Good News Translation

[Laud_God]

What do you think of the Good News Bible?

I just got the GNT Catholic Student Bible with imprimatur, and I can’t decide if this is a very wrong translation, or its just different.

What do you think?

 

[Laud_God]

Bump

 

[silverwings_88]

Laud_God:

What do you think of the Good News Bible?

I just got the GNT Catholic Student Bible with imprimatur, and I can’t decide if this is a very wrong translation, or its just different.

What do you think?

I would like to actually get opinion on this. On my other thread, the GNT seemed more favourable to the NLT (which I like the language used), and I would like to buy a pocket version of any of the two translations if possible to find…

 

[bauerice]

I read the GNT. The one problem I have with it is Luke 1:48. This scripture is part of what is known as “the canticle of Mary” Most translations say “that from now, will all ages call me Blessed”. The GNT “From now on all people will call me happy”. I took a red pen and inserted the word Blessed in mine.

 

[Mystophilus]

Laud_God:

I just got the GNT Catholic Student Bible with imprimatur, and I can’t decide if this is a very wrong translation, or its just different.

The Good News is quite a well-respected translation, which is to say that it is not “wrong” at all, perhaps just a little idiosyncratic occasionally, as are all translations. It is particularly favoured for the simplicity and clarity of its English.

 

[Mystophilus]

bauerice:

I read the GNT. The one problem I have with it is Luke 1:48. This scripture is part of what is known as “the canticle of Mary” Most translations say “that from now, will all ages call me Blessed”. The GNT “From now on all people will call me happy”. I took a red pen and inserted the word Blessed in mine.

"makariousin me pasai ai geneai’’: “all families/generations/tribes/nations/ages will bless/congratulate me” or “will deem me blessed/happy”.

 

[Fidelis]

There’s nothing wrong with using these types of translations if it makes it easier for you to read the Bible. HOWEVER, it should be kept in mind that these are paraphrases, which means they are not direct translations from the original languages, but just somebody’s attempt to make the Bible a little easer to read. One should never use these as a definitive translation, for example, to argue for a doctrinal point. The example of Luke 1:28 is a case in point.

 

[Zooey]

Fidelis:

There’s nothing wrong with using these types of translations if it makes it easier for you to read the Bible. HOWEVER, it should be kept in mind that these are paraphrases, which means they are not direct translations from the original languages, but just somebody’s attempt to make the Bible a little easer to read. One should never use these as a definitive translation, for example, to argue for a doctrinal point. The example of Luke 1:28 is a case in point.

I agree!
The GNT is a lovely easy to read Bible, but for serious study, you need to check a more literal translation. I like it much better than the NLT, which doesn’t “sound like” the Bible, as well as being a paraphrase.
I keep the GNT by the chair where I read the Bible, & use it as a reference for passages that are hard to understand.
I think that as long as you acknowledge its weaknesses, it’s a good version, because it makes the scriptures so clear to understand.

 

[Pug]

It is a fine translation for some purposes. It is not the best for study, apologetics, or public reading. You need a different translation for those. However, if you want to read a dense book of the bible or get through Acts to know what is in there and see what Paul did, it is great!

 

[bauerice]

"makariousin me pasai ai geneai’’: “all families/generations/tribes/nations/ages will bless/congratulate me” or “will deem me blessed/happy”.

Then we could call Mary “Our Happy Mother” or “The Happy Virgin Mary”?
That is why I took a pen and wrote Blessed next to the word happy in that verse. I love the GNT otherwise.

 

[Mystophilus]

bauerice:

Then we could call Mary “Our Happy Mother” or “The Happy Virgin Mary”?
That is why I took a pen and wrote Blessed next to the word happy in that verse. I love the GNT otherwise.

See also this thread, which has a few comments on the GNT.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

Laud_God:

What do you think of the Good News Bible?

I just got the GNT Catholic Student Bible with imprimatur, and I can’t decide if this is a very wrong translation, or its just different.

What do you think?

Bear in mind for whom it’s intended - those whose first language is not English. It therefore uses a restricted vocabulary.​

I do prefer the NT - “Noah’s boat”, and the “covenant box”, don’t sound right ##