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Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament

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I am Greek, I have been raised in Greece, I have studied Classical Greek for two years in high school (Classical Greek is much more complicated than koine, or Common Greek) and I have been studding the original Greek text of the Bible for about 10 years. Having this background, I responsibly say that this book presents quite right, well documented and reliable linguistic information. Yes, its writer must be considered adequate as regards his knowledge of the Biblical Greek. So, this book sheds plenty of light about subjects of whitch the common English reader has no idea. For example: English readers often claim that NW is false in Jonh 1:1. Trinitarians in Greece have never used this specific verse to claim that the New World Translation (NW) is wrong, since all the Orthodox versions read actually the same with the greek version of the NW. And this happens because the wording of this verse is very clear for the Greek reader, and there is no place for debate. I am sorry to say this, but for a Greek it is rediculus to debate on John 1:1.

Of course, many will be disappointed by BeDunh because he proves that many of the famous Bible versions are inaccurate and mislead their readers. But face the facts! What matters is not what translators say but what Bible says!

This welcome treatise might appropriately be subtitled: "To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before," as it takes a hard, objective look at the accuracy of our popular New Testament Bibles in a way that hasn't been done before (at least any time recently, to my knowledge - and I've been looking for a long time).

The author must be credited for his boldness in tackling this volatile subject with such an objective approach, as he adds up the score card of accuracy (plus points) and bias (minus points) on 9 very popular New Testament translations.

If your favorite is in here (mine is), you will be challenged by the information in this book. But also, hopefully, inspired to dig deeper, think harder, pray more, and search ever more diligently, as you evaluate those cherished beliefs which are based on your favorite Bible translation. There are winners (two very surprising translations stand out from the rest) and losers (again, two others are rated so low that the author contends they shouldn't be called "Bibles" at all, but labeled as "Commentaries"), but absolutely none remain unscathed by Beduhn's burning textual spotlight.

The author is detailed and specific - nothing vague or nebulous about his approach. The Greek original is shown (in "interlinear" English), and the 9 are lined up for comparison. The criteria and conclusions are explained in detail, in layman's terminology that is easy to follow (in just a very few places the book lapses into technical jargon that I had to struggle with). The author must be credited with bringing us non-Greek-speaking Bible adherents one step closer to the Greek manuscripts upon which all modern New Testament translations are based.

The 9 translations discussed are the King James (or Authorized Version), the Amplified Bible, the Living Bible, the New American Bible, the New American Standard Bible, the New International Version, the New Revised Standard Version, the New World Translation, and Today's English Version. The verses chosen for analysis are so clearly explained that any translation could be tested, so the book will be of equal benefit to those who might favor another less popular translation.

I can't say I agree with every conclusion that the author reaches, but I'm grateful for his opening this dialogue, and for doing so with an obviously studied attempt to avoid bias and polemics himself, a rarity among textual critics. I paid a little more for this book (the softcover edition) than I usually do, but it was worth every penny. This is a thoughtful and thought-provoking work that should be welcomed by any who are curious about the accuracy of our modern Bibles, and by all who look to their Bible for life-giving words of truth ~ for it is only by the truth that we are set free.

As a parting note to the author: You challenged my beliefs and my Bible, so I would like to make this challenge to you...(it's so obvious that your book begs the comment without my saying it) - Produce and publish a New Testament of your own, one that scores 100% on your Truth in Translation scale. I'll be one of the first to buy it and review it. Note: a complimentary review copy would help =)

Truth in translation was a very enlightening book. To have ones faith decided by the consciences and traditions of others, and the maneuvering of religions to keep us in the dark to the truth and enlightenment of the scriptures, is a real crime. I am very glad Jason had the guts to finally speak out and straighten out the falsehoods that have been handed down. The arguments are easy to understand and very clear. It has inspired me to dig deeper into God's word, and even more glad to rest assured that I am using one of the best translations into the English language ever - the New World Translation.

