NLT-New Living Translation

The New Living Translation is the translation offered by Tyndale Publishers. It is interesting to note that the sale of each copy of this version is stated to benefit Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Do you have an opinion on the Living Bible ? The New Living Translation was designed to be the replacement for the original Living Bible, with 90 “scholars” being commissioned starting in 1989 to revise the Living Bible (Listed at the end of this article).

The publishers of this version were at least honest in their source for this version. Unfortunately, All of the material underlying the New Living Translation comes from Bible manuscripts which depart from the Historical Texts used by Protestants for 2000 years.

1. The Old Testament Textus Receptus is the 1525 Hebrew Text of Ben Chayyim (Ben Hakkim), published originally in Venice by Daniel Bomberg

2. The New Testament Texus Receptus (comprised of the texts of 1550/51 by Stephens

Both of these texts/Textual Streams are found in the Geneva Bible (English & French) /

1. The Old Testament translated by Ben Asher of which Kittel’s Version (Rudolph & Gerhard Kittel) is the most commonly used. (It is formally called the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia ).

Kittel was not Jewish, and he was not a native Hebrew speaker. So where did his expertise come from ??? And how would you defend using an Old Testament edited by someone who hates Jews ? Rudolph Kittel was a German Occultist and Textual Critic. Gerhard Kittel (his son) was a member of the Nazi Party (NSDAP). He was also on the Faculty of the University of Tubingen, which had been working on its frontal assault on the Protestant Reformation and the Bible for over a century through “Textual Criticism”. Gerhard Kittel was High Priest to Hitler, and was tried for Nazi War Crimes. But these facts never got in the way of Eerdmans’ publishing of the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament), which is the work of Gerhard Kittel. Who would have known that you can serve the Devil, Worship Hitler and impress some Evangelicals all at once ?

People today wonder where the view originates among those who are anti-semitic, that the Jews of today are not the same as the Jews of the Old Testament. One of the main authors of this novel theory is Gerhard Kittel, who was an outspoken enemy of the Jews as early as 1933. No wonder Hitler liked him & worked with him.

The Hebrew Old Testament of Rudolph Kittel was “so proficient and accurate” in Hebrew, that the Jewish People have NEVER accepted to use it in ANY of their Old Testament Copies.

2. A) The New Testament translated by Tischendorf was compiled on the basis of his “re-discovered” manuscript which ALTERED the historic Greek Text of the New Testament in more than 3500 Places.

B) The New Testament formulated by Westcott and Hort follows the Catholic Corrupt Text of Codex Vaticanus. This is a corrupt Bible Manuscript and also includes other books not found in the Bible (such as the Shepherd of Hermas), and 3 other Corrupt Greek Manuscripts.

The UBS Red-Cover Greek Text New Testament [the UBS/Nestle-Aland Version] is the MAIN GREEK TEXT used in all “Accredited” Protestant Seminaries in the USA). This

UBS Greek New Testament combines the corrupted Text of Tischendorf with the corrupted Text of Westcott & Hort. This is not something we have made up.

Find out for yourself. Just pick up a copy of the Red Cover UBS (United Bible Societies) Greek New Testament and read its introduction by Aland or Nestle.

This new version in English, the New Living Translation bases its New Testament on the UBS Red-Cover Greek Text New Testament. Its Old Testament is the Ben Asher/Kittel version of Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. [The Source of this can be found in the Introduction to the New Living Translation, under the section “The Texts behind the New Living Translation”{ NLT Introduction, pp xii }.]

While both the O.T. & N.T. used are from the United Bible Societies, it should be noticed that both of these Bibles come from the German Bible Society ( Deutch Bibelgesellschaft) . Surprise of all surprises, the German Bible Society (largely as a result of failed German Biblical Textual Criticism) is committed to reversing the work of the Protestant Reformation. In Essence the GBS (German Bible Society) is the UBS (United Bible Societies). The Deutch Bibelgesellschaft also retains the Copyrights both to Kittel’s corrupt Old Testament and the corrupt Red-Cover Greek Nestle-Aland New Testament.

