Choosing a Bible: Understanding Bible Translation Differences

Booklet Description:

Of the many Bible translations available today, are some better than others? If so, what criteria can we use to determine what makes a good translation? Leland Ryken introduces readers to the central issues in this debate and presents several reasons why essentially literal-word-for-word-translations are superior to dynamic equivalent-thought-for-thought-translations.

You don't have to be a Bible scholar to recognize the need for a quality Bible translation. We all want to know that the Bible we read, study, and memorize is faithful to the original.

Dr. Ryken tackles this issue and breaks it down in this concise, logical, and straightforward book, giving readers a valuable tool for selecting a Bible translation.

Author:

Leland Ryken (PhD, University of Oregon) served as professor of English at Wheaton College for nearly 50 years. He has authored or edited over fifty books, including The Word of God in English and A Complete Handbook of Literary Forms in the Bible. He is a frequent speaker at the Evangelical Theological Society's annual meetings and served as literary stylist for the English Standard Version Bible.

Endorsement:

"Professor Ryken draws on decades of experience . . . to show that many modern English translations fail to meet accepted standards of excellence in accuracy, faithfulness to the words of the author, clarity, vividness, correctness . . . ."
--Wayne Grudem, Distinguished Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary; author, Christian Ethics +

"The persistent, detonating logic of Lee Ryken's pen will educate and convince any fair-minded person that the primary Bible for study and preaching must be an essentially literal translation."
--R. Kent Hughes, John Boyer Chair of Evangelism and Culture and Professor of Pastoral Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary

"A masterful and convincing argument for literal, that is to say, transparent translation of the Holy Scriptures."
--J. I. Packer, Board of Governors' Professor of Theology, Regent College

Additional Information: