No Worse Than Any Other III: Luke 22:43-44

Continuing our examination of the textual basis for a number of Bible translations, we saw last time that the English Standard Version uses a substandard text in Mark 16:9-20. An interesting test for a Bible translation is Luke 22:43-44. This deals with Jesus' suffering in Gethsemane. Second-century anti-Christians like Celsus attacked Jesus for his conduct in Gethsemane which did not match Roman and Stoic ideals, as did the third-century critic Porphyry. Tertullian was embarrassed by it. Ambrose noted that Christians were uncomfortable with it. Epiphanius said that the discomfort was such that many Christians had removed the offending verses from their Bibles.

The second century authors Justin Martyr and Irenaeus knew the passage. The earliest manuscript of the text (0171 from the second century) includes it but fourth century manuscripts like Sinaiticus and Vaticanus omit it. Most Greek New Testaments also mark it as to be omitted. The best textual evidence, however, supports its inclusion. How do our selected versions treat the passage?

KJV: 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

ESV:  43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

NRSV:  43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.
 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

NIV:  43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 

NLT:  43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.
 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

NKJV:  43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

NIrV:  ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and gave him strength. ⁴⁴ Because he was very sad and troubled, he prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

In this case, all of the translations pass on the basis of the text they use. The NIrV, however, is not a particularly good translation of the Greek. Again, the King James Version is no worse than any other.

 
 

No Worse Than Any Other II: Mark 16:9-20

One of the common complaints that I hear about the King James Version is how poor its textual basis is. That is true. The textual basis of many of the other versions, however, is worse. Consider the ending of Mark. 

The Gospel of Mark has a number of endings in the manuscripts. Many prefer to follow the readings of Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, the two earliest complete manuscripts of the New Testament. Both of these manuscripts are missing Mark 16:9-20. They are not, however, the earliest witnesses to the passage. That distinction belongs to Irenaeus. In his Contra Haeresis 3.10.5, Irenaeus quotes the beginning of the gospel and the end of the gospel (Mark 16:20). Elsewhere (Contra Haeresis 2.20.3) he quotes from Mark 16:17-18. Thus the entire long ending was known in the second century, which is much earlier than the fourth century manuscripts that omit it. So what verses of Mark 16:9-20 show up in our selection of translations?

KJV: 9-20

ESV: [[9-20]] (marked in double brackets indicating that it should be deleted)

NRSV: 9-20

NIV: 9-20

NLT: both shorter and longer versions given and marked.

NKJV: 9-20

NIrV: 9-20

 

In this case the English Standard Version uses an inferior text to the King James Version. For this passage, it is a worse translation. Sadly, the BYU New Testament Commentary also follows the inferior text. 

 

No Worse Than Any Other I: Leviticus 4:16

I am often asked to recommend my favorite Bible translation. I usually disappoint my interlocutors by telling them that the King James Version is no worse than any other. This series of posts is designed to illustrate my claims. As a foil, I decided to take the list of recommended English translations that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently posted. The following are the recommended translations:

Ages 14 and Above

• English Standard Version (ESV)​
• New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)​

Ages 11–13

• New International Version (NIV)​
• New Living Translation (NLT)​
• New King James Version (NKJV)​

Ages 8 and Above

• New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)​

A number of years ago, I saw a book on finding Christ in the Old Testament. I had looked at the scriptural index to the book and noticed that while the author was pushing finding symbolic references to Christ, he had overlooked several explicit references. One of these is Leviticus 4:16. My personal favorite translation for this particular verse is the Septuagint:

Septuagint (LXX): καὶ εἰσοίσει ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ χριστὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ μόσχου εἰς τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου
And the priest, the Christ, shall bring from the blood of the bull to the tent of the witness. 

King James Version (KJV): And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock’s blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:

English Standard Version (ESV): Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting,

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV): The anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting,

New International Version (NIV): Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood into the Tent of Meeting.

New Living Translation (NLT): The high priest will then take some of the bull’s blood into the Tabernacle,

New King James Version (NKJV): The anointed priest shall bring some of the bull’s blood to the tabernacle of meeting.

New International Reader’s Version (NIrV): Then the anointed priest must take some of the bull’s blood into the tent of meeting.

The Septuagint explicitly identifies the priest in the sin offering with Christ. None of the translations listed do. The King James Version, however, is no worse than any of the others. If one is interested in a different translation to help find Christ in the Old Testament, none of these translations will help.