Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament, by jason david beduhn, pages 161165. Jason david beduhn truth in translation is a critical study of biblical translation, assessing the accuracy of nine english versions of the new testament in wide use today. Department of humanities, arts, and religion, box 6031. Sep, 20 jason david beduhn is an associate professor of religious studies at northern arizona university, in flagstaff. New light on manichaeism nag hammadi and manichaean. Truth in translation download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi.
Jason david beduhn is an associate professor of religious studies at northern arizona university, in flagstaff. Beduhn vs scholars the quotes in the multicolored fonts below are all from a book by a certain dr. By looking at passages where theological investment is at a premium, the author demonstrates that many versions deviate from accurate translation under the pressure of. For orders and information please contact the publisher psychology religion. In every case, beduhn feels bias controlled the decisions of the translators, but less so with the new world translations wording. A remarkably good translation watchtower online library. In that context, the translation is to do obedience.
Jehovahs witnesses new world translation 20 revision. Truth in translation by jason david beduhn waterstones. New world translation of the holy scriptures wikipedia. Remember, no translation will be perfect and this has to include the new world translation. Truth in translation by jason david beduhn overdrive. If a noun is definite, it has the definite article ho. The most controversial aspect of this book is not just beduhns decision to include the jw new world bible in his analysis, but his conclusion that in many passages the nw translation is less biased than mainstream translations such as the niv or nasb. Truth in translation, by jason beduhn who is not george kaplan, nor jason david beduhn is an associate professor of religious studies at. Ill give some positive points and then ill list my concerns.
In this preamble to the quote, watchtower is making it clear that beduhn disagrees with watchtowers stance on. Beduhn brings a wealth of research and knowledge to the table. After examining nine very popular english translations of the new testament, he found the nwt even though. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament. New light on manichaeism nag hammadi and manichaean studies. The new testament portion was released in 1950, as the new world translation of the christian greek scriptures, with the complete bible released in 1961. One of these is jason beduhn, who authored the book truth in translation. Some linguists have examined modern bible translationsincluding the new world translationfor examples of inaccuracy and bias. However, i am including a brief citation which will give you the tone of beduhns argument and his recognition of the new world translation in this verse. In 2003 jason david beduhn, at the time an associate professor of religious studies at northern arizona university, released a book called truth in translation. Im not a greek scholar so i am not equipped to judge the grammatical part of his. Jason david beduhn is the author of truth in translation 4. The new world translation of the holy scriptures nwt is a translation of the bible published by the watch tower bible and tract society in 1961.
It is not intended to be a scholarly work, but rather a popular work which dispenses with the usual detailed argumentation and rigor demanded. In the narrow righthand column is the new world translation of the holy scriptures, which allows you to compare the interlinear translation with a modern english translation of the bible. If it was written simply logos, without the definite article ho, we would have to translate it as a word. Jun 26, 2019 truth in translation, by jason beduhn who is not george kaplan, nor jason david beduhn is an associate professor of religious studies at. I have some quotes from the book if you want to read it. Truth in translation by jason debuhn free download the book touts the nwt to be the most accurate translation, so it has become immensely popular i find linguists not to have that bias, as beduhn and kedar show. Beduhn offers an interesting perspective on marcions scriptural canon, but his translation of marcions reconstructed greek text is virtually unreadable. His book the manichaean body 2000 was the winner of the american academy of religion best first book award. However, i am including a brief citation which will give you the tone of beduhn s argument and his recognition of the new world translation in this verse. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading truth in translation. By looking at passages where theological investment is at a premium, the author demonstrates that many versions deviate from accurate translation under the pressure of theological bias. This silver sword is the first revision in nearly 30 years. One such scholar is jason david beduhn, associate professor of religious studies at northern arizona university in the united states. Synopsis truth in translation is a critical study of biblical translation, assessing the accuracy of nine english versions of the new testament in wide use today.
