Translations of the New Testament
The oldest sources of the New Testament are in Greek, and the prevailing opinion is that it is the original language of the writings. During the late Roman-Byzantine period, the New Testament was translated into other languages according to the common language among the regional church, such as Coptic, Aramaic, and Latin. During the Middle Ages, the New Testament or parts of it were translated into other languages, including Hebrew.
Popular English Translations
Traditional churches use the ancient versions of the New Testament for their liturgy - the Catholic Church in Latin, the Greek Orthodox Church in Greek, the Syrian Church in Aramaic, and so on. Typically, the same church will produce translations for their believers who do not speak the liturgical language.
The most well-known Protestant translation in English is the King James Version (KJV) by King James, which was first published in 1611 for the Anglican Church. This translation, which underwent many updates, is still highly popular among many English speakers, primarily in the United States and Australia. This translation has also undergone linguistic changes and updates under the name "New King James Version" (NKJV). Other popular translations among English speakers are newer translations such as the New International Version (NIV) or the Revised Standard Version (RSV), which are considered more academically oriented.
Popular Translations in Hebrew
In Hebrew, several translations have been made. Today, there are two popular translations. The classic translation is by Professor Franz Delitzsch, a German researcher who lived in the 19th century. Delitzsch was a German Lutheran theologian who was also one of the early researchers of Jewish studies. One of his projects was to translate the New Testament into Hebrew so that Jews could read the New Testament, hoping that there would be Jews who would recognize Jesus as the Messiah. For this reason, Delitzsch used his extensive knowledge of the Bible and rabbinic literature to translate the New Testament from Greek into Hebrew in a language familiar to Jews, namely, Biblical Hebrew, Mishnaic Hebrew, and Talmudic Hebrew. Although it is considered a high-level translation, for the Israeli reader today, this translation can be too archaic and sometimes challenging to read.
The second prevalent translation in Hebrew today is the translation by the "Bible Society in Israel." The society was established in Britain in 1804 under the name Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge, and in 1905, the Jerusalem branch was founded. The organization's stated goal is to promote the study of the Scriptures among the public. The first translation into Hebrew on behalf of the society was done in 1970, and since then, it has undergone various updates. Among the translators are also Israelis, so the language of the translation is more adapted to the average Hebrew reader.
I encourage you to dive into the New Testament in different languages, explore the nuances of translations. By embracing the diversity of translations, we enrich our understanding of the Scriptures and open ourselves to new insights and revelations, uncovering the profound beauty and wisdom contained within its sacred pages.
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