How We
Got the Bible
Lesson #13--English Translations of the Bible
(Part 4)
G.The King James Translation (1611). In January of 1604 King James I summoned a conference to consider complaints lodged by
the Puritans against the high church of England. At
this gathering Dr. John Reynolds of Oxford raised the
possibility of a new translation. The King apparently welcomed this suggestion and was
soon working out the necessary arrangements. The actual work was
completed by 47 scholars (though 54 were originally appointed) at Oxford,
Cambridge, and Westminster. The completed translation was published in 1611, and for the
next 50 years or so it gained ground on the popular Geneva version. Eventually it became
the Bible of the people, and for the next two centuries it maintained a supremacy so great
that many regarded it as the final word in English translations.
H. The English Revised Version
(1881). Eventually scholars recognized a need for a new translation which would update the
language of the King James. Also, scholars now had a greater knowledge and understanding
of ancient languages, and many Hebrew and Greek manuscripts had been discovered in the
intervening years. Two committees of 27 members each (one committee for the Old Testament
and one for the New testament) were formed, and work began. The New Testament committee
met in sessions on 407 days over a period of eleven years and their completed work
was published on May 17, 1881. The Old Testament group met on
792 days over a period of fifteen years. The entire Bible, known as the English Revised Version, was published on
May 19, 1885. Its reception was unprecedented. Over 2,000,000 copies were
sold in London alone.
I. The American Standard Version
(1901). The American Standard Version (ASV)is in
substance the English Revised Version with changes made to reflect American idioms,
spellings, and word order. The American committee, which had worked with the English
Revision committee, also re-paragraphed the text and added a new set of cross references.
It is fair to say that this translation embodied the ripest biblical scholars of Great
Britain and America at the time.
J. The Revised Standard Version
(1946-1952). The New Testament of this translation was published in 1946 and the
Old Testament in 1952. Originally the RSV started
out as a revision of the ASV, but the International Council of
Religious Education doing the work quickly decided to begin an entirely new
translation. The RSV is among the first Bibles to be translated
by a sizable group of scholars who believed the doctrine that God inspired the thoughts of
the original writers but not their actual words (
See I Cor. 2:13).
K. The New American Standard
Version (1971). One of the most recent translations made by scholars who still
believed in the plenary inspiration of the Scriptures. Considered by many to be among the
most technically accuratere, readable translations.The Lockman Foundation which produced
it sought to update, clarify, and revise the ASV. Instead of the paragraphs used in the
ASV, the New American Standard Bible (NASB) prints each verse as a separate unit.
Lesson
1 - Introduction Lesson 2 - How
Ancient Books Made
Lesson 3 - Birth of Bible(Pt. 1) Lesson 4 - Birth of Bible (Pt. 2)
Lesson 5 - Text of Old Testament Lesson 6 - Text of New Testament(Pt. 1)
Lesson 7 - Text of New Testament (Pt. 2) Lesson 8 - Canon of Scriptures(Pt. 1)
Lesson 9 - Canon of Scriptures (Pt. 2) Lesson 10 - English Translation (Pt.1)
Lesson 11 - English Translation (Pt.2)
Lesson 12 - English Translation (Pt.3)
Lesson 14 - English Translation Pt.5) Lesson 15 English Translation (Pt.6)
Lesson 16 - Which Translation to Use(Pt.1) Lesson 17 - Which Translation to Use(Pt.2)
Lesson 18 - Which Translation to Use(Pt.3)
Lesson 19 - Which Translation to Use(Pt4)
Lesson 20 - Which Translation to Use (Pt. 5)
Lesson 21 - Which Translation to Use (Pt. 6)
Lesson 22 - Concluding Thoughts
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This page last updated: October 14, 2002