It was the German Bible Society, working through Nestle (who published the first Modern Corrupt Greek New Testament in 1898), who convinced the British Foreign & Missionary Society (around 1904) to reject the historic text of the Bible used by Protestants for 2000 years, and instead use the Corrupt Manuscripts of Nestle (Based on Tischendorf/Westcott & Hort).

The German Bible Society continues its malevalence today under the guise of Scholarship through the United Bible Societies. More Bible Manuscripts have been discovered in the 20^th century than in all other previous centuries combined. That is true ! However, the Bible Manuscripts discovered in the 20^th century continue to point to the Textus Receptus as being the oldest and most reliable texts of the New Testament.

The UBS, Tischendorf, and Westcott & Hort would not want you to know that 95% of all New Testament Manuscripts discovered to date continue to Agree with the Textus Receptus.

For more information:

1. The Revision Revised by John William Burgon (which we offer for sale)

2. Which Bible by Munro (which we offer for sale)

3. The Jesus Papyrus (recent International Bestseller) where the Textus Receptus text of the Gospel of John is dated to 60 AD. A Great Book which - incidentally - also discusses some of the lack of scholarship in the methods of the UBS, the United Bible Societies.

4. The Cambridge Apostles: A History of Cambridge University’s Elite Intellectual Secret Society by Richard Deacon (About one of the Secret Societies that Westcott & Hort belonged to); Homosexuals in history : a study of ambivalence in society, literature, and the arts by A.L. Rowse ; New York : Carroll & Graf, 1997 Specifically, see his Chapter 14 simply called "The Cambridge Apostles".

5. The Secret History of the Oxford Movement by Walsh ( The Oxford Movement of the 1800s was a movement designed to co-opt the Church of England into becoming part of the Roman Catholic Church, and accepting Roman Catholic [incorrect] Theology and the supremacy of the Pope. This book helps readers to understand the culture of the Anglican Church which Westcott and Hort were a part of, and how the Anglican Church was being directed by those who wanted to turn this Protestant Church to the Catholic Church)

More Facts about the New Living Translation

One of the areas of difference in terms of “modern versions” is in the area of “gender inclusion”. The NLT decided to go the with the feminist “gender neutral” perspective.

Gender-Inclusive, Gender-Neutral....call it what you will, it is still changing the Text of the Bible.

In the words of the NLT, “The English language changes constantly. An obvious recent change is in the area of gender-inclusive language....we have attempted to use a gender-neutral rendering where the text applies generally to human beings or to the human condition”. [NLT Intro, under the heading “Gender-Inclusive Language” pp xv].

The above statement is again devoid of fact. The English Language may add new words constantly. But it is much slower to change the meanings of words already present. If the English Language changed so much, it would be impossible for us to understand the works of Milton, Shakespeare or the KJV. The problem is not that the English Language has changed. It is that people have become less educated, more dumbed-down, and far more ignorant in the use of their own native language.

The area of “obvious” change of the gender-inclusive biblical critics becomes a reality only when they bend and distort and change the meanings of the English Text. There is no need for it to understand the Bible. Usually the need to want to change the text of a Bible in a way which de-masculinizes the Bible represents overwhelmingly, the failure of Male leadership.

The failure of men to lead in the Church (the body of Christ) results in the failure of men to lead in society at large. Men give up leading, and the gender-inclusive critics represent the next wave of social agents who attempt to imply that Male leadership is wrong, inappropriate or unsuccessful. That is not correct. What is not successful however, is failed Male leadership. And that is what Corrupt Bible societies are full of. Most of these men have taken very few risks in their lives or in their professional careers. The old Bible Translators risked their lives to bring us their accurate translation.

Translators today face the really “rough” world of social conferences, working retreats, and adjustment conferences in the Carribean. Many of the Bible Translators on the various committees can actually be found participating in one Bible or Evangelical Cruise. The only real risk for the Translators is that average church-goers will find out (if they bypass these critics and start studying the issues for themselves) that Bible Translators have substituted Tenure for Doctrine, and made their own academic careers the subject of their own idolatry.

