"The Names of God
Bible" (NGB) uses "God's Word
Translation" (GWT) as its base text. This is a relatively new
translation from 1995 employing a translation method they describe as “closest
natural equivalence” to express the meaning of the original text. This
philosophy focuses on what the translators define as readability with an aim to
mirror the structure common to our everyday day English, using grammar and
punctuation that they feel contemporary readers would be most familiar with.
GWT is essentially a dynamic
equivalent translation that is too interpretive for word for word study.
Conceptually this seems strange for a Bible that aims for greater specificity
indicating the names of God in their original languages throughout. Forfeited
is an accurate word for word translation for more of a thought for thought. The
individual authors writing style and choice of words is sacrificed. What is
most lacking are the theological words
that would enable meaningful short hand discussion. Gone are words such as covenant, grace,
justify, repent, resurrection and righteousness. These are serious omissions.
Gone as well is the clear teaching of the doctrine of justification by
replacing the translation of all of the different Greek words behind
"justify," "righteousness," "reckoned,"
"imputed," "accredited," and "propitiation" with
one catch-all word, "approval."
People can be seriously mislead
by inaccurate translations of verses
like James 2:24 that read:
"You see that a person received God's approval because of what he does,
not only because of what he believes". There is a radical
misrepresentation of Justification by faith alone when one is promised Gods
"approval based on what one does in such places like Rom. 4:16 ,20 , 9:30 ,
32 , 10:6 , 11:20 ,
Gal. 3:22 , 5:5 ; and Heb.
11 . The result is misrepresenting justification as the
"cause" instead of the "medium" through which saving faith
comes.
Beyond the dangerous misrepresentations
in the translation, NGB indicates more than 10,000 occurrences of at least 121
names (or titles of God) such as Yahweh, El Shadday , El
Elyon , and Adonay. They state that this purpose is "to help
readers connect with the Hebrew roots of their Christian faith and experience a
deeper understanding of God's character". To do this the names are
highlighted in brown ink to stand out within the biblical text.
Yet, there are instances where
the original renderings are not clear enough. Such an example includes the GWT
rendering of “Lord of Hosts” (‘Yahweh
Sabaoth’). As ‘hosts’ could accurately be described as a reference to
angelic beings, i.e. the hosts of heaven, GWT has chosen to translate this
phrase “Lord of Armies,”. Unfortunately, there are no explanation that these
armies are the armies of heaven and not the armies of men which can lead to
significant misunderstanding.
The Names of God Bible is helpful
as a reference tool to quickly see the names of God and explanations for
further insight, but the Bible as a whole is not very useful as either a study
tool providing word-for word-precision, not as a study Bible having much of the
needed basis background commentary or helpful study additions. The
introductions to each book are brief. Absent are links like maps, concordances,
and other common reference tools.
Product Information
|
Format: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 1760 Vendor: Revell Publication Date: 2011 |
Dimensions: 8.50 X 5.75 X 2.00 (inches)
ISBN: 080071931X ISBN-13: 9780800719319 |
"Bible has been provided
courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker
Publishing Group".
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