The Concordant Literal Version (CLV) of the Bible July 11, 2009
Posted by Damian in Translation & Linguistics.Tags: CLV, concordant version, Gehenna, hell, theology, translation
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Bob Todd recently pointed me to the Concordant Literal Version of the Bible. I haven’t read it extensively, but from their samplers I don’t really feel that it is a revolutionary translation. It certainly has some theological bones to pick (check out the extensive ‘expositions‘ section of the website), some of which are reasonable ( ‘Gehenna’ as a physical/metaphorical and not a metaphysical location).
Has anyone else encountered this translation? What are your thoughts on it? On the theology it expounds?
You can get a taste for their interlinear (which is even more literal but also uses the concordant method) at
http://www.scripture4all.org/
It is a good interlinear. Very literal, the layout is quite good. Its dated. It also is theological Arianist, I’m not sure whether that’s a problem or not for you.
Thanks CD. What do you mean by theologically Arianist? Can you give me an example of where the translation is biased in this way? I couldn’t spot anything when I was reading through the excerpt I downloaded.
In terms of renderings a good example that is simple is is “aionios”
which you can tie to aion as in age (fixed) or eternity forever. Now I agree with Knoch (translator of the concordant) that forever is not necessarily proper. But a whole lot of Christian doctrine is dependent on forever, for example the doctrine of eternal damnation. Just take a look at the verses using aion and replace with an indefinite long time (eonian).
A.E.K. is beyond blessed. All his writings blew away every scholar I have read in history, by 10 folds. His work on the CLNT is not perfect, but his Greek-to-English Interlinear is 99.8% closest to the original inspired I have ever seen. Imagine what the late Knoch would have accomplished with today’s computerized technology? I also read his OT Hebraic work which was incomplete prior to his death in ‘65, but amazingly accurate and unchallenged. Dr. Bullinger even said that Mr. Knoch showed mastery in his writings like no one he had ever yet seen, impressive indeed, then asked for permission to print A.E.K.’s work in his own magazine. Highly recommended to all who love the Truth more than life itself.
Since I am not sufficiently articulate as to offer anything but the most common observations about the Scriptures, I can only say that I have been greatly blessed to have been introduced to E.W. Bullinger, Charles Welch, and Stuart Allen, so if A.E. Knoch is a contemporary of Dr. Bullinger’s, I will read what is available on-line in the hope that it might shine a light upon and into the Word of GOD.
It is my joy to use, among other works, his appendices and margin notes in the “Companion Bible” every morning for study. The seven volumes of “Things To Come” are treasures, as are many of his other works. The Ten sermons must be read with the understanding that Dr. Bullinger began to write long before the truth rightly divided was revealed to him.
Thank you for your message! . . . and God bless,
-Michael in Sacramento