Tuesday, October 7, 2008
How many people have said something like the following? “The NLT is good for reading, but I wouldn’t use it for serious study.” In fact, though, the NLT is an excellent translation for serious study. Here are some reasons:
- The NLT removes the barrier of archaic or difficult language, so people are able immediately to understand what the text is saying. The NLT Study Bible thus does not have to use space to explain the words of the English text. It uses that space for the more interesting work of going back into the world of the Bible and explaining what is not on the surface of the English text. Bible study becomes a more direct process with the NLT.
- Because the NLT is so readable, it is also a natural vehicle for focusing on the big-picture meaning of the text. Readers are less likely to get lost in the details and more likely to be able to see the big picture. The NLT Study Bible pushes readers even more in this direction by including study materials that address not just individual verses, but also the paragraph, the section, and the book. We have taken pains to provide notes that help readers understand the meaning of the trees and the forest, not just the leaves and bark.
- Because the NLT translation team crosses denominational boundaries, the translation does not play favorites with Christian doctrine. The NLT provides deep balance among the theological traditions in the church. It is thus an excellent translation to use in working out the theological meaning of Scripture, without the pressure of having a systematic theology imported into the text by the translators.
- Even word study, the traditional center for many study Bibles, is enhanced by the use of the NLT. In the NLT, a single Hebrew or Greek word is translated in a variety of ways. With appropriate prompting, readers will be able to see the range of meanings that can be conveyed by a single Hebrew or Greek term. In the NLT Study Bible, we have provided a chain-reference word-study system in the cross-reference column and NLT text, accompanied by a glossary at the back of the Bible.
Those are some of the reasons why I believe the NLT is an excellent translation for Bible study. What do you think?
posted by Sean Harrison at 10:40 AM
I have to agree with you, Sean. I have come full circle on the NLT, especially since I have had my NLTSB. It is a fantastic resource, as a read and study Bible
Oops, that was "reading and study Bible.
We have some friends visiting from California. I handed my NLTSB to them for their review. A few hours later one of them commented that she couldn't believe how easy it was to understand. She said the Bible has always been difficult for her to understand but this one is different.
That's what I like to hear.
She also loved the book introductions, maps, and timelines. She plans on looking at some of the other features today.
Thanks, Stan. That's the kind of thing I love to hear about, too.
I've got several Bibles but the recent NLTSB is outstanding.
Just today in a small group Bible study Gen 6:1-2 came up and the NLTSB offered extensive notes including references to both the OT and NT plus Ancient Near East references. Additionally alternative interpretations were presented that I had not seen before in any type of study Bible.
My only gripe...I wish the poetry sections were single columns.
Great job!
Brent Kercheville has posted a thoughtful response on his blog.
The NLT is definitely useful for study! I mean, what is study for? It is to help you fully understand what the Bible is saying. If the translation is clear and effectve, it has already removed one of the major barriers that keeps people from learning and being excited about God's Word.
As a pastor, I believe the NLT is excellent for use in serious study. Part of any serious study of a passage includes understanding the larger context of the text your studying. The NLT allows you to quickly get a good grasp of the material surrounding your particular passage of interest. Its phrase-for-phrase translation also helps bring imagery and plays on words from the original languages to life in smooth English. I've found it very helpful in determining the overall structure of passages, too; this is crucial to interpreting the meaning of a given section of Scripture.
Hello,
I received my Study Bible two days ago. It was recommended to me by Jeff from Scripture Zealot and I love it! It is packed with an amazing abundance of information, the translation is easy to read (English is my Second Language) and the articles are awesome. One can see the love and effort put into it.
This fine work of scholarship will keep me busy and engaged for years to come. Only that it won't last as long being glued. I bought the Tu-tone leatherlike and was put off by the cheap binding. Zondervan delivers their duotone bound Bibles sewn and your product isn't holding up to their standard regarding the binding. I do not understand that you send out items whose contents are made with the greatest effort in such a cheap and careless manner. Maybe you'd like to change that.
Regards Yasmine Sangaré, Berlin, Germany
No doubt, I am sold on the NLT now. The sheer simplicity of the text lends itself to deep study among those of us from the younger generation. With the study Bible, you have a readable text with basically a one-volume commentary and Bible handbook. Absolutely wonderful!
I've been reading the notes and articles just in the last few days and have been surprisingly impressed.
The promo says that theological bias has removed. Up to now, I thought that meant, "some say this...& others say this...; the second comment usually being the Dispensational one.
What a pleasant shock from this Study Bible.
ALL THE DISPENSATIONAL VOCABULARY, TIMELINES AND THEOLOGY HAS BEEN REMOVED!!
