Category Archives: Bibles

James 2:1 in the CEB and the NRSV

I looked at James 2:1 in the Common English Bible and found it to be interesting because the phrase “deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ” was not in the NIV or ESV. Is the connotation there? If we are showing favoritism, are we denying the faithfulness of Christ?

My brothers and sisters, when you show favoritism you deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been resurrected in glory. (CEB)

The NRSV puts the verse into a question and comes closer to what the CEB did:

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 

What IS clear in this verse is a believer can not hold faith in Christ AND favoritism at the same time. It is much like Jesus saying, “You can’t serve two masters.”

When that is the underlying statement, the CEB does make sense… while putting in a phrase that isn’t really there…

I will admit this is a place where I struggle with the dynamic equivalence idea of translation. However, I can see the point in drawing something out to make the underlying statement more clear. That is still part of the translation process.

 

Comparison of CEB on James 2:1

Here is James 2:1 in the CEB:

1 My brothers and sisters, when you show favoritism you deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been resurrected in glory.

The NIV:

1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.

The ESV:

1 My brothers,[a] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

The CEB’s addition of the phrase “you deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ” sounds “right” in the context of the passage. However, is it CORRECT?

Any thoughts on this one?

Latest News on the Common English Bible

The Common English Bible seems to keep rolling along.

“There’s a reason the Common English Bible is receiving such a positive and popular reception,” says Paul Franklin, PhD, associate publisher. “It’s probably the most literal Bible translation, built on common ground with academic rigor and denomination neutrality, which clearly communicates ancient sacred text in understandable 21st century English.”

I am still enjoying my journey through the CEB, even with the quirks.

It may still be too early to tell if this translation gains traction widely or the early sales are simply people trying it out (like me).

Common English Bible Sales

I am part of the Common English Bible Advent Blog Tour and have spent the last month reflecting on Advent using the Common English Bible.

This report is showing the Common English Bible is off to a strong start in sales. For all the great discussion we’ve been having on what we like and don’t like about the CEB, it IS a translation that is being talked about and purchased (at least initially).

CEB

The CEB and Translation Process in the Internet Age

The other day I wrote a post on some interesting ways the Common English Bible decided not to go with gender neutral language in 1 John. I’m always interested in the choices taken, but I thought that was just a spot that had been missed. The NIV2011 was gender neutral in those same two verses.

Lo and behold, I got a response! There actually was a reason for choosing the masculine in that passage.

Dan, the CEB editors did discuss these verses and decided that the chapter is based on the story of Cain murdering his brother. So in a couple of verses the analogy to the murder is maintained with a masculine pronoun. It could go the other way, because we have a gender inclusive principle competing with a masculine context, but there is logic in either alternative.

I was impressed that I could hear back from a translation team and they would take the time TO respond. Translation in this internet age is really interesting.

The CEB and NIV2011 — Comparison in 1 John

Going through 1 John this past week in our Wednesday Bible study I found these verses to be interesting. It will probably be something the Common English Bible folks will pick up and probably revise in later printings. I know it takes several years to get translation “kinks” worked out. I’m sure the NIV2011 will see some very small changes along the way as well.

But if a person has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need and that person doesn’t care—how can the love of God remain in him? (1 John 3:17, CEB)

So, if the CEB is gender inclusive, does this mean that only men are capable of seeing someone in need and not responding?

The NIV indicates males and females might be a little hard-hearted at time:

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

Then, v. 24:

The person who keeps his commandments remains in God and God remains in him; and this is how we know that he remains in us, because of the Spirit that he has given to us. (CEB)

AND THIS:

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. (NIV)

Again, it’s probably just a matter of cleaning up small areas for future editions. It’s honestly fun to read through the comparisons. I am enjoying both translations.

The New NIV Study Bible

While I am not a fan of study Bibles, it is good to see Zondervan finally getting more products out with the NIV2011 text. This Bible looks fun. Lots of color.

In our Wednesday night Adult Bible study I notice fewer and fewer people bringing their own Bibles, so I am ordering a case of NIV Bibles. When I went to the site to check on prices, I couldn’t believe the vicious complaints in customer comments. Things like, “Don’t be fooled! This isn’t the 1984 edition anymore!” (To which I wanted to reply, “THANK GOD!”)