Good Basic Bible Version Review From a No-Name Site
The ultimate in a no-name site. Go to the home page and you cannot get to this translation comparison page. I found it via google This looks like a good comparison of translations. The whole directory is unlinked. But the server allows viewing of directories. So if you want to check out other stuff remove the ‘compare.htm’ from the url — http://www3.pei.sympatico.ca/reese.currie/topics/ . I havn’t read any of it yet though.
The comparison is simple. 12 often disputed or altered verses in 4 categories are compered: Integrity of the trinity (John 1:1-4, Zechariah 12:10, John 14:26 and Genesis 1:2), facets of repentace (Mark 1:15, Luke 24:45-47, Matthew 21:32, and 2 Timothy 2:25), not imposing ‘baptismal regeneration’ (Acts 2:38, Mark 1:4 and Romans 6:4), and the role of destiny in salvation (Acts 13:48). The translations are rated and commented by the integrity of these 12 verses. Translates that doctrinally distort or just mis-translate one or more verses get docked points. Only a perfect score is reccomended. Anything with less than a 50% score is considered garbage.
The recommended versions are ASV, ALT, KJV, LV, NASB, NKJV, and WEB. The KJV and ASV are marked ‘recommended with reservations’ because of the archaic elizibethian english. The ASV and WEB are fully public domain. The KJV is public domain everwhere but the UK. ALT, LV, and NKJV are copyrighted, but it is feasable to obtain permission for non-commercial, non-profit copying without royalties or excessive red-tape. The NASB is tyrannically copyrighted – expect legal red tape and/or payment of royalties if you care about being legal.
The not recommended but not throw-away books are the BBE, DRB, NIV, NLT, and NRSV. The BBE, NIV and NRSV are accused of at least some theological / doctrinal influence. The NLT is acquitted by the incompetancy (high standards here! which makes sense for the word of god) of the translaters. The DRB has two blemishes reported (83% score). NIV and NLT are tyrannically copyrighted. CEV, NWT (Jehova’s witness), and TEV are evaluated as ‘throw it in the garbage’.
The page was uploaded and/or modified 2004. Translations that I know well enough to know the name and were not reviewed are AMP, MSG, TNIV, ESV, ISV, NET, DARBY, NAB, KJV21, WBST, WNT, and YLT. I think the World English bible rocks. I vote for WEB. And the WEB is the only public domain (I would acept copyleft too) translation that is ‘highly recommended’ by this site, without reservation due to archaic english!
