The Fourfold Aim of The Lockman Foundation
1. These publications shall be true to the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
2. They shall be grammatically correct.
3. They shall be understandable.
4. They shall give the Lord Jesus Christ His proper place, the place which the Word gives
Him; therefore, no work will ever be personalized.
As I stated before my inner English major did a little dance when I discovered this translation. The only part I have trouble with is the understandable part. The NASB does not really make concessions for readability the way the NIV does. Therefore, in sections it sounds downright pretentious. Now, I really like the NIV as well. Like I said, I think they perform different functions. If you view Translations as a sliding scale you have ESV and NASB at one end as near direct translations. Then, at the other end there is the Message (I have strong opinions on the message that I'll get into later). The Message end of the scale is focused on readability. And then, right smack in the middle of the imaginary sliding scale is the New International Version. It is written to be loyal to the original but also to be pretty. I really like to hold the two side by side. Especially in the case of passages like Romans 3. Here are excerpts of the same verses from NIV and NASB.
In the NIV Romans 3:21-31 reads like this:
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
It's a really powerful set of verses. The beginning is several rather short sentences. However, over in NASB world we have this lovely set of verses:
It's a really powerful set of verses. The beginning is several rather short sentences. However, over in NASB world we have this lovely set of verses:
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Now not only is it all practically one sentences, it's in some sections really wordy. I like to thing my reading level is above average, but after reading this I was like, wait what? So Long story short. I like them both, I think when read together you can get an interesting picture.
This idea was brought home for me in Romans 12. I was having an absolutely terrible day when a good friend of mine does what she does best; she confronted me with the word. I was really stressed when she pointed me to Romans 12:12. I love that, I'm having a mini freak out and I don't get the standard friend response. I'm used to the rote conversation, "I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it? That sucks, let me tell you a similar story in my life." It always goes the same way. A good friend will listen to you complain, offer advice, empathize if they can, share a story about their life to help guide you. It's great sometimes, but it's so of man. Fallible man. And, then there's my friend. She lets me complain - which was probably best because I was about to explode - but then she sends me to God. She does not present me with herself, but with our God. It amazes me every time she does this, every time she veers off the beaten path, the conversation script for a good friend. So I was presented with this verse, one I needed.
When I looked it up in my Bible I noticed it was different than the verse she'd quoted to me. So I looked it up in the NIV (which is the version she passionately defends).
The NIV translation reads:
Be joyful in hop, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
I really like that. The NASB reads:
...rejoicing in hope, perserving in tribulation, devoted to prayer...
Here you can see once again that the NASB loves the semi-colon and again this isn't broken into a smaller sentence. So I went back and read the section.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Now not only is it all practically one sentences, it's in some sections really wordy. I like to thing my reading level is above average, but after reading this I was like, wait what? So Long story short. I like them both, I think when read together you can get an interesting picture.
This idea was brought home for me in Romans 12. I was having an absolutely terrible day when a good friend of mine does what she does best; she confronted me with the word. I was really stressed when she pointed me to Romans 12:12. I love that, I'm having a mini freak out and I don't get the standard friend response. I'm used to the rote conversation, "I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it? That sucks, let me tell you a similar story in my life." It always goes the same way. A good friend will listen to you complain, offer advice, empathize if they can, share a story about their life to help guide you. It's great sometimes, but it's so of man. Fallible man. And, then there's my friend. She lets me complain - which was probably best because I was about to explode - but then she sends me to God. She does not present me with herself, but with our God. It amazes me every time she does this, every time she veers off the beaten path, the conversation script for a good friend. So I was presented with this verse, one I needed.
When I looked it up in my Bible I noticed it was different than the verse she'd quoted to me. So I looked it up in the NIV (which is the version she passionately defends).
The NIV translation reads:
Be joyful in hop, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.
I really like that. The NASB reads:
...rejoicing in hope, perserving in tribulation, devoted to prayer...
Here you can see once again that the NASB loves the semi-colon and again this isn't broken into a smaller sentence. So I went back and read the section.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
After reading it through I was struck by the way the two translations offer what I thought was two halves of the story. They offer themselves this way in the way the language is used. Be Joyful. I cannot hope while I am in the midst of despair. I must find Joy if I'm going to be filled with hope in Jesus. Earlier in Romans Paul charges us to hope against hope as Abraham did(Romans 4:18-21). In the NASB it is used as an action word. I need to be Rejoicing; this requires my action and I cannot be passive about it. Yes I need to be joyful, and I need to remember that there is joy in life. In every part of life, and I need to take joy in the hope I have in Christ. But, I also need to be reminded that this joy is an active thing. I am not just happy, I am actively rejoicing in this hope I have in Christ. His grace is an ocean and I am in it. I'm not outside of it, so I have to see it as an action.
The next part struck me in the same way. Patient in affliction. This one was big for me; patience is a virtue that does not come easily for me. I must be patient before the Lord; he has a plan. On the other side in the NASB though, we are reminded not to be passive. In the NASB we are called to persevere in our tribulations. I like this a lot, because as a very active person I tend to - however erroneously - see patience as waiting and passive. I imagine as sitting and waiting for life to happen. I must have patience, but I must persevere through my troubles. I must keep going confident that my God has a plan for me and I am being carried by him. This part was big for me as I was having my freak out. My tribulations, my afflictions, are from the place of my joys. God doesn't give us more than we can handle. He also is the one orchestrating our run to him, if that requires us to endure some painful stretching that is what is going to happen.
We see this idea of two halves to a whole most clearly in the last need; although to fully get it I do do some twisting of the language. Sorry, I'm not sorry. haha. We must be faithful in prayer. However, not only do my prayers need to have faith, but they must also be devoted. They must be faith filled, and consistent; I must be devoted to my prayers. I cannot call out from the depths and forget God exists once he hears my cry. I cannot pray infrequently. I must be devoted. Now, I understand in this last one I twisted the most likely meaning for faithful - it can also imply consistency - and substituted another. But I really feel this reading of the two halves to the whole is right.
The NIV uses key words that are important to keep in mind: Joy, Patience, and Faith. These words are crucial to our relationship with God. We must be Joyful, Patient, and Faithful. However, we must also be reminded of the need for these things to be actions we perform in our lives. Our faith can in no way be a passive thing. It should be living and active like our Word. That is where the NASB comes in. I think the word choice of the NIV is important because for Christians those words trigger certain feelings, we can’t help but harken back to other verses citing Faith, Hope, Joy and remember other promises of God. However, we need to know how active we must be for our God.
Just a thought.
Also, I have no idea what this highlighter business is. Yo no sey. In the words of my friend.
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