Customer Reviews

Joseph Smith's New Translation of the Bible

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book contains all of the corrections Joseph Smith made in his new translation of the Bible. The 1979 version of the Bible that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses has most of the best changes, but not all. This book fills in the gap.

It has a user-friendly format that focuses only on the revised verses. Each page is a double column, with the JST on the left-hand column, and the KJV version on the right-hand column. Be cautious--sometimes Jospeh Smith only corrected the punctuation in a verse.

It has introductory essays about how we got the Joseph Smith Translation. Admittedly, they are written from the point of vierw of the Community of Christ (the new name for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), but they are helpful in any case.

I use this version since it has what I need where I need it.

This was not what I expected. It has the JST and KJV side by side for quick and easy comparison, but it does NOT contain the verses that were left unchanged by Joseph, which makes reading it like a normal Bible impossible. It's only practical use is as a reference book for a particular verse of interest, which for the typical user is an impractical and obnoxious method of studying. If the unchanged verses were added, this would be a fantastic book and an excellent buy, but as it stands it is not all that useful.

This book was written as a reference of JST changes, not as a complete Bible. This book is nice if you want to have KJV and JST side by side. A more complete study reference is Joseph Smith's New Tranlsation of the Bible-Original Manuscripts. For a Bible to READ, get the full-length 1970 Community of Christ version.

Reading the reviews here I feel obligated to throw in my two cents. The word "translation" as used in reference to this work should not be construed to mean what we typically infer from the word "translation," i.e., to transpose from one language to another. In the context of the Joseph Smith Translation what we have is an inspired editing or revision of the King James Bible, not a translation from the original Greek, Aramaic, or Hebrew. It should not be supposed that Joseph Smith was attempting to bring the King James Version into complete harmony with the original manuscripts. The Joseph Smith Translation should be viewed as more of a bringing-to-light and clarification of principles, concepts, and doctrine within the biblical text of the King James Version.

An earlier review wrote of Joseph Smith being the author. I had heard the book had merely adjustments directed by God, So I decided to research it a little and find out why he would be the author. I learned that in the 1800's, in order for a book to be published there had to be an official author. I guess Mr. Smith couldn't very well write "Matthew, Mark, Paul" etc as the authors, nor could he write "God." So putting his name makes sense. The other part that bothered me was trying to decide if he made up the corrections or not. I know the Bible isn't perfect, because the men who translated and scribed it weren't perfect (obviously, since every denomination in the world finds contrasting doctrines within it), so I guess unless God intended us to base our lives upon an incomplete book, he'd need someone to fix it. I don't see that Mr. Smith has added anything to contradict the teachings of Christ, so as far as I'm concerned, why not? I, for one, believe God wants us to have the fulness of His word. It seems to me the only difference between this version of the Bible and all the modern trendy ones is that the writer of this one claims it came through God. May as well read this one over a version where the author doesn't even pretend to have had inspiration from God.

The book I requested was exactly what I wanted and was sent expeditiously. The book was in excellent condition and protectively wrapped.

Having the JST/Inspired Version side by side is a nice touch that makes it easier to size up the veracity of the textual changes made by Joseph Smith. I consider this as a must-have for any Latter-Day Saint or anyone thoroughly investigating Mormonism.

I liked this book because it lets you compare, side by side, the Chapter and Verse. A lot of plain and precious truths were left out of the bible. I think this helps to understand it better.

Some things just work, and this translation is the easiest reading of any Bible translation our there. Confusing things are clarified. Thank you JS, thank you.

Translation of a text requires a source text and a target text. In other words, a biblical translation of Genesis 1:1 would begin with the Hebrew text, then render it into English or some other target lngauage.

Joseph Smith took the English: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Instead of translating it from Hewbrew, which he didn't have and didn't know, he added his own verse 1, "And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, I reveal unto you concerning this heaven and this earth: write the words which I speak." Gensis 1:1 does not appear in his version until verse three.

This is not translation. It is addition. Translators cannot ethically add to the text of a passage. I speak as a professional translator. The Joseph Smith "'New Translation' of the Bible" is a non-translation by a non-prophet.