Most of the differences are due to the greater accuracy of the nw as a literal, conservative translation of the original expressions of the new testament. I recently read jason david beduhns truth in translation and found it deeply intriguing and at times disturbing. Jason beduhn of northern arizona university and is called truth in translation. Jason beduhn is professor of the comparative study of religions at northern arizona university, a guggenheim and national humanities center fellow, and author of the manichaean body 2000, winner of the american academy of religion best first book award, truth in translation 2003, augustines manichaean dilemma vol. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Although the general public and many bible scholars assume that the differences in the new world translation are the result of religious bias on the part of its translators, beduhn stated. Written with the student and interested public in mind, truth in translation aims to explain what is involved and what is at stake in bible translation. Beduhn speculates that catholics can be freer with the details of the text because they dont have to pretend to find their theology in it in. But for bible translation, at least, it has meant a fresh approach to the text, with far less presumption than that found in many protestant translations. Truth in translation is a critical study of biblical translation, assessing the accuracy of nine english versions of the new testament in wide use today. Jason beduhn is professor of the comparative study of religions at northern arizona university, a guggenheim and national humanities center fellow. Jason david beduhn the new testament accuracy ana las in i translation. The 1961, 1981 and 1984 editions were more of updates than revisions. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was a god.
Excerpts from beduhns truth in translation randall. By looking at passages where theological investment is at a premium, the author demonstrates that many versions deviate from accurate translation under the. Associate professor of religious studies department of humanities, arts, and religion. This marvel of clarity both in thought and in expression is perfect for use as a textbook, but its perspicacity isnt going to hurt anyone else, either. It has been published in whole or in part in over 160 languages. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament, 2004. In this preamble to the quote, watchtower is making it clear that beduhn disagrees with watchtowers stance on inserting jehovah in the nt. Recently i was exchanging information with a jw regarding the nwt and he gave me a copy of a summary of quotes presumed selective from a book truth in translation. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament kindle edition by beduhn, jason david. In chapter twelve, no translation emerged with a perfectly consistent and. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Pdf truth in translation download read online free. Furthermore, it is questionable whether marcions text can even be adequately reconstructed if the church fathers upon whom beduhn relies are as unreliable witnesses as he claims.
In order to assess the reliability of the translators work, jason beduhn, associate professor of religious studies at northern arizona university, in flagstaff, arizona, u. Why do you say the new world translation is not a reliable. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament university press of america. While beduhn disagrees with certain renderings of the new world translation, he says that it emerges as the most accurate of the translations compared, calling it a remarkably good translation. Jason beduhn in his book truth in translation accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament this is not the only book would strongly disagree with your conclusion that the the nwt is not a reliable translation. Buy truth in translation by jason david beduhn from waterstones today. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testamentpublished 2003we recommend in all good conscience. We also commented that the new world translation introduced their own bias by importing a wordliteral greek sentence structure in a god when this same wordliteral form is not translated similarly in other verses referring to god in the new world translation. The rnwt on october 5th the jehovahs witnesses watchtower society announced that a revised new world translation was being foisted upon the world. The quotes in the multicolored fonts below are all from a book by a certain dr. The new world translation of the holy scriptures is an accurate, easytoread translation of the bible.
Jason david beduhn is associate professor and chair, department of humanities, arts, and religion, northern arizona university. Greek has only a definite article, like our the, it does not have an indefinite article, like our a or an. Apr 29, 2003 in every case, beduhn feels bias controlled the decisions of the translators, but less so with the new world translations wording. It begins with brief treatments of the background to the bible and its. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the nt by jason david beduhn.
I agree with beduhn that bias exists in modern english translations, and agree with several of the points he makes, even within some topics that i have disagreement with. Is the new world translation of the bible an accurate. Though it is not the first bible to be published by. Northern arizona university, flagstaff, az 86011, usa. More about jason david beduhn truth in translation. Truth in translation, accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament, by jason david beduhn, university press of america, lanham, maryland, 2003.
About the author jason david beduhn is associate professor and chair, department of humanities, arts, and religion. A literal wordforword english translation is found under the lines of greek text. The new world translation of the holy scriptures nwt is a translation of the bible published by the watch tower bible and tract society. It begins with brief treatments of the background to the bible and its translation, the various approaches to translation, and the specific origins of nine translation versions in wide use in the englishspeaking world today. Truth in translation is a carefully crafted and scholarly work. New light on manichaeism nag hammadi and manichaean studies jason david beduhn new light on manichaeism provides the latest discoveries and insights into the manichaean religion throughout its more than one thousand year history, ranging from glimpses into the life and thought of mani himself, to developments in doctrine and practice in the.
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