NEW SIMPLIFIED BIBLE

"Accurate ... Easy to Read ... Easy to Understand"

but is it a Reliable Translation ?

The New Simplified Bible (NSB) was first published Online in the August of 2004 by James R. Madsen as a free online modern English translation of the Bible. According to Madsen: ‘The purpose of this translation is to help the reader understand the various shades of meaning of the English words. To accomplish this (parentheses) are placed around clarifying words that convey additional meaning to the words included in the original text. Limited Scripture references and short commentary are also placed within parentheses.  Madsen describes himself as an  ‘Amateur Bible Translator and Lexicographer’ and freely admits ‘[I have] no degree from any university or religious school. I do not read, nor do I speak Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek. The fact is I rely completely on computer software to arrive at the meaning of the words in the original language.’ In translating the NSB, ‘The King James Version (1769) and the American Standard Version (1901) were used as the base text in English.’

 However, accurately translating the entire Bible from the original ancient Greek, ancient Hebrew, and ancient Aramaic is a task requiring a considerable degree of technical expertise.  It is a job for bona fide Greek and Hebrew scholars. It is not a job for amateurs or dilettantes armed with a lexicon and having little real understanding of the subtleties of Greek and Hebrew grammar.

 In the light of this, note Madsen’s answer to his self posed question: ‘Why do I call myself a Bible Translator when I have no doctorate title to affix to my name?’

Madsen states: ‘It is because I personally researched the meaning of every major word in the Holy Scriptures. I found out what Hebrew or Greek word was used in the original text and what English words reflect the correct translation. Anyone with an average intelligence and an insatiable desire to complete the project could do the same.’  He then goes on to assure his readers that his translation is not  ‘influenced by any Christian denomination or sect.’

 However, renown Bible Scholar and translator: Donald W. Burdick sees it quite differently. He is of the opinion that ‘other things being equal, a committee translation will be superior to a one-man translation, both in accuracy and in English style. A one-man translation will reveal the idiosyncrasies of interpretation and style that are characteristic of the person doing the translating. A committee tends to purge a translation of any such peculiarities, with the result that the final product is more generally acceptable.’ Such a translation, he repeats, will not be ‘the product of one or two men revealing their personal biases or idiosyncrasies. Nor is it the work of one denominational group reflecting one particular theological viewpoint.’ (‘Bible Translation: Why, What, and How?’ Seminary Review, XXI, 1, March, 1975) How does Madsen’s New Simplified Bible  fair in this regard? Is it true, as he claims, that his translation is not ‘influenced by any Christian denomination or sect’?

 On the Simplified Bible Website (http://simplifiedbible.webs.com) Madsen makes the curious claim that his translation is not ‘related to the publishing and preaching work of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is not endorsed by the Watch Tower Society.’ In the light of Burdick’s claim that a ‘one-man translation will reveal the idiosyncrasies of interpretation and style that are characteristic of the person doing the translating’ what might Madsen’s disclaimer be actually revealing?

In ‘A Message From The Translator’ much is revealed about Madsen’s ‘idiosyncrasies’ for therein he states: ‘there are many fine translations available in English today. But nearly all of them are Trinitarian Biased!  The New Simplified Bible is not Trinitarian Biased!’ and further, his translation ‘honours God's Divine Name (translated as: Jehovah) and features the true monotheistic God.’ Now these are anything but insignificant theological statements with which to introduce a new translation of the Bible! And so we ask: From where do these statements stem?

 The answer to this is found in Madsen’s disclaimer: that his translation is not ‘related to the publishing and preaching work of Jehovah's Witnesses. It is not endorsed by the Watch Tower Society.’ Why does he single out this religious group? The Christadelphians deny the Trinity, as do Unitarians, Christian Scientists and Oneness Pentecostals. Clearly, Madsen’s disclaimer is an effort on his part to distance his translation from the Watchtower Society and his own religious biases - for James R. Madsen is a Jehovah’s Witness! In his ‘Bio’ on http://www.scribd.com/simplifiedbible 71 year old Madsen reveals that he enjoys ’visiting with friends at the Kingdom Hall. As one of Jehovah's Witness I spend several hours per week going door to door to tell others about God's Kingdom.’