Mike Trissel

No two translations of the Bible read exactly alike. Many people want to know why. Jason BeDuhn's goal is to provide to the non-Bible language reader the reasons why some translations are more accurate than others.

In the book nine major English N.T. translations are examined. They are the:

King James Version
New Revised Standard Version
New International Version
New American Bible
New American Standard Bible
Amplified Bible
Living Bible
Today's English Version
New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

BeDuhn grades them on accuracy based on how they handled nine key verses or translation issues. BeDuhn chose these points because these are really important points to many people and it it at important points that bias tends to creep into the picture. The nine key chapters are:

Bowing to Bias: Which is more accurate "bow" or "worship" at Mattthew 28:9 and related verses?

Grasping at Accuracy: Did Jesus not "exploit" his equality with God or did he not "grasp" for equality with God at Phillipians 2:6?

When is a Man Not a Man?: This chapter deals with gender bias issues.

Probing the Implicit Meaning: Should words be added to translated text of Colossians 1:15-20 to clarify the Greek meaning?

Words Together and Apart: Should Titus 2:13 be translated to read that Jesus and God are the same or should they be differentiated?

An Uncertain Throne: Which is the least biased translation of Hebrews 1:8. "Your throne O God" or "God is your throne"?

Tampering with Tenses: What is the correct tense to use in the English translation of John 8:58.

And the Word Was ... What?: Should the English translation of John 1:1 say (esentially) that Jesus is "God" or "divine"?

The Spirit Writ Large: When should the Greek word for "spirit" (such as used in "holy spirit") be capitalized?

In the final chapter Beduhn sums up the results of his investigation. Unexpectedly two translations that most people would assume to be the most biased (The New American Bible translated by Catholics and the New World Translation translated by Jehovah's Witnesses) turned out to be the most accurate translations. BeDuhn gives his reasons on why he thinks the translators from these two widely different groups were able to to produce the most accurate translations of those examined.

There is also an appendix article on why Beduhn thinks the translators of the New World Translation (even though rated one of the best translations) were mistaken to insert the divine name "Jehovah" in the their translation of the NT.

BeDuhn writes in such a way that the average reader can follow. He presents his arguments in a calm respectful way. Tactful but not obtuse. No translation is without bias but BeDuhn helps us to see that just because a translation is different from the ones we are familiar with doesn't mean that the difference is because of bias.

It is refreshing to read a book that is written by someone who is not under pressure to prove or to disprove any particular theology. BeDuhn's approach to the subject of Bible translation comes across as honest, fair, objective, and even-handed.
He produces example after example of obvious doctrinal bias on the part of Bible translators who introduce into their translations teachings that are not taught, or even implied in the Greek text. He compares eight major English translations: The New Revised Standard Version, the New International Version, the New American Bible (Catholic), The Amplified Bible (an "expanded" version), the New American Standard Bible, the Living Bible (a paraphrase version), Today's English Version (AKA "The Good News Bible"), and the New World Translation (produced by Jehovah's Witnesses). To these eight Bible translations, we must add a ninth: the much revered King James Version.
None are exempt from BeDuhn's careful criticism. Several translations are heavily influenced by popular theology, with their translators apparently wanting to create support their personal doctrinal viewpoints even when there was no support from the Greek text. In many cases, it is shown that the translators understood the basic principles of translating Greek, but they often violated their own rules of grammar when important texts didn't say what the translator wanted them to say.
Two versions stand out as being the most honest, with the least amount of doctrinal bias influencing their translations. Which ones are they? (Sorry, I don't want to spoil anything by revealing the answer here). But the answer may surprise you.
Personally, I loved this book. I devoured it quickly, enjoying every delicious morsel. I learned much, reaffirmed much.
There will be many folks, however, that will not be happy to read what BeDuhn has written. His conclusions will be difficult to accept by those who are doctrinally dishonest or who do not appreciate honest biblical scholarship. The impact of this work will reverberate through the halls of so-called "traditional Christian theology" for a long time to come!

