Comments on: Liking the NLT is confusing my translation dilemma

By: Yasmine

Yasmine — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:22:49 +0000

Dear Nothingman, dear Jeff,Thank you so much for being so helpful! I think I will go for the NLTSB then. Had a look at the ArchaeologicalSB but I don’t like that it doesn’t look like a bible but more like an illustrated whatever with the parchment-styled up pages. I really appreciate your advise as there is naturally no bookstore here where I can have a look at these bibles to make up my mind and thus have to rely on the internet. Funny and also sad that there is a SB for everything and everyone and their pets in English and almost nothing available in German, only Thompson, MacArthur and Genova. Regards Yasmine

By: Scripture Zealot

Scripture Zealot — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:18:59 +0000

Yasmine thanks for stopping by. I haven't used the TNIVSB so I can't comment on that but I would go with what nothingman says. There is one called The NIV Archaeological Study Bible if you want to focus on that aspect but it sounds like you would like the NLT translation.

Thanks for the comments Peter.
Jeff

By: Peter M. Lopez

Peter M. Lopez — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:36:38 +0000

It looks like I missed out on most of this discussion, but I will add my $.02, I think the NRSV/NLT combo is great. I agree with Elshaddai and others, simply b/c my own personal preference is the NASB, the an NASB/NLT combo would be excellent. I have an NASB/NIV/Greek parallel NT that is a great resource, too.BTW there is a hand-sized, softcover JPS Tanakh in Hebrew and English (Hebrew on one side/English on the other) that is excellent.

By: nothingman

nothingman — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:32:53 +0000

Yasmine – From what I gather from your post, I would highly recommend the NLT Study Bible over the TNIV. I have used both, and I think you will appreciate the readability in the NLTSB.

By: Yasmine

Yasmine — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:31:01 +0000

Well I forgot something! Thank you all for your wonderfull blogs! I have learned a lot lurking and reading them and I think you all do a great job spreading the Message doing them! I also like the fact that you interact with the bible scholars who translate and comment on the bible and thus enhance the bibles published and the scholars to take the time to listen to you and respond! It is a living community and it is nice to know that there are people who care so much!

By: Yasmine

Yasmine — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:22:54 +0000

Hello everybody, I know this is probably not the right place to ask, but I wonder if you are willing to help me. I am a layperson very much interested in the bible. Four years ago I started reading it from beginning to end for educational reasons. It draw me deeper and deeper and I read a lot of books about history and archaeology at the side. Being German I like best the German Good News translation for its readabilbty. Now, here comes the question: I would like to buy a study bible, but can’t seem to make up my mind if I should go for the TNIV or NLT? It should be easy to read and have good notes on history and archaeological stuff. I already have a QuestSB which I like very much to develop the faith that obviously is growing and need something that covers all the other stuff. The NIV is sometimes a bit hard for me to read and I have to reach for my German GNB from time to time. It would be nice to have one bible that would it unnecessary to reach for a German translation and various study helps as I am reading mostly when commuting or in bed. Thank you all in advance for being so helpful! Regards Yasmine

By: Scripture Zealot

Scripture Zealot — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:50:16 +0000

Thank you so much Kevin. For those without a local bookstore that will be so helpful.
Jeff

By: kevin O'Brien

kevin O'Brien — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:31:15 +0000

All,
Thanks for your interest in the NLT and the kind words. I am working with our typesetting team here at Tyndale to get page sampes posted on http://www.nltblog.com later this week. I will include pdfs of 4 or five of our most popular text Bibles so that you can compare. My favorite is the personal size which is pretty small, but with a generous font for the trim size. Hopefully these will help to get a sense of the various options out there.

By: Scripture Zealot

Scripture Zealot — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:58:21 +0000

Hi Tim,
You can see this post for a way to compare. There are a couple places I liked the NLT1 better but for the most part the NLTse seems to be a major improvement.

