Sunday, October 30, 2011

Analyzing Six Bible Translations: Part 27-John 3:16

John 3:16
ESV "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
NIV84 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
NIV For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
HCSB "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
NASB "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
NET For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Check a: “so loved” versus “in this way”
               While the traditional translation that God “so loved” the world (referring to the extent of God’s love) is completely within the range of meanings for the Greek word houtōs, the context seems to lean in favor of the translation of “in this way” (referring to the manner in which God’s showed His love). Both the NET and HCSB get one point (the rest get zero).

Check b: “one and only” versus “only begotten”
                The translation of “only begotten” is based upon a word study fallacy that monogenēs, split into it’s two parts, means “only” and “to beget.” If this were the case, then there is an issue in Hebrews 11:17 when the author of Hebrews refers to Isaac as Abraham’s only son. The concept that should be communicated is uniqueness or how Jesus is God’s son in a special way. The ESV’s “only Son” and the NASB’s “only begotten” are problematic. The rest use the phrase “one and only,” which are fine.

Check c: the quotation marks
                Johannine scholarship has virtually reached the consensus that John 3:16 was not spoken by Jesus, but is an aside by the author. The best way to communicate this is to take John 3:16-21 out of quotation marks and place a footnote after verse 15 stating that some translations continue the quote through verse 21 (cf. NIV, NET). The second best way is to keep it in quotes, but reference the idea that some scholars think the quote should end after verse 15 or 21 (cf. ESV; HCSB). The NIV84 and the NASB simply leave it in quotes.

Part 2 running totals:

ESV
NIV84
NIV
HCSB
NASB
NET
Josh 15:18
1
1
1
1
-1
1
2 Sam 20:20
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Isa 6:5
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Isa 7:14
1
1
-1
1
1
-1
Ezek 21:7
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Mal 2:16
1
-1
1
1
-1
0
Telling Time
0
1
1
1
0
1
Negative Particles
0
1
1
1
1
1
Textual Variants
1
1
0
-1
0
1
Matt 6:13
-1
1
1
1
-1
1
“the Jews” in FG
-1
0
1
0
-1
1
“signs” in FG
1
-1
1
1
1
-1
Gender issues
0
-1
1
1
-1
1
Matt 13:32
1
-1
1
1
-1
1
John 1:5
1
-1
1
1
-1
1
John 3:3
0
0
0
0
0
1
John 3:16a
0
0
0
1
0
1
John 3:16b
-1
1
1
1
-1
1
John 3:16c
0
-1
1
0
-1
1
TOTALS
7
4
14
14
-3
8

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