To Stephan C. Donahue in response to your review, your ad hominem argument is self evident. For those whose Latin may be a tad rusty: In Donahue's review he appeals to personal considerations and attacks "against the man" (the author) rather than to fact or reason.

If the town liar were to tell a truth, would it be true even though the town liar told it? Truth is truth; it stands on its own merit regardless of who declares it. In fact, it is outstandingly refreshing that the author is not "on the in" with other well-known Bible translators who have consistently sullied key textual translation with their own religious bias. It is note worthy (as are the intrepid actions of all pioneers in all fields) that the author has taken a stand, although unpopular to some, and thus, has established his proofs beyond all criticism. (NB: Unpopular does not equal inaccurate.)

I have never read or listened to a SINGLE negative response to this book where the author, BeDuhn, is not attacked, yet his proofs and arguments are not touched. Such a response from BeDuhn's peers is telling and should provoke honest-hearted, unbiased seekers of truth to read through this entire book carefully. In other words, whenever you come across an ad hominem attack, it should urge you to further investigate what is really behind such a response.

To those who may be reading these reviews for the first time and pondering over buying the book: Go ahead, read the book; judge the matter for yourself based on the flawless, detailed arguments presented by BeDuhn, not based on his personal religion, his degrees, his mother's maiden name, or his pet's favorite toy. And always, always be prompt to recognize "ad hominem" attacks; they are the refuge of those who cannot present a logical, unbiased rebuttal to the argument at hand.

Mr. Donahue blames, beats, disregards, or ignores the messanger, because he doesn't like the message? Come on...

To the detractors: Are you scholarly, unbiased academicians in search of truth or recalcitrant children calling out names against someone who dares to correct your long-held spurious arguments? Many of the detractors have parroted the same long-held errors from generation to generation, tenaciously protecting their religiously biased doctrines against the truth brought out through fresh, unadulterated, CONSISTENT translation.

For those who may still be duped and easily taken in by ad hominem attacks, the author is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses. And he does not give a full seal of approval to the New World Translation. In fact, not one of the translations that he examines escapes some criticism. This alone lends an enormous amount of accuracy to his work. Mr. Donahue's review would leave you to understand that this work is a wholesale endorsement of the New World Translation. It is not. Did you really read the entire book, Mr. Donahue? Had you done so, your review would have contained specific items that you think need to be reconsidered. Instead, you merely attacked the author. (As have all the other detractors of this academic work.)

Now to the author himself, BeDuhn, as another reviewer asked, when are you going to produce a translation that incorporates all the textual accuracy that you promote in your book? It would clearly come under vicious attack, but in time it would stand up to all truthful scrutiny.

With so many different translations floating around, and oftentimes they condradict each other blatently, it can make it a challenge to bypass man's bias and distortion of the original transcripts and find the clear truth of the Bible. But, after reading this Book written by a Religious Scholar with many impressive credentials, it is encouraging to see that there IS a way to recognize which verses have been altered by men seeking to justify their own pre-conceived religious ideas, and find the true meaning of the verses. It also is very helpful to learn which translations have more inaccuracies than others. And it may be suprising to many to learn that the New World Translation, compiled by a dedicated committee of translators who are Jehovah's Witnesses, many years ago, is ranked as one of the most accurate translations available today, with virtually none of the discrepancies that plague so many of the other well-known translations. After reading this book, you will learn which verses in the Bible to beware of that may have been altered in your own Bible, and what the original wording of these verses is SUPPOSE to be. You also may decide to add the New World Translation to your library to make it a lot easier to derive the truth from the Word without having to worry about inaccurate verses. I feel this book would be a good addition to anyone's library who is more interested in seeking for the true message originally written in the Bible, than blindly following man's traditions which have biased and changed the Word of God.

The study of Bible translations has been an interest of mine since the time I was a teenager. For this reason, I have spent much of the last 26 years acquiring and reading various English language translations, with the goal of understanding and assisting those with a faith different than my own. I have read several books that compare many of the same translations that Professor BeDuhn compares in Truth In Translation. However helpful such books have been, when it comes to the subject of the New World translation they march in lockstep in what I consider unbridled and unreasoned criticism.

