Comments on: What makes a Bible translation authoritative?

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:17:54 +0000

I’ve noted on several occasions the transition of attending a church that uses the NIV as its pew/pulpit standard. For this community, the NIV is authoritative – it has been chosen, whether by listening to the hoi polloi or by taking direction from a higher committee, as the representation of God’s Word that the church uses for its worship. I can choose to bring another translation to church and read along during the service, but isn’t there a sense of bucking the authority of the church when I make that decision?

I quite agree.

By: Stan McCullars

Stan McCullars — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:02:59 +0000

I would measure authority by how well God speaks to the individual through a given translation.

Using this standard, God generally speaks to me through a combination of the REB, NLT, TNIV and NASB working in tandem.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:02:26 +0000

Some interesting discussion so far - Peter has suggested that our individual response to the texts, guided by the Holy Spirit, can be viewed as authoritative, while Kevin and TC are finding authority in the mob, so to speak. Both of which speak to the subjective experience of a translation, but not to any objective measurement of excellence.

I've noted on several occasions the transition of attending a church that uses the NIV as its pew/pulpit standard. For this community, the NIV is authoritative - it has been chosen, whether by listening to the hoi polloi or by taking direction from a higher committee, as the representation of God's Word that the church uses for its worship. I can choose to bring another translation to church and read along during the service, but isn't there a sense of bucking the authority of the church when I make that decision?

I respect what Peter wrote about bringing a Bible that matches what the pastor at a local church he is visiting uses. I consider that to be submitting to the authority of the church to have determined what translation they consider to be their guide. The question is what criteria has the church used to make that selection.

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:33:46 +0000

It’s why I still trust the populous.Kevin, the populace made a good choice with both the KJV and the NIV despite their shortcomings and seems to be willing to do so with the NLT.
Yes, we still have to listen to the hoi polloi.

By: Kevin Sam

Kevin Sam — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:01:36 +0000

TC, that’s a very good point. I see the wider readership as acting as a safeguard against elitism. There is a potential danger that we, on the inside, and as evangelicals, may become elitist. There’s an innate potential that we might alienate the people, e.g., this has happened in how mainline churches in how they handle theology. And it’s a danger that we evangelicals have avoided for centuries by putting the theology in the hands of the people. But I do see your point though. What we can do is teach the broader church the truth about translations so that good translations filters down and gets used by the people. It’s why I still trust the populous.

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:32:44 +0000

This is so subjective isn’t it? Ultimately, I think authority would have to stem from the wider, more populous usage because one’s personal perspective cannot be authoritative unless it is also accepted by the wider audience.

Kevin, I understand what you’re saying, but there’s a problem with that: the wider readership does not get into the translation issues that we wrestle with, and I’m not even considering the experts at this point.For all we know the wider readership can be so wrong. I’ve heard pastors say that they only use the NIV because most in their local church use it.

By: Kevin Sam

Kevin Sam — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:28:23 +0000

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:12:34 +0000

I get preferring one translation over another, but the question is, do you view the TNIV as more authoritative than the NIV? And if so, why?

I have to answer this in two ways: 1. According to Kevin’s criterion of usage, then the NIV would be more authoritative. 2. But if we’re going with a translation merits, then I’d say the TNIV for me.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:37:02 +0000

@TC: while I was not too friendly with the NIV, as you know, I am more so with the TNIV.

I get preferring one translation over another, but the question is, do you view the TNIV as more authoritative than the NIV? And if so, why?

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:35:19 +0000

Peter noted: Whether it should influence your quoting them in a blog post for instance, since most people won’t be able to grab it off the shelf, that’s a good question.

That's a great example, Peter. I often quote from the REB when I have time to manually type out the verses, but there's always that little voice in the back of my head that says, "would it be safer to quote from a translation that more people know and are familiar with?"

After all, I want to make sure that I'm evangelizing the gospel, not a specific translation.