In my previous post on this subject, I cited Dr. Philip Comfort. His book, Essential Guide to Bible Versions, is an excellent resource for learning reliable answers to questions such as:
Here is Dr. Comfort's take on the NLT, which he discusses in chapter six of his book: "More than ninety evangelical scholars from various theological backgrounds and denominations worked for seven years to produce the New Living Translation. As a result, the NLT is a version that is exegetically accurate and idiomatically powerful." In case you might be interested, here's a list of the scholars he refers to (NLT Bible Translation Team). I see the names of at least four that I learned from in the classroom in seminary, along with the names of a bunch of other outstanding scholars whose work I've studied. Trust me on this one: They all know their stuff! It is of paramount importance that the English Bible we read and learn from in our worship gatherings be accurate, clear, and understandable. These qualities have increasingly impressed me with the NLT and why I am using it lately from the pulipit. More to come. Greg PS A second edition of the New Living Translation was released in 2004 and is the edition that I'm using in the pulpit. I got a copy with readable size print (for a 43 year old, that is) at LifeWay Christian Store for only $10.
Greg, look what you have done now! I'm just getting used to my new ESV and now I've got to go and get an NLT! I'm beginning to think you are working off commissions for Zondervan & Tyndale! Just kidding, just kidding!!!!
When it comes to paraphrases, I've used The Message. I've used the New Century Version with our kids from time to time as it is a very simple text to use with children.
I know that the NLT was an attempt to update and correct some of the drawbacks of the renderings of the Living Bible and I've heard some positive things about the 2nd edition of the NLT, namely that it is a good text for children and certain adult readers. I will need to see about picking up a NLT.
By the way, I'm glad to see the Foray up and running again. You've certainly had an outpouring of thoughts in the past few weeks! I think the upcoming football season has your fire stoked!!!
Posted by: David C. | July 13, 2009 at 09:27 AM
Busted! Just keep the Zondervan and Tyndale stuff between us, okay? Actually, I think that multiple translations are a good thing, as they reflect the richness of the biblical languages. Plus, I was in danger of going down in history as "Founder of the ESV Only Movement." Couldn't let that happen! And yes -- the approach of football definitely has been energizing!
Posted by: Greg | July 13, 2009 at 07:07 PM
Greg, just wanted to alert you that I had noticed your posts on preaching from the NLT and linked to them from the NLT Blog (I'm not sure why it isn't showing up in your trackbacks). There have been a few interesting comments I thought you might be interested in as well.
Posted by: Keith Williams | July 14, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Greg,
I do like the NLT, but I wanted to let you know that it has been strange for us having you use it in the pulpit instead of just for study. Now all the pew Bibles are ESV, we bought new ESV Bibles, and for the girls baptisms in January, we bought them very nice, monogrammed, ESV Bibles so that they could follow along in scripture with you as you preached. Now they can't do that. They have been confused and now don't want to bring their Bibles since they can't follow along. I don't mind going out and Bible new NLT Bibles for the whole family so that we can follow along in church, but that is going to be a little expensive for us if we keep having to change versions. :)
Candice
Posted by: Candice Sneed | July 15, 2009 at 08:55 AM
I think we should provide everyone in the church with iPhones. Then everyone can download the Bible App that allows them to use every version with the slide of a finger. Bibles with real pages are so outdated.
Seriously though, I am a big fan of the NLT as well. I use it when I'm teaching the students many times and found it to be very readable.
Posted by: Zach | July 15, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Sincerely sorry for the distress, Candice. Change inevitably has a way of producing such. For that matter, I seem inevitably to produce it! Just so you know, I haven't planned a permanent switch (hence the word "lately" in my title). Also, I'll show the Scripture readings on the screens for everyone to see in the weeks to come. Hopefully your family will be able to follow along that way. Still, encourage your girls to bring their Bibles, as it is God's word, regardless of translation. My hope is that they (and many grown-ups, for that matter!) will find comprehension easier, as the text of the NLT is on a 6th grade level, whereas the ESV is an 8th. By the way, the latest data I've seen suggests that the average adult reads at about a 6th grade level. The NLT is aimed at the "typical reader of modern English." Thanks for your feedback!
Posted by: Greg | July 16, 2009 at 05:02 PM
Leave it to the youth guy to come up with THE answer! Thanks, Zach! Of course, as senior pastor, I feel obligated to go first. Since the phones are still a bit pricey, I think I'll apply for one of those "JMAS" things everybody's talking about at MVB (J. Martin Apple Scholarship). Hopefully, it won't take long. Just think: I'll be able to cover every version in use on Sunday mornings. Verse 1 from the KJV, verse 2 the ESV, verse 3 the NIV, verse 4 the NKJV, verse 5 the NLT, verse 6 the NASB, etc., etc. Problem solved!
Posted by: Greg | July 16, 2009 at 08:28 PM