This makes the eschatlology much simpler, as well as the doctrine of the church, salvation..everything!!
What a change from just 5 years ago! It used to be that you had to get a Reformed Study Bible to get the Dispensational and Millennial references in the OT out. Christian theology is clear and simple. The Calvinist/Arminian arguments are avoided and smoothed out.
I read through the notes in Daniel, a book that I have been unsatisfied with in terms of interpretation.
What a clear blend and historical and eschatological interpretation; and not afraid to be somewhat "Non-Messianic". It really made sense this time.
I've been a "Spirit of the Reformation" fan for years, but this one really gives that great continuity between OT and NT without the Reformed bias. Even reformed theology gives too much attention to "The Antichrist". Rev. 20 read differently with the millennial views mixed together, but that's OK. That demonstrates how much we are really sure about!
I'm really glad to recommend it to others and excited to spend more time with it!
Tell Dr. Burge that my son is enjoying his freshman year at Wheaton.
As a pastor of discipleship, one of my tasks is to create small group resources that track our current sermon series. In one study I did recently on the Lord's supper, the NLT translated Luke 9:31 and connected the dots between Jesus' death and the Jewish passover traditions as clearly as the Greek text did. I consider the NLT to be an excellent translation and I promote it in our church for both reading and study.
I don't know if I agree. I do exegetical bible study and when I really get down to the greek meaning of each word, I think the NLT loses meaning of what the original author's intent was. For one in the introduction of Romans. The gospel of God that Paul is teaching is for the obedience of the faith. Later on Paul mentions salvation, but this gets confused with the justification aspect of salvation. Its not about getting your sins forgiven but about sanctificaiton and the continued obedience to what Christ preached. I think the NLT kind of waters down some of the original greek languages. Please help me be clear on this if I am wrong.
Hi, FaceToFace. I'd be glad to interact with what you're saying about the Greek. Can you give us the references and the Greek words you're thinking about so we can all look at them with you? Thanks!
Well I would like to put my oar in the water here too.
I was brought up on the King James Version of the bible with a very conservative background. In those days the KJV was treated with the idea of, "it was good for Paul and Silas so it's good enough for me" attitude. I also remember a man giving me a tract one time when the NIV was gaining a lot of popularity stating how the NIV was a false bible, but every single scripture critique in the tract was not based on Greek and Hebrew, but the KJV was used as though it was the original. I think that all of us have to remember that these Bibles are all translations. I myself have been slow in the acceptance of the NLT, but I also remember when I was quite slow in the acceptance of the NIV which I now have absolutely no problem with.
I personally found myself caught on somewhat of a "merry go round" when it came to choosing a translation to use. After being brought up on the KJV to the point that I nearly think KJV, I found that when I read a verse from any translation other than the KJV I would find myself referring back to the King James to compare, as though it was the original Greek and Hebrew, which it is not!
But then as I listened to different ministries who are only KJV and I found that even they, many times when trying to make a point while preaching, would take the congregation back to the original Greek or Hebrew and say, "Now to really understand what this verse of scripture is saying we must look back in the Greek and Hebrew", or "According to the Greek, this would have been a better way to have translated this verse".
Another thing is that when I hear people take a particular translation and "trash" it because they say, "look at this one verse or those two verses, they should have done a better job of translating it", well, I look at the fact the NLT has cause me to have such greater insight into the Bible as a whole, not to just base arguments on single verses.
I have read many blogs where people try to state that a particular translation of the Bible somehow intentionally or unintentionally changes the meaning of a verse, but this is silly to me because I don't think this is the case. It's said in a manner like if you were on a desert island and only had the NLT you might not accept Christ because some single verse doesn't line up with a scripture in the KJV.
I think that the bottom line is that no matter what translation you use, don't take it as being the original manuscripts. If you are into serious Bible study you are probably going to be referencing a Lexicon or Concordence anyway. The Word of God as written by the original Bible authors is perfect, no single translation of the Bible is perfect.
I believe the NLTse and 2007 updates have been massive steps forward in enhancing the NLT. While I read a more literal translation in worship, I routinely quote the NLT in my sermons. There are points of oversimplification such as translating the word for "saint" as "believer" which need to be improved. I much prefer the footnote of "God's Holy people". I look forward to its continued improvement and am glad for it's progress thus far!:) For "study" I would say it needs to be used alongside at least one other literal translation. When you come out with a LARGE PRINT, nicely bound ESV or NASB and NLT 2007+ that would be something I'd likely most recommend for comparison. (And please remember LARGE PRINT!)
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home