Official and Tenured Bible Translators are right to be scared and frightened for their own careers. Tenure cannot overcome everything. And in this world of instant information, all of their tepid compromising stances on the Holy Word of God just might find their way into the Public Consciousness. Despite their best feigns, and their pretend change-of-hearts, God has clearly stated that he is against leaders and Shepherds who abuse or mislead their flock in the name of truth. Most of these translators should repent and come forth, and stop being a party to changing the Biblical Text and ensuring that their names are cut out of the Book of life, or that their children live under a curse from Almighty God. (See the last verses of Revelation and what happens to those who add to the words of the Bible).

Sinners in the hands of an Angry God ? I would fear much more to have sat on a “modern version” Bible Translation Committee. We can afford to be wrong ! How will they afford this price - if in any way, we are right ?

All of the Bible translators know that they are using Manuscripts which are NOT those used by the Historic Christian Church for the last 2000 years. They also know that the Manuscripts that are used now do not agree with 95% of the Physical Manuscripts of the Bible. And finally, they also know that the Manuscripts of the Bible which have been found in the 20^th century continue to agree with the 95% of Manuscripts found Prior to that, and all of these manuscripts overwhelmingly continue to support the Textus Receptus.

Textual Critics and Bible Translators may not want to face the truth, but that does not make it any less the truth.

The NLT cites a traditional text of Luke 9:62 as an example of its justification. The text of Luke 9:62 in the KJV reads as follows:

"No man who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God”.

The NLT translated this verse as:

“Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God”.

Who thought this up ? Was this really thought through ? Who can find me a modern woman who can plow ? Who can find a modern woman who knows how to use the plow or direct the cattle ? Who can find a modern woman who would want to ?

This kind of translation reminds us of the old Soviet version of “Equality”. For the Soviets, Equality of women was not to be found in intrinsic worth. It was rather to be found in manual physical labor. That is why only in communist countries can you find women who were shoveling dirt, digging trenches, or sweeping streets. The Soviet version of society said that this was “equality”. How many women really want to be “equal” in that sense ? That seems kind of what this new version suggests.

What is much worse about this version is that it can serve to confuse young men about what it means to be men. One of the reasons why “no man who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God”, is because manual plowing is a difficult task involving not only the constant direction of animals, but one of great physical exertion as well. The issue of what kind of task the Bible Verse is referencing is central to the issue of understanding what Jesus is Saying about life-work and life-focus. Changing the verse to an implied suggestive that woman can do plowing in the same sense (and same manual labor/work output) of most men is simply - dare we say it - absurd. Further, Men, and young men especially do not look to learn tasks or responsibilities that are gender neutral. As part of their innate programing, they look and attempt to find...what it means to be “men”.

And if they (young men) were looking at the verse in this new translation, they would no longer select this verse as a potential male model from which to learn. Young men want to learn how to be men, in all of the good ways and the good things that this means. But there are precious few real men of strong and deep character who can teach them. This version makes that process more difficult.

So, the point about this verse has nothing to do with women having the equal worth to Men (which they do). But all of their intrinsic worth would not enable most women to perform the task that the verse is attempting to elicit. In this day and age, when we are no longer an agrarian-based economy, it would have been better to add explanatory notes about physical plowing rather than altering the English text of the verse, which only serves to decontextualize the Greek verse from the thought & wording it was originally intended to convey, and confuse readers of the English text.

(We can’t wait for all of the email we think we’ll receive from this article...).

Clearly the NLT is a translation that takes corrupt Greek and Hebrew Manuscripts, and makes them worse.

A. Theologians under Hitler : Gerhard Kittel, Paul Althaus, and Emanuel Hirsch by Robert P. Ericksen; New Haven : Yale University Press, 1985.

B. Betrayal: German Churches and the Holocaust by Robert P. Ericksen (Editor), Susannah Heschel (Editor); Fortress Press, 1999

Theologisches Wörterbuch zum Neuen Testament. English
C. Theological dictionary of the New Testament by Gerhard Kittel. Translator and editor: Geoffrey W. Bromiley. Imprint Grand Rapids, Mich., Eerdmans 1964-1976.

NEW LIVING TRANSLATORS

PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY & POST ABOUT THESE TRANSLATORS IN THE
COMING DAYS & WEEKS AHEAD.

