I grew up on the King James Version. It was the only Bible in our church. As grade schoolers we could read it, relish it, and memorize it. So much was its cadence and vocabulary ours that we learned to pray in the KJV English. Some people slipped into the KJV when they were taking about God or the Bible.
I’m looking forward to it. For a while I was reading Goldingay’s First Testament, and you really have to stick with it to get familiar enough to recognize place and people names, but also the rhythm of the prose. It’s definitely eye opening. So, can’t wait for yours. :) (And yes, I guess it would be odd to be the translator and at the focus of people’s praise or criticism.)
I am very much looking forward to this translation. Being a minister of the gospel, and not having the opportunity to learn and study the original languages, I rely heavily on the expertises of other in my studies. Thank God for Logos bible software.
I look forward to picking up the second testament. Thank you for what you wrote above as I have often been frustrated by the tribalism that usually accompanies each translation. You helped bring clarity to the dialogue as a whole.
I recall sitting in many Greek and Hebrew classes, mesmerized by the myriad of options for translation, and still believe that language study is so crucial for expositors and communicators of the Scriptures!
One thought — reading the original, no matter how good you get at it, forces you to slow down. You’re never going to read it as you do your native tongue. Ok, maybe Charley Moule and a very few others who memorized the entire GNT, evidently variants and all!… and slowing down is always good; as you say, unfamiliarity is a good thing. We need to be reacquainted with the strangeness of that world, and I commend you for helping us do this. I expect that some of the unique choices you’ve made with your translation will force us to slow down, wonder and ponder, not unlike reading the original languages… and it will be a wonderful experience of engaging, reflective reading for us. Blessings to you and the translation.
I, too, grew up on the AV (as I learned was the proper way to cite references from the King James when I went to college). My dad was an uncredentialed preacher (like Amos) and he took umbrage at the modern “perversions” like Good News for Modern Man. Without a seminary, college, or even high school degree, he did not hesitate to pass judgment on the new translations. (I must say though that he knew the King James backwards and forwards—and could quote most of Paul’s letters in their entirety). He had a favorite line regarding the occasional insight one could get from a modern translation: “As a boy,” he’d say, “I grew up on a farm and we put table scraps in a slop bucket for the pigs. Occasionally, I see a good biscuit in the slop bucket. But if I were given that good biscuit, I’d want to know that it came from a slop bucket!” I gave him copies of the RSV, NASB, NIV, and NRSV and he was always grateful and gave them an honored place on his bookshelf, he continued to read, teach, and preach from the venerable King James.
I’m looking forward to it. For a while I was reading Goldingay’s First Testament, and you really have to stick with it to get familiar enough to recognize place and people names, but also the rhythm of the prose. It’s definitely eye opening. So, can’t wait for yours. :) (And yes, I guess it would be odd to be the translator and at the focus of people’s praise or criticism.)
I am very much looking forward to this translation. Being a minister of the gospel, and not having the opportunity to learn and study the original languages, I rely heavily on the expertises of other in my studies. Thank God for Logos bible software.
I look forward to picking up the second testament. Thank you for what you wrote above as I have often been frustrated by the tribalism that usually accompanies each translation. You helped bring clarity to the dialogue as a whole.
I recall sitting in many Greek and Hebrew classes, mesmerized by the myriad of options for translation, and still believe that language study is so crucial for expositors and communicators of the Scriptures!
I'm looking forward to The Second Testament!
Absolutely, glad you addressed the craziness of the “which translation “ is the actually the closest to The original language thing.
Yes, I will be kind. I will be even kinder if the release date gets moved up. I don’t want to wait until June!
Can’t wait for The Second Testament. I love the challenge and stretch of rethinking a new translation sparks.
I’m looking forward to reading this new translation. Words matter, and I do hope you receive kindness.
Scott, you didn’t mention the updated version of the NRSV; I would be interested to hear your comments on that
One thought — reading the original, no matter how good you get at it, forces you to slow down. You’re never going to read it as you do your native tongue. Ok, maybe Charley Moule and a very few others who memorized the entire GNT, evidently variants and all!… and slowing down is always good; as you say, unfamiliarity is a good thing. We need to be reacquainted with the strangeness of that world, and I commend you for helping us do this. I expect that some of the unique choices you’ve made with your translation will force us to slow down, wonder and ponder, not unlike reading the original languages… and it will be a wonderful experience of engaging, reflective reading for us. Blessings to you and the translation.
I, too, grew up on the AV (as I learned was the proper way to cite references from the King James when I went to college). My dad was an uncredentialed preacher (like Amos) and he took umbrage at the modern “perversions” like Good News for Modern Man. Without a seminary, college, or even high school degree, he did not hesitate to pass judgment on the new translations. (I must say though that he knew the King James backwards and forwards—and could quote most of Paul’s letters in their entirety). He had a favorite line regarding the occasional insight one could get from a modern translation: “As a boy,” he’d say, “I grew up on a farm and we put table scraps in a slop bucket for the pigs. Occasionally, I see a good biscuit in the slop bucket. But if I were given that good biscuit, I’d want to know that it came from a slop bucket!” I gave him copies of the RSV, NASB, NIV, and NRSV and he was always grateful and gave them an honored place on his bookshelf, he continued to read, teach, and preach from the venerable King James.