Bible in Translation, The: Ancient and English Versions (Paperback)

by Bruce M. Metzger (Author)
Key Phrases: New Testament, Old Testament, King James Version (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
This is an excellent handbook for students and others interested in biblical translation. Metzger, who himself has served on the translation committees for three versions, provides a readable account of ancient translations before turning to a selection of English translations from John Wycliffe's, near the end of the fourteenth century, to Eugene Peterson's, still in process at the beginning of the twenty-first. Metzger devotes considerable attention to the problems translators face and the strategies adopted during the courses of different translations to address them. The result of Metzger's labor is, more than a historical overview, a primer that equips readers to make critically informed judgments about available translations and achieve better understanding of the biblical text. Steven Schroeder
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
The Bible has been translated more than any other piece of literature and is currently available in over two thousand languages, with several languages having numerous versions. Outlined here is the development of biblical translation, including a careful analysis of more than fifty versions of the Bible.

One of the most respected living biblical scholars, Bruce Metzger begins this engaging survey with the earliest translations of the Old and New Testaments before proceeding to English versions dating from the eleventh century to the present. Metzger explores the circumstances under which each translation was produced and offers insight into its underlying objectives, characteristics, and strengths. Having served on a number of modern translation committees, his insights into the evolution of Bible translation flow not only from careful research, but also from personal experience.

Students, pastors, and interested readers will discover the history of the written Word and gain useful insight into which modern translations best serve their own needs.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801022827
• ISBN-13: 978-0801022821
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #105,204 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #50 in

  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Reference > Language Studies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Read of Translation of Bible into English, December 12, 2001

By	rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Noteworthy, easy-to-read history of translation of Bible into English, beginning with Ancient Versions which have an affect on the English translations to come. Here he explores such efforts as the Coptic, Georgian, Sogdian and Nubian Versions.

Amazing is the fact that before movable type in printing, there were only 33 languages with any Bible translated. In the 19th century alone, over 400 languages received Bible translations.

Then he goes in depth into English translations, with especially attention given to the King James of 1611 fame, and those that preceded and influenced it so greatly. This fact is typically forgotten or severely deemphasized by the "King James Only" crowd. Witness this extraordianty statement: "It (Tyndale's) became, in fact, a foundation for all subsequent efforts of revision, so much so that 30 percent or more of the English Bible down through the Revised Versions has been estimated to be his in those portions of the Bible on which he had worked with such skill and devotion."

Metzger writes with the simplicity, clarity and passion coming from an authority who has worked with Biblical translation during his life. He simplifies, clarifies, and presents his esteemed opinions with grace and support.

This book will help the serious Bible student to understand more realistically the problems presented to the translator of Scriptures from the original languages.

Highly recommmended to all who want to understand the breath, depth and critique of English Bible translations.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A survey of Bible translations, April 11, 2002

By	"readernilus" (The Dalles, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

As it would be expected the NRSV comes across in the best light, but out side of that his comments on various translations are very good. It is good reading and not all that technical, useful to get an idea of the versions that are available and the strength and weakness of each one. Bruce Metzger is a person one can trust on this issue.
I would tell folks to read this book if they are having Bible translation overload.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Vivid History of Bible Translation, Scholarly Devotion from Origen to Metzger, January 29, 2006

By	Didaskalex "Eusebius Alexandrinus" (Kellia on Calvary, Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

Bible Translations:
The Holy Bible, available in whole or in part to some 98 percent of the world's population in 2,233 languages (Preface), continues to be the most translated book in the world. This effort started with Ptolemy Philadelphus arrangement for the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Koine, in Alexandria, on the island of Pharos. This common Old Greek version, called Septuagint (LXX or 70) by the writer of the 'Letter of Arsteas,' alleged to its seventy two Jewish translators.
Origen's Hexapla, was a heroic attempt by the head of the Didaskaleon of Alexandria in the third century, to compare and purify the existing Greek texts.
Since 1870, with the beginning of the Revised Version, of the English Bible, a scholarly debate started over the approaches used in the translations that most closely transmitts the message of the Bible. Within the advances in liguistic arts, the trend moved from Literal translation, to Dynamic equivalence, or Meaning-Based Translation, and Paraphrase. While a paraphrase helps to grasp overall meaning of a passage a literal translation may be useful for some topical study. Many individuals, who study the Bible intellectually or devotionally may select multiple translations to help in clearly interpreting what they read.

Bible Translation History:
Just before the advent of Islam, the Good News as the four Gospels were translated into Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, Ethiopian, Georgian and Nubian in the East of which the first two nations were invaded, and in the West only to Latin and Gothic. At Gutenberg revolution the number of partial Biblical translation tripled in more than eight centuries. Translation from Hebrew and Greek originals started with the Reformation, and the Vulgate was left behind.

Ancient Versions:
In his masterful exposition, Professor Metzger allocates the first quarter of his study on the history of Bible translations started by the intellectual king that made of Alexandria the center of scholarly Jewish thought that produced Philo, the father of Christian allegorical interpretration. It is very interesting for English speakers to discover that the Alexandrian Church, not only pioneered the edition of the oldest codices, MS Unicials, but produced translations in the six Coptic dialects, since the third century. What amazed me was that even after the advent of Islam, the Bible was translated to Arabic since the eighth century, six hundred years before Wycliffe took on the task of the Bible English translation.

The Bible in English:
Old English translations began to appear in various dialects since the ninth century, and from there Princeton Professor of NT languages does provide a compelling study, informative and interesting of all versions of the English Bible ending with the NRSV, fifteen years ago. What makes his study of great value, is his comparative version reviews, bible quotations, and history of certain verses or narratives including the controversial passage of Isaiah on the virgin.