PENTATEUCH

Daniel I. Block, Reviewer - Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

GENESIS

Alan Ross - Trinity Episcopal Seminary

John Sailhamer - Northwestern College

Gordon Wenham - Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education

EXODUS

Robert Bergen - Hannibal-LaGrange College

Daniel I. Block - Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Eugene Carpenter - Bethel College, Mishawaka, Indiana

LEVITICUS

David Baker - Ashland Theological Seminary

Victor Hamilton - Asbury College

Kenneth Mathews - Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

NUMBERS

Dale A. Brueggemann - Assemblies of God-Division of Foreign Missions

Roland K. Harrison (deceased) - Wycliffe College

Gerald L. Mattingly - Johnson Bible College

DEUTERONOMY

J. Gordon McConville - Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education

Eugene H. Merrill - Dallas Theological Seminary

John A. Thompson - University of Melbourne

HISTORICAL BOOKS

Barry J. Beitzel, General Reviewer - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

JOSHUA/JUDGES

Carl E. Armerding - Schloss Mittersill Study Centre

Barry J. Beitzel - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Lawson Stone - Asbury Theological Seminary

1 & 2 SAMUEL

Barry J. Beitzel - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

V. Philips Long - Covenant Theological Seminary

J. Robert Vannoy - Biblical Theological Seminary

1 & 2 KINGS

Bill T. Arnold - Asbury Theological Seminary

William H. Barnes - Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God

Frederic W. Bush - Fuller Theological Seminary

1 & 2 CHRONICLES

Raymond B. Dillard (deceased) - Westminster Theological Seminary

David A. Dorsey - Evangelical School of Theology

Terry Eves - Calvin College

EZRA/NEHEMIAH/ESTHER/RUTH

William C. Williams - Southern California College

Hugh G. M. Williamson - Oxford University

POETRY

Tremper Longman III, General Reviewer - Westminster Theological Seminary

JOB

August Konkel - Providence Theological Seminary

Tremper Longman III - Westminster Theological Seminary

Al Wolters - Redeemer College

PSALMS 1-75

Mark D. Futano - Westminster Theological Seminary in California

Douglas Green - Westminster Theological Seminary

Richard Pratt - Reformed Theological Seminary

PSALMS 76-150

David M. Howard Jr. - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Willem VanGemeren - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

PROVERBS

Ted Hildebrandt - Grace College

Richard Schultz - Wheaton College

Raymond C. Van Leeuwen - Eastern College

ECCLESIASTES/SONG OF SONGS

Daniel C. Fredericks - Belhaven College

David Hubbard (deceased) - Fuller Theological Seminary

Tremper Longman III, Westminster Theological Seminary

PROPHETS

John N. Oswalt, General Reviewer - Asbury Theological Seminary

ISAIAH

John N. Oswalt - Asbury Theological Seminary

Gary Smith - Bethel Theological Seminary

John Walton - Moody Bible Institute

JEREMIAH/LAMENTATIONS

G. Herbert Livingston - Asbury Theological Seminary

Elmer A. Martens - Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary

EZEKIEL

Daniel I. Block - Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

David H. Engelhard - Calvin Theological Seminary

David Thompson - Asbury Theological Seminary

DANIEL/HAGGAI/ZECHARIAH/MALACHI

Joyce Baldwin Caine (deceased) - Trinity College, Bristol

Douglas Gropp - Catholic University of America

Roy Hayden - Oral Roberts School of Theology

HOSEA-ZEPHANIAH

Joseph Coleson - Nazarene Theological Seminary

Andrew Will - Wheaton College

Richard Patterson, Professor Emeritus - Liberty University

GOSPELS AND ACTS

Grant R. Osborne, General Reviewer - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

MATTHEW

Craig Blomberg - Denver Seminary

Donald A. Hagner - Fuller Theological Seminary

David Turner - Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary

MARK

Robert Guelich (deceased) - Fuller Theological Seminary

Grant R. Osborne - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

LUKE

Darrel Bock - Dallas Theological Seminary

Scot McKnight - North Park College

Robert Stein - Bethel Theological Seminary

Philip W. Comfort - Wheaton College

D. A. Carson - Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Philip W. Comfort, N.T. Coordinating Editor