On a lighter note, as a student of Biblical languages (Bible translation) we much preferred TEV (Today’s English Version) – known as the Good News Bible as being very true to the original intent (in our opinion, in “blind” surveys after serious study of passages in the original as compared to readings of various versions.)

But on a serious note, I do love the NLT.  I think it is a wonderful translation.  It is quite readable and accurate.  A great combination, I say!

“it” was a typo and should be is. I hate it when I’m not perfect.

I changed part of the sentence to this:

“is also true to the underlying languages, translated by scholars—many who have written commentaries on the books of the Bible they translated.”

Which probably isn’t perfect either but I try. I’m always open to criticism of my writing.
Jeff

If you look at the list of scholars, at least for the Greek I can recognize most who have written a commentary on each of those books.

Jeff

I’m not sure I completely understand what this means (perhaps you have some typos in this phrase) but I think the claim that the NLT is an accurate translation, preserving the nuance of the original text, is certainly open for dispute.  The Hebrew Scriptures were certainly not readable by the average reader.  Some claim that the Greek New Testament was readable by the average reader, but in fact, the language (and certainly the required background to understand) the Pauline Epistles or the Apocalypse of John is considerable.

You mention scholars who translated the NLT — do you know if anyone of them teach at seminaries or universities that use the NLT as their standard translation?   It seems to me that the NLT was translated by scholars, but those scholars almost never use it in their serious teaching.

Now, I just wish the church I attend would make the switch from the good old NIV to the NLTse, but I think that will never happen considering our pastor thinks the NASB is the TRUE Word of God!