 With this knowledge, it becomes clear that Madsen’s translation is flawed for it is the product of one man and, as such, is tainted with the very errors Burdick (above) refers to:  Madsen’s translation is littered with his personal biases and idiosyncrasies and reflects one particular theological viewpoint. His New Simplified Bible brims with all the classic errors and distortions of Scripture that are found in the Watchtower’s New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures - all of which are driven by the Watchtower Society’s theological idiosyncrasies. A cursory comparison of the New Simplified Bible with the New World Translation clearly reveals that Madsen - the self confessed Amateur Bible translator - has simply regurgitated these Watchtower ‘idiosyncrasies of interpretation’ into his translation. Following are a sample of texts for comparison. Since Madsen claims that he used the King James (KJV) and American Standard (AS) Versions for his initial translation work, we use these to compare with the New World Translation (NWT) and his New Simplified Bible (NSB).               

 Madsen promotes his New Simplified Bible as ‘Accurate ... Easy to Read ... Easy to Understand’ and claims that ’an honest attempt has been made to give [readers] the accurate translation from the original language.’ All this from a man who confesses: ‘There is no certificate on the wall. I have no degree from any university or religious school. I do not read, nor do I speak, Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek’ but rather relied ‘completely on computer software to arrive at the meaning of the words in the original language.’

 Yet, even in Madsen’s confession we are confronted with his theological idiosyncrasies and biases as a Jehovah’s Witness who holds to the teachings and ethos of the Watchtower Society. Why do we say this? From its earliest history, the leaders of the Watchtower Society have unabashedly scoffed at Biblical Scholars and ridiculed them for the years they have devoted to studying Biblical subjects and languages. Although when it suits them, the Watchtower Society draws from such scholars’ wisdom, they ridicule them and accuse them of being religiously biased. Such ridicule has appeared in Watchtower publications and been  incorporated into Public Lectures and as such, is thoroughly embraced and reiterated by the rank and file Jehovah’s Witnesses.

 His admission that he has no formal training in Biblical studies and/or languages exhibits his agreement with the position taken by the Watchtower Society - a position that is echoed in his Translation Message: ‘A close examination of each of these complete Bible translations shows that nearly all of them are Trinitarian Biased! And approximately 95 percent of the remaining 350 English translations of the New Testament (Christian Greek Scriptures) are Trinitarian Biased.’

 As a Jehovah’s Witness, Madsen reiterates the Watchtower Society’s allegation that Biblical Scholars are biased Trinitarians and that they are weaving their Trinitarian concepts into their translations so as to mislead the world and prevent the members of Christendom’s churches from discovering the truth of God as revealed by his only true followers: the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Not surprisingly we read in his ‘Bio’: ‘I highly recommend the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses! You’ll find more Bible truth with Jehovah’s Witnesses than with any other religious organization.’

 As can be seen in the Chart below, the New Simplified Bible  bears the marks of the translator’s biases as a Jehovah’s Witness and as such, is another flawed translation akin to the Watchtower Society’s New World Translation. Therefore, we conclude that Madsen’s New Simplified Bible is not a reliable translation - but rather (to borrow the words of the eminent Greek Scholar, J. R. Mantey) it is another ‘shocking mistranslation’. We agree wholeheartedly with Dr. Claude Mariottini (Professor of  Old Testament at Northern Baptist Seminary) when he states: ‘the New Simplified Bible could be classified as “Jehovah’s Witnesses lite”’ and that as such ‘In conclusion, I cannot recommend the New Simplified Bible.’           (http//doctor.claudemarottini2009/11/new-simplified-bible.html)

In the 1950s the Watchtower Society began to release its own translation of the Bible, published as the New World Translation (NWT) with the claim that their translation is the most accurate, unbiased translation available. Concerning the committee of translators, the Society maintains that it consisted of highly trained Greek scholars who did their best to translate from the original as accurately as possible (NWT, 1984, page 5).

The Watchtower Society has consistently declined to name the translators of their New World Translation. However, former members of the Governing Body of the organisation have identified the members of the committee as: Nathan H. Knorr (then President of the Watchtower Society), Frederick W. Franz (then Vice-President), George D. Gangas, and Albert D. Schroeder. All were totally unqualified for the task. Of the four, only Franz had any training in biblical languages and that, at best, was a cursory and superficial knowledge of Greek: he completed one, two-hour credit class of Bible Greek. Knorr, Gangas and Schroeder had no training in biblical languages whatsoever. Further, Raymond Franz (nephew of Frederick W. Franz and a former member of the Governing Body) maintains that the principal translator of the Society's New World Translation was Frederick W. Franz. Former 3rd generation Witness, Professor M. James Penton (Historian and Lecturer at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada) concurs stating that, to all intents and purposes, the New World Translation is the work of one man, Frederick Franz. No wonder the Society maintains its silence!