A Brief Bibliography for Bible Translation Study

Over the past 20 years, Bible translation has become a preeminent debate because of the rise of "dynamic equivalence" translations that attempt to "modernize" the English Bible. If you are interested in studying the issue and on whether you can trust the Bible in your hand, here are some books which I have and look forward to studying. I would like to thank Andy for reminding me of the importance and necessity of being equipped to explain and contend for the literacy of Scriptural translations. Here they are. Carson, Donald A. The Inclusive-Language Debate. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998. Dewey, David. A User's Guide to Bible Translations: Making the Most of Different Versions. Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004. Kaiser, Walter C. Exegetical Fallacies: Second Edition. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996. _________. Toward an Exegetical Theology: Biblical Exegesis for Preaching & Teaching. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981. Metzger, Bruce M. The Bible in Translation: Ancient and English Versions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001. Poythress, Vern S. and Wayne A. Grudem. The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Masculinity of God’s Words. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000. _________. The TNIV and the Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2004. Ryken, Leland. Bible Translation Differences: Criteria for Excellence in Reading and Choosing a Bible Translation. Wheaton: Crossway, 2004. _________. The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation. Wheaton: Crossway, 2002. Scorgie, Glen G, Mark L. Strauss, and Steven M. Voth. The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God's Word to the World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003. Strauss, Mark L. Distorting Scripture? The Challenge of Bible Translation and Gender Accuracy. Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998. Wegner, Paul D. The Journey from Texts to Translations: The Origin and Development of the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1999.

Articles

Bruce, F.F. “The Bible in Its Ancient and English Versions.” Evangelical Quarterly 13/2 (April 1941): 150-54. Carson, Donald A. “The Limits of Dynamic Equivalence in Bible Translation.” Evangelical Review of Theology 9/3 (July 1985): 200-13.

Dart, John. “Gender and the Bible: Evangelicals Wrangle over New Translations.” Christian Century 119/14 (July 2002): 11-13. _________. “TNIV Bible Braves Gender-Inclusive World.” Christian Century 119/4 (February 2002): 10-11. Ellis, Earle E. “Dynamic Equivalence Theory, Feminist Ideology and Three Recent Bible Translations.” Expository Times 115/1 (October 2003): 7-12. Gilmour, Samuel MacLean. “Tests and Standards for Evaluating Current English Versions of the New Testament.” McCormick Quarterly 19 (May 1966): 275-82.

Hoops, Merlin H. “Translating the Bible: The Challenge of an Ongoing Process.” Trinity Seminary Review 3/2 (Fall 1981): 10-19. Mercer, Calvin R. “Contemporary Language and New Translations of the Bible: The Impact of Feminism.” Religion & Public Education 17 (Winter 1990): 89-98. Metzger, Bruce, M. “Translating the Bible: An Ongoing Task.” Bibliotheca Sacra 150 (January-March 1993): 35-49. _________. “Translating the Bible: An Ongoing Task.” Bibliotheca Sacra 150 (April-June 1993): 140-50. _________. “Translating the Bible: An Ongoing Task.” Bibliotheca Sacra 150 (July-September 1993): 273-84. _________. “Translating the Bible: An Ongoing Task.” Bibliotheca Sacra 150 (October-December 1993): 397-415.

Neff, David. “The TNIV Debate.” Christianity Today 46/11 (October 2002): 36-45.

Omanson, Roger L. “Dynamic-equivalence Translations Reconsidered.” Theological Studies 51 (Summer 1990): 495-505. Poythress, Vern S. “Is This New Translation Faithful in Its Treatment of Gender? No.” Christianity Today 46/11 (October 2002): 37-42. Scott, James W. “Dynamic Equivalence and Some Theological Problems in the NIV.” Westminster Theological Journal 48/2 (Fall 1986): 351-61. Smalley, William A. “Discourse Analysis and Bible Translation.” Bible Translator 31/1 (January 1980): 119-25. Spencer, Aida Besancon. “Power Play: Gender Confusion and the NIV.” Christian Century 114 (July 1997): 618-19.

Stackhouse, John G. “The Battle for the Inclusive Bible: Conflicts Over ‘Gender-Neutral’ Versions Are not Really about Translation Issues.” Christianity Today 43/15 (1999): 83-84. Statham, Nigel. “Dynamic Equivalence and Functional Equivalence: How Do They Differ?” Bible Translator 54/1 (January 2003): 102-11. Strauss, Mark L. “Is This New Translation Faithful in Its Treatment of Gender? Yes.” Christianity Today 46/11 (October 2002): 37-42. _________. “Linguistic and Hermeneutical Fallacies in the Guidelines Established at the ‘Conference on Gender-Related Language in Scripture.’” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 41 (June 1998): 239-62. Thomas, Robert L. “Dynamic Equivalence: A Method of Translation or a System of Hermeneutics?” Master’s Seminary Journal 1/2 (Fall 1990): 149-75. “Why the TNIV Draws Ire: No Translation Is Perfect and Each Must Be Read with a Careful Exegetical Eye.” Christianity Today 48/4 (April 2002): 36-37.

One author's conclusion: English Bible translation stands at a watershed moment. For half a century, dynamic equivalence has been the guiding translation philosophy behind most new translations. Each successive wave of these translations has tended to be increasingly bold in departing from the words of the original text. Stated another way, we can trace an arc of increasingly aggressive changing, adding to, and subtracting from the words that the biblical authors wrote. The issues are at stake in the current debate about Bible translations are immense. (Leland Ryken in 2004.)

One more note: You can check out a plethora of information provided by the Center for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. They have a resource center especially geared to the TNIV. Also, there is an online book available called The Gender-Neutral Bible Controversy: Muting the Maculinity of God's Words by Vern Poythress & Wayne Grudem.