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Comparison of CEB on James 2:1

Dan

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?

Tags:

Bible Translations, CEB, ESV, NIV

Date:

January 23, 2012

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6 responses to “Comparison of CEB on James 2:1”

Gary Zimmerli

January 23, 2012 at 5:31 pm

The NASB might add a little to our understanding:

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”

I think the CEB translators are making an interpretation here that may or may not be warranted. The original says nothing about denial of the Faith. But still, it could be so interpreted, I think.

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chadwhitley (@chadwhitley)

January 23, 2012 at 8:20 pm

Interesting. It sounds like a bit of “New Perspective” in James, to me. I’m not sure I like this rendering, but I don’t really know why.

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Drewe

January 23, 2012 at 9:49 pm

I guess it depends on the purpose of the translation? If, like the NLT, they are trying to clarify, then, by all means, clarify – but be sure to advertise that is what you are doing.

If however you are going for a literal translation, then no.

I guess the issue is that when you make ‘expansions’, you do so within the bounds then of your personal doctrine and experience, and hence, you are adding to the text. I like the NLT for example, but won’t use it often because it in clarifying sometimes narrows a meaning to a single, where there could be others that are valid by not using the word for word translation, but a ‘thought for thought’.

Just my 2p!

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1. Dan
  
  January 23, 2012 at 11:07 pm
  
  I need to look more into something and see if it’s even implied that someone “denies” the faith of Christ…
  
  But not finding it in any other translation is puzzling to me. I’m liking the CEB and then little things like this crop up.
  
  Reply
Drewe

January 23, 2012 at 11:28 pm

I just looked up a commentary or two, and while one went WAY over my head (I don’t know any Greek), they suggested that by showing partiality, a person then showed they were not Christian (thereby denying the faithfullness of Christ).

KJV might read it more –

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

So I guess they are expanding on that if you show partiality, you should not consider yourself a Christian? So whilst that could be a valid interpretation, my only (personal) concern is that removes your ability to see the words clearly, but only through their lens…….

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Michael Snow

January 27, 2012 at 5:58 pm

The ESV and NIV are much clearer to me and the CEB muddies the waters.
As the NIGTC points out, James address to the ‘brethren’ is in the imperative.

The CEB turns a command into a declarative description.

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