produced by well known scholars and translators but a translation that has been much maligned since its first edition in 1950. I _highly_ recommend this book and I do not do _that_ very often.

This is quite simply the best book I have read on Bible translation. Once I got started I couldn't put it down! I was amazed to see how BeDuhn dissects the most contravercial verses in the NT to explain how and why each of the most popular versions of the NT has translated them. What makes this book so good is that he steers clear of interpreting what he thinks these verses are saying and concentrates on the correctness of the translations themselves, leaving it for the reader to come to their own conclusion. Since the vast majority of Christians are unable to read Koine greek we rely on Bible translations being accurate and unbiased by established doctrine. However, BeDuhns research presents some very surprising results. This should be a must-read for all Christians - but unfortunately, due to the nature of this book I expect only very serious students of the Bible will read it - and that is a great pity!

As a serious student of the Bible I have often been disturbed at the inconsistencies when it comes to other translations of the Scriptures. Prof. Beduhn has exposed many of these and surprisingly comes down very firmly on the side of The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures published by Jehovah's Witnesses. This publication Truth in Translation is well worth a good study.