Truth In Translation has broken through a significant barrier of bias to provide what I believe is the first unbiased look at Bible translations I have ever had the pleasure to read. It appears that Professor BeDuhn, as an independent academic, is not obliged to provide the "red meat" that the authors of similar works, fettered to the religious institutions they represent, feel obligated to provide to their own parochial audiences. The result is a true breath of fresh air that simultaneously challenged my own views.

The premise of the book is that the world of Bible translation is not the academically pure environment based on sound and consistent principles that one would hope for. Instead, the typical Bible translator/translation committee has come into this world as a devotee of a particular religious institution with his own defined world view in place. In addition, their work is typically sponsored by a denomination or a group of denominations with a specified outcome already in place. It is not difficult to see that such a world, rife with conflicts of interest, is not the ideal soil in which to grow an independent and accurate translation of the Scriptures. As a result, EVERY translation that Professor BeDuhn examines in his work is guilty of bias to a greater or lesser degree.

What Professor BeDuhn has done is focused his examination of nine different Bible translations in areas in which there is a theological premium, such as John 1:1; 8:58; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:8 and many others. He then applies the standard that should be applied in any case of translating the NT - what does the Greek text actually say? And, if there is room for translations to read differently, which translation is the most probable. Throughout this examination, Professor BeDuhn maintains the bright line between translation and interpretation, a line that is amazingly easy to unknowingly cross. The result is nothing short of amazing, namely, the most oft maligned English translation of the 20th century (NW) turns out to be one of two translations (the NAB is the other) demonstrating the greatest freedom from bias. The education I received in this consideration greatly exceeded the purchase price of the book.

Lest anyone think that Professor BeDuhn is nothing more that a Jehovah's witness apologist, he saves some of his harshest criticism for the NW translation in his appendix, which deals exclusively with the "peculiar characteristic" of including the divine name Jehovah in the body of the NT translation. It is difficult to deny the logic he uses in citing the reasons why this translation, while well intentioned, is inappropriate if the goal is the accurate translation of the extant Greek manuscripts. Thank you Professor BeDuhn. I eagerly await your further works.

There have been many books written that discuss the "merits" and "faults" of Bible translations, but none to my knowledge that have done so "outside the box."

Previous authors have brought the full weight of their criticisms from the viewpoint of conservative Protestant Christianity, and as such, ended up being more apologetics than a scientific analysis. The end results were that Bibles such as the New World Translation, and those perceived to be "Liberal" translation bore the brunt of a dogmatic and partial world-view.

BeDuhn however is not confined by the fetters of a restrictive religious system, and instead gives us a refreshing, and objective study. *Just the Facts Ma'am*, and it is about time!

For anyone interested in translating, this book is marvelous! It is an unbelievably thorough review of various translations or versions of the Bible. It really helps you understand the process of taking these Greek texts & making them into something English readers can comprehend. I love books that make you analyze everything you're told or expected to believe. Only real thinkers need read this book however, as it does get a little muddled due to the necessary abbreviations of the translations/versions. Although the author makes a concerted effort to make this a lay persons book there are parts that are easier to relate to if you already have a good basic Bible education. I love the idea he puts forth that a fresh eye for the translating process brought forth very accurate translations of the Bible even though they were done by one denomination. Its that constant analyzing process that appeals to me. Finding the truth in the Bible can lead to such a freedom from what the world offers. Thus an accurate translation is essential to developing your spirituality. I appreciate books of this kind immensely! I would be remiss not to say however that I have always used the New World Translation because of having embraced that faith as a youth. So although the author finds fault in the use of "Jehovah" in the New Testament, I personally feel that it makes God more of a person to get to know rather than a far away entity. Such is the difference of personalities. He takes issue with the fact it is inaccurate as it's never in the ancient texts while admitting this is the God being referred to. So why not use His name? All the while, this is certainly a book worth having in one's library.