D. M. writes,
I am planning to gift my teenage grandchildren with new Bibles and am favorable toward the God’s Word translation for their daily reading with the NKJ also.
I want to make sure that the God’s Word version is accurate before buying it.
I listen to your podcast daily and read your blog. Thank you all so much for all that you do!
Back in 2015 I wrote two articles examining seven major Bible translations. See here and here. I decided to examine some of the same verses that I covered back then.
Galatians 1:8d (and 1:9d). Most translations read “let him be accursed” (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, MEV; HCSB has “a curse be on him”). The God’s Word translation reads, “[he] should be condemned to hell.” There is nothing about Hades in this verse. Anathema refers to a curse. The GW translation seems to be reading its theology into this verse.
1 Corinthians 5:11. A common way to translate the key expression in this verse is “not to keep company with anyone named [or called] a brother” (NKJV, KJV, MEV) or “anyone who bears the name of brother” (ESV). Unfortunately, several translations change bearing the name to anyone who calls himself a Christian (NIV, NET; see also HCSB). The NASB even has any so-called brother.
God’s Word translation puts: “Now, what I meant was that you should not associate with people who call themselves brothers or sisters in the Christian faith” (italics added). The Greek says nothing about them calling themselves anything. The Greek says that they bear this name. The GW translation changes brother to brothers or sisters and it adds the words “in the Christian faith.”
James 2:14. The NKJV translation is representative of many: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” (MEV, KJV). A few translations change faith into that faith (NASB, ESV) or such faith (NIV) or even this kind of faith (NET).
The God’s Word translation changes brethren to brothers and sisters, and a man says he has faith to someone claims to have faith, and faith to this kind of faith: “My brothers and sisters, what good does it do if someone claims to have faith but doesn’t do any good things? Can this kind of faith save him?” (GW translation).
There is nothing in the Greek or the context to refer to a kind of faith.
God’s Word translation follows the so-called Critical Text, not the Majority Text, as can be seen in John 6:47 (leaving off in Me), Rom 8:1 (leaving off who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit), and 1 John 4:19 (leaving off Him in we love Him).
It looks like the God’s Word translation is an amplified version based on the Critical Text, not the Majority Text, and is pushing a Lordship Salvation agenda.
D.M., I’d say get the KJV, NKJV, MEV, or if you want a Critical Text version try the NASB or the HCSB.
