The Most Controversial Bible, and Why it’s So Controversial
The other day I was looking a particular translation of the Bible that was newer, and thought how it worded things provided interesting insights. Then I looked it up online and realized how controversial it is. The truth is, not all Bible translations are created equal.
The most debated Bible translation is the King James Version. This is because many believe that the KJV is the only accurate translation of the Bible. However, Bible translations are typically controversial due to debates around: authorship, translation approach, source text, and gender neutral language.
So, let’s take a look at what makes a Bible translation controversial. That way, we’ll be better prepared when we come across a new translation.
What Makes a Bible Translation Controversial
As a general rule, Bible translations are controversial due to issues and debates around source texts, translation approach, language choices, and authorship. Let’s take a look at each of these and see how they can make a Bible translation controversial.
Source Texts
Most Bible translations seek to stay as accurate and faithful to the original source texts as possible. Problems arise, however, when a translation uses a textual tradition that other religious groups do not consider authoritative.
If you want a better understanding of source texts and how it affects Bible translations, then you’ll want to check out this article. It explains what the different source texts are and what branches of Christianity use what source texts.
Translation Approach
Another thing that can make a Bible translation controversial is the translation approach. Overall, there are two types of translation approach: Formal equivalence and Dynamic equivalence.
Formal equivalence takes a more literal word-for-word approach when translating the original Hebrew and Greek. However, the dynamic equivalence takes a more thought-for-thought approach. Controversy arises when people think a dynamic equivalent translation takes their approach to far.
Gender Neutral language
A third thing that can cause controversy around a particular Bible translation is the use of gender neutral language. This is the cause of some controversy around the updated NIV version, that was updated in 2011.
Translations that use more gender neutral language seek to make the Bible more accessible to diverse audiences. Though critics argue that this can alter the theological concepts and traditional wording of the Bible.
Sole authorship
The last thing that stirs controversy around Bible translations is that of authorship. Typically, Bible translations are done by a committee of Bible scholars. However, some individuals will publish a translation on their own.
Controversy arises because single-author Bible translations can include the authors preconceived doctrinal biases and theological leanings.
Controversial Bible Translations
1611 King James Version (KJV)
The 1611 King James Version is controversial for a number of reasons, including issues over its accuracy and used of textual variants. This is in large part due to the simple fact that it is so old. The KJV’s New Testament is based on the Textus Receptus.
At the time the Textus Receptus was the best Greek manuscripts available. But recently, older Greek manuscripts have been discovered. These older Greek manuscripts reveal variations with the Textus Receptus that lead to some questions about the KJV accuracy in places.
Another reason there is so much debate around the KJV is due to the fact of the King James Only Movement. Some groups and people believe that the KJV is the only legitimate and inspired translation of the Bible.
This hardline stance has sparked controversy and debate for decades, and has even led to some accusing other translations of being inferior or heretical.
All of that said, the KJV remains one of the most popular and widely read translations today. And that’s okay. The KJV is held in high regard due to its literary beauty and the fact that there is hardly anything like it.
The Message (MSG)
The Message is controversial in part due to it being written primarily by one author. Eugene Peterson published the message over the course of 1993-2002. It also uses highly contemporary and idiomatic language.
This use of common jargon and idioms makes The Message relatable, it often is viewed as overly informal and may fail to capture the seriousness of certain passages. As, such this vast departure from a more literal approach to interpretation has caused quite a stir. Many saying it goes to far.
Here is an example from The Message.
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”
John 3:16-18, MSG
To be fair Eugene Peterson never called The Message a translation. He viewed it as a paraphrase.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
The Passion Translation is a newer translation, but has caused quite a controversy since it arrived on the scene. This translation is controversial for quite a few reasons, most surrounding its authorship.
The Passion Translation was written by one author, an unusual thing for a Bible translation. Brian Simmons is the author of the Passion Translation. While, he calls it a translation it is not. Rather, it is a highly paraphrased version of the Bible.
In this “translation” we see clearly why there is such concern of a Bible having only one author. Some passages in this “translation” are translated in a way that they differ widely or change the meaning of the original text.
Moreover, these unique interpretations lead some to accuse the Passion Translation of including elements of mysticism and other non-biblical ideas, including accusations by some of Gnosticism. It also relies heavily on later manuscripts as opposed to earlier Gree manuscripts.
The Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible is another controversial Bible translation. It is controversial for similar reasons as The Passion Translation, though not as bad. This is because it does not add ideas or unique interpretations to the Bible.
The Living Bible was written by Kenneth Taylor and is highly paraphrased. That is primarily why it is so controversial. Though, there is nothing wrong with a paraphrase written by one man, we need to remember that it is not a translation of the Bible.
That said, The Living Bible was written originally so people can read the Bible to children without having to be interrupted to explain things. In fact, Billy Graham would advertize and give away copies of The Living Bible at his crusades.
Eventually, Taylor and a group of Bible scholars got together to revise the text. This resulted in the publication of the New Living Translation (NLT) in 1996. The NLT is one of the most popular selling translations of the Bible today.
New World Translation (NWT)
The New World Translation is so controversial because it is a translation written by Jehovah Witnesses. As such, it is highly doctrinally biased to align with Jehovah Witnesses’ teachings on Jesus and other essential theological points.
For example, John 1:1 reads in the NIV, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” However, in the NWT it reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god [emphasis added].”
This doctrinal bias and the unique theological interpretations has led to a translation of the Bible, that is not the Bible at all. Jehovah’s Witnesses have rewrote the Bible to fit with their preconceived notions and made is say what they want it to say. That is neither sound Biblical translation nor interpretation.
Well, the most dangerous and controversial translations of the Bible are The New World Translation and The Passion Translation. This is because they either add their own interpretive ideas and doctrines into the text or get dangerously close to doing so in order to support personal theological leanings.
Any translation or paraphrase that seeks to alter the meaning of the Bible by adding, subtracting, or changing the meaning of the text is more than controversial, it’s non-biblical.
