A review of the NLT Study Bible

The Holy Bible: New Living Translation (NLT) is a modern translation of the Bible, converting its naturally archaic language into anachronistic paraphrases in order to make it more accessible to modern lay readers. The NLT Study Bible uses the 2007 edition of the NLT to accumulate a study guide of footnotes and insights designed to elucidate the meanings of Bible passages. But can one really study a paraphrased translation?

History of the NLT Bible

In 1971, Kenneth N. Taylor created the Living Bible, a translation of the Christian canon not based on any original texts but rather paraphrased into contemporary English from the more loyal translation of the American Standard Version (1901). His philosophy behind this process was that, if modern people could not understand the narrative and meaning of the Bible because of the obscurity of its language, this could be adequately fixed by a translation which removed all obscure elements. In 1989, Taylor summoned 90 scholars to revise and produce a new version of the Living Bible. Seven years later, in 1996, the resultant NLT was completed. Taylor's publishing company, Tyndale House Publishers, claimed it had morphed from a revised edition, and was now a totally original translation. Careful reading, however, shows this to be not entirely true. Two more editions of the NLT, in 2004 and 2007, have since been published. The New Living Translation Bible is online at Biblegateway.com. The NLT Bibles, the Life Application Study Bible, the NLT Study Bible, and several other study guides have since been produced. They provide commentaries on the significance of verses, aiming to enlighten readers. Distinct from the Life Application Study Bible, the online community of the NLT Study Bible at NLTStudyBible.com is quite significant, producing debate, reflection and progression.

Problems with the NLT Study Bible

As any scholar will tell you, it is always difficult to study an ideological ancient text in translation. A glance at multiple versions of any such text will attest to the subtle unavoidable differences of language and nuances of character in the translation process. When dealing with a purposefully 'interpretative' translation like the NLT, this problem is even greater. If the translator has interpreted some parts in the wrong way, the entire meaning is skewed. Often, indeed, the NLT Study Bible offers verses which even appear to corrupt possible literal interpretations of the scripture. The NLT sometimes chooses meanings which the original text does not explicitly justify or favour. Furthermore, Biblical texts usually afford underlying or allegorical significance beyond their literal meanings. In rabbinic Judaism, for example, the exegetical approach of Pardes refers to the four levels of meaning of divine texts. A final word A paraphrased translation cannot hope to communicate these spiritually important perspectives.