A literal wordforword english translation is found under the lines of greek text. More about jason david beduhn truth in translation. I recently read jason david beduhns truth in translation and found it deeply intriguing and at times disturbing. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament university press of america. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament. Beduhn offers an interesting perspective on marcions scriptural canon, but his translation of marcions reconstructed greek text is virtually unreadable. In that context, the translation is to do obedience. 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. 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. Pdf truth in translation download read online free. 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. Jehovahs witnesses new world translation 20 revision.
It also sets out to defend the new world translation as being the. Jason david beduhn the new testament accuracy ana las in i translation. By looking at passages where theological investment is at a premium, the author demonstrates that many versions deviate from accurate translation under the. I have some quotes from the book if you want to read it. 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. It begins with brief treatments of the background to the bible and its. 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. 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. Truth in translation download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testamentpublished 2003we recommend in all good conscience. New light on manichaeism nag hammadi and manichaean studies. In chapter twelve, no translation emerged with a perfectly consistent and. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament kindle edition by beduhn, jason david. Beduhn brings a wealth of research and knowledge to the table. New world translation of the holy scriptures wikipedia.
Remember, no translation will be perfect and this has to include the new world translation. But the 20 edition changes a considerable number of renderings. Why do you say the new world translation is not a reliable. New light on manichaeism nag hammadi and manichaean. The quotes in the multicolored fonts below are all from a book by a certain dr. 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.
Truth in translation, by jason beduhn who is not george kaplan, nor jason david beduhn is an associate professor of religious studies at. 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. The rnwt on october 5th the jehovahs witnesses watchtower society announced that a revised new world translation was being foisted upon the world. 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. Read and listen to the bible online, or download free audio recordings and signlanguage videos of the bible. 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. For orders and information please contact the publisher psychology religion. Beduhn vs scholars the quotes in the multicolored fonts below are all from a book by a certain dr. About the author jason david beduhn is associate professor and chair, department of humanities, arts, and religion. 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. 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. 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. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament, by jason david beduhn, pages 161165. Jason david beduhn is the author of truth in translation 4.
Some linguists have examined modern bible translationsincluding the new world translationfor examples of inaccuracy and bias. The two most neutral, greekfaithful translations turn out to be the roman catholic new american bible and the jehovahs witnesses new world translation, a reworking of the american standard bible. Northern arizona university, flagstaff, az 86011, usa. After examining nine very popular english translations of the new testament, he found the nwt even though. Jason david beduhn, asking him about his being quoted in the watchtower magazine article, as well as about the observation of these so called scholars. Ill give some positive points and then ill list my concerns. Truth in translation by jason debuhn free download. If it was written simply logos, without the definite article ho, we would have to translate it as a word. 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. Jason david beduhn is associate professor and chair, department of humanities, arts, and religion, northern arizona university. 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.
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. Accuracy and bias in english translations of the nt by jason david beduhn. To have ones faith decided by the consciences and traditions of others, and the maneuvering of religions to keep us in the dark to the truth and enlightenment of the scriptures, is a. Truth in translation by jason david beduhn waterstones. The 1961, 1981 and 1984 editions were more of updates than revisions. 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. Table of contents chapter 1 preface chapter 2 acknowledgments chapter 3 introduction chapter 4 the origins of modern english bibles chapter 5 the work of translation chapter 6 major english translations chapter 7.
Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was a god. 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. Jason beduhn of northern arizona university and is called truth in translation. Truth in translation is a carefully crafted and scholarly work. Oct 25, 2009 some linguists have examined modern bible translationsincluding the new world translationfor examples of inaccuracy and bias. 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 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. Excerpts from beduhns truth in translation randall.
If a noun is definite, it has the definite article ho. Truth in translation by jason david beduhn overdrive. 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. One of these is jason beduhn, who authored the book truth in translation. It has been published in whole or in part in over 160 languages.
A remarkably good translation watchtower online library. 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. 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. Associate professor of religious studies department of humanities, arts, and religion.
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. His book the manichaean body 2000 was the winner of the american academy of religion best first book award. One such scholar is jason david beduhn, associate professor of religious studies at northern arizona university in the united states. In this preamble to the quote, watchtower is making it clear that beduhn disagrees with watchtowers stance on inserting jehovah in the nt. In every case, beduhn feels bias controlled the decisions of the translators, but less so with the new world translations wording.
Accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament, 2004. Jason beduhn is professor of the comparative study of religions at northern arizona university, a guggenheim and national humanities center fellow. 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. 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 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.
Truth in translation, accuracy and bias in english translations of the new testament, by jason david beduhn, university press of america, lanham, maryland, 2003. The new world translation of the holy scriptures is an accurate, easytoread translation of the bible. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading truth in translation. 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. 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. Is the new world translation of the bible an accurate. Apr 29, 2003 in every case, beduhn feels bias controlled the decisions of the translators, but less so with the new world translations wording.
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. Buy truth in translation by jason david beduhn from waterstones today. 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. Greek has only a definite article, like our the, it does not have an indefinite article, like our a or an.
In this preamble to the quote, watchtower is making it clear that beduhn disagrees with watchtowers stance on. Oct 23, 20 the rnwt on october 5th the jehovahs witnesses watchtower society announced that a revised new world translation was being foisted upon the world. This silver sword is the first revision in nearly 30 years. Though it is not the first bible to be published by. Jason david beduhn is an associate professor of religious studies at northern arizona university, in flagstaff. By looking at passages where theological investment is.