My connection is flakey so that's the short answer. Write again if you need to.
Jeff

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:03:39 +0000

Quick question in regards to the NLT. I have a NLT: Catholic Reference Edition which I don’t use very much, but may take a second look at. Is there a huge difference betweeen the NLT first edition and its subsequent revisions? For better?

By: Scripture Zealot

Scripture Zealot — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:02:59 +0000

Robert, you can get a 30 day trial of the NLTSB online here:
http://www.nltstudybible.com/X_Secure/login.asp
It's in beta right now so it doesn't have all the features. It doesn't have word studies or community notes yet for example. I would wait a month and then get the free trial.

I'll go to my local Christian bookstore and see what they have for NLT. Otherwise I may like to email you about that Bible. The NLT people might put up some PDFs for different editions.

ElShaddai that's a great question. I was also thinking that the TNIV would be a good single translation to use if one likes it the best.

It's interesting to see that there are others who use NRSV and NLT.
Jeff

By: Kevin Sam

Kevin Sam — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:09:49 +0000

Very good question ElShaddai. I had to think about this for a while. My answer is that it would give me an alternate translation. For a person like myself who looks at 5 or 6 translations for sermon preparation, it’s still useful. But for someone who only reads 2 translations maybe the NRSV and NLT is sufficient. Since I never did get into the NIV in my early days, I probably wouldn’t feel a big loss if I never read it. But for those who have memorized a lot of scripture from the NIV, it’s a jewel.

By: Robert Jimenez

Robert Jimenez — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 05:05:43 +0000

Jeff, the one I bought is the Personal Edition (black/onyx), it has a great font size. Is the NLT going to have an on line version as well? Do you if it will have the same capabilities as the ESV? I would like to hear more about the NLT online study bible.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:11:18 +0000

@Kevin – what does the TNIV give you that the NLT and NRSV do not? I’m actually serious – I understand those that would use the TNIV as their only translation, but if you’re covering the formal side with the NRSV and the functional with the NLT, what does the TNIV provide *you* in terms of a unique view of Scripture? (For me, it would be consistency with our church’s use of the NIV, but I’m curious to get your answer.)

By: Kevin Sam

Kevin Sam — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:06:38 +0000

Like you, I’m using NRSV and NLT as my formal and dynamic translations right now. I’m also using TNIV as my mediating translation. So NRSV, TNIV, and NLT–these are my 3 main translations. I haven’t given up on the ESV yet but it’s sliding as a regular read. I also tried out the HCSB but can’t really get into it even though its translation philosophy is great.

By: Scripture Zealot

Scripture Zealot — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:28:53 +0000

Robert, I'm planning on getting a NLT Personal Edition or another edition for reading because the Study Bible is bulky for that purpose. Is the one you have the Personal Edition?

I like online/computer stuff too. I use e-Sword all the time.

I've ordered the ESVSB also. It will be interesting to see how the online version works and also to see how the NLTSB online edition evolves.

I wrote to the HCSB people about being more involved online. Maybe they feel it doesn't make that much of a difference. Their sales seem to be right up there with ESV nonetheless.
Jeff

By: Robert Jimenez

Robert Jimenez — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:30:18 +0000

About a month ago I purchased a descent Trutone version of the NLT, in hopes that if it is nice to hold I will make an effort to read it more often. Although I have not been as commited as I liked to be, I am making some progress. I still read the HCSB as my main bible.I did order the ESV study bible. I had pretty much given up on study bibles, and was never going to purchase another one again. However, on thing that made it interest to me was all of the on-line capabilities that it’s going to offer. I am big advocate of on-line documents. I keep all of my messages, study notes on line with Google Docs. Having a study bible on line that I can write notes, highlight was something I could not resists. I hope that the others will follow along this path.I am disappointed with the lack (none at all) of user particiapation the HCSB has.

