Customer Reviews

Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Gift & Award Edition

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Dollar for Dollar, the New Living Translation (NLT) is probably the best and most intriguing type of Bible I've ever bought. I don't pretend it's my favorite Bible of all--because it isn't really a Bible, it's a paraphrase of the Bible as opposed to a true translation. But I really like it.

Of course, any translation of the Bible is going to be some sort of paraphrase, because different languages use different idioms that have to be rendered into English using different words. There are "strictly literal" bibles like the NASB that go for a word-for-word approach; most bibles are "literal" bibles like the New Revised Standard and New International, the latter in particular taking the "freedom to be idiomatic." ...

The physical presentation of this modestly-priced version is worth remarking on. For fake leather, it looks reasonably genuine, and there are other colors available besides the best-selling black. The type is quite small, but uses a blocky sort of Roman setting that makes reading as easy as possible, even the red letters. The pages are ordinary paper, not "onion-skin." About my only gripe is that the text is too close to the inner margin, but this tome (made in Mainland China) is well-stitched, not the sort of bindery to fall apart quickly upon heavy use.

For very little money I advise the avid Bible reader--or the Bible reader who finds passages in his/her favorite Bible a little hard to fathom (and who among us has not?)--or the just-plain curious to invest in this handsome, intelligent little paraphrase. If your experience is like mine, you'll be surprised at how likeable it is.

I originally bought this to help witness to a friend who doesn't happen to own a bible, then after flipping through it for a few minutes, I decided I just had to have one for myself.

The NLT has been one of my favorite translations for a while, just behind the NASB (out of the 8 I physically own, and the dozens I have on CD's). And remember, it's a translation, not simply a paraphrase. It is a reliable translation that is easy to read. I find it interesting that some words it decides to give a more literal translation as well. Such as the word we often see translated as "gospel" is more often than not translated as "Good News."

To be fare though, I think there are times where it doesn't translate some verses, especially in prophets, deep enough. Simply because an analogy a prophet used is really difficult to understand unless one really chews on it for a while. But this is a rare exception, not the rule.

This particular print of this transtion is very useful. It has a very nice concordinance and dictionary in the back, as well as some key passages and verses that are highlighted throughout. The map in the back while decent, could probably be a little better.

Some people are completely enamored with the New Living Translation, and if you are, then that's great, but I found the translation to be too simplistic. It doesn't have the sophistication of, say, the NIV, and at times it almost seems like a children's Bible. It would be good for people who don't really like to read because the words flow so easily and it isn't difficult to understand at all.

As for the translation itself, it may or may not be the most accurate translation out there; I don't know. To explain: you must keep in that accuracy and precision are not quite the same thing. (I can give you a precise number of people in Washington D.C. right now--let's say 583,216--but I can't guarantee how accurate that number will be.) Precise translations are word-for-word. They don't take into account the linguistic and cultural differences involved. They tell you exactly what the authors wrote but not necessarily what they were trying to say. (Idioms, for example, are translated literally and often sound strange to our culture.) More accurate translations strive to give a literal translation when possible but make sure the idea is never lost, even if that means changing the translation to fit a more modern context.

Precise translations are best for in-depth Bible study because they have less bias to them, but they should only be used if you are very familiar with the culture that produced the original manuscripts. Accurate translations are better for general study because the theology is more obvious, but there is much more opportunity for the translation to reflect the bias of its translator(s). Still, a good accurate translation should reflect the intent of the original authors, and that makes it an invaluable companion to a more precise translation.

I'm not so sure the New Living Translation holds true to the intent of all its authors--especially in the more theological passages. Apparently what the translators did (I may be wrong) was to take the original Living Bible, modernize it, and compare that to the actual manuscripts to make sure it was a legitimate (if not the best) translation of the text. That's not a bad thing if you're looking for a Bible that is easy both to read and to understand. However, it IS a bad thing if you want to dig deeper into the Scriptures.

So for me, the gift/award edition of this Bible is perfect. Considering this version will spend more time on the shelf than others, it's nice not to spend too much money on it. Others less interested in detailed study might be glad to make it their preferred translation. To each his own.