By: nothingman

nothingman — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:18:14 +0000

I agree with EE as I currently use the NLTse alongside the NRSV for study. It is interesting to compare such different translations, and I have come to appreciate the clarity in the NLTse the more I use it. I continue to carry the NIV with me to church on Sundays as this continues to be THE translation used from the pulpit and in our classes. I hope to see the day when the NLTse takes THE place of the NIV.

By: Scripture Zealot

Scripture Zealot — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:34:08 +0000

When I first starting thinking about using two translations instead of one, I was thinking HCSB and NLT, or HCSB could be substituted with NASB or NRSV. I think NASB/NLT would be great.

If the NLT is indeed accurate then I don't see why it can't be used for "serious study" even though I would like to use a more formal translation in addition.

I have a post in mind about how patronizing people are towards the NLT.
Jeff

By: R. Mansfield

R. Mansfield — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:50:05 +0000

Regarding EE’s comment above, Tyndale has traditionally been fairly guarded about other companies publishing the NLT, but that doesn’t mean that they couldn’t publish parallel editions themselves. The NLT has shown up a few other places though. The NLT1 was available in Zondervan’s Complete Parallel Bible, and both the TNIV and NLTse are going to be placed side by side in an upcoming interlinear from Zondervan.

On a related note, by all indications Tyndale wants the NLT to move from the place as a secondary translation to one that can be used for serious study as a primary Bible (we see indications of this with the new study Bible, the Cornerstone commentary series, the Tyndale-Strongs numbering system, and the continued revisions of the text that hone the translation’s accuracy). I would suggest that the next step involves moving to direct relationship with the original languages such as what we’ve seen recently in the NET diglot from Bible.org. Tyndale should consider producing a New Testament in which the Greek text is side by side with the NLT, maybe even with commentary offering justification for particular renderings. This would make a bold statement that the NLT really is a serious translation of the Scriptures.

By: tc robinson

tc robinson — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:28:35 +0000

Jeff, I have to agree with Elshaddai’s combination. For me, if I’m not reading the TNIV, it’s either the NLT or th NRSV.

By: R. Mansfield

R. Mansfield — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:34:16 +0000

I used to live in a very comfortable world in which I was able to take notes in my wide-margin NASB and then teach from the same Bible. Yes, I referenced other translations and even the original languages in my preparation, but I was able to record notes and teach in the same Bible.

Then I had to go and become “sensitive” to my audience! That put me in a dilemma that I have still not resolved to this day. None of the translations which I have found better suited to public use (TNIV, NLT, NET, even HCSB) has a decent wide margin edition. So my method is now schizophrenic: I still take notes in my NASB, but resort to writing a subset of them in my TNIV Reference Bible–whatever will fit. Gone are the days where one Bible suited both purposes. To me a “primary” translation is one that I can use for both purposes. And much like the situation you describe here, Jeff, I resort to using different Bibles for different purposes beyond the point that I’d like to.

Too bad I can’t warm up to the ESV because Crossway makes a number of wide margin editions.

I’d love to find one translation that could remain my primary for even the next ten years. But I need a wide margin edition for that to happen.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:09:57 +0000

I think that the NLT and NRSV would be a terrific combination of translations to use – both are excellent in their respective areas of strength. I’ve also thought that an NASB/NLT would be a great parallel Bible to study with – Zondervan made a NASB/Message parallel… an NLT version would be even better!

By: Scripture Zealot

Scripture Zealot — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:08:36 +0000

Nick, sometimes I wish they just would have stopped at the KJV. But unfortunately my reading comprehension goes down about 25-30% when I read it.

Thanks for your comments Nathan. I'm glad to hear someone confirm my idea about translations for study. I'll have to look into the JPS Tanakh.

I have another post about the NLT planned.

I'm hoping the comment formatting system is more helpful than confusing.
Jeff

By: Nathan Stitt

Nathan Stitt — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:08:38 +0000

I’m still getting used to your comment system. All of my double returns were
removed for some reason when I hit submit

[edit]
Nevermind, I was able to edit it just fine, odd.