A massive project was initiated in 1958 which would become a revolutionary approach to Bible translation. The project's purpose was to create a translation which made Bible study easy - clarifying the passages in simpler terms, but still incorporating Greek and Hebrew words from the First Century manuscripts. The Amplified Bible had begun.
To comprehend the intent of the manuscripts written by the New and Old Testament writers, most readers would need to take ancient Greek and Hebrew, which not everyone can do. The scholars of the Amplified project assembled extra information, which they inserted alongside the English translation. Then, incorporating a system of brackets, parentheses and italics, they created expanded, defined, and expounded on particular phrases and important words; all giving new revelations to studiers.
Biblical Linguistics and The English Language
It is not possible for every word from any other language can be translated into a single English word. Some words have additional nuances, and some sentence structure or syntax does not easily match. For example, you will find most translations rendering the Greek term 'pisteuo', as 'believe.' However, that single word, fails to do justice to the nuances of the actual Greek. The Amplified Bible notes additionally: ["...to adhere to, cleave to; to trust ~ believe in ~ have confidence in ~ rely on, to have ~ to possess ~ to get faith in; depend upon..."] Imagine the entire Bible with that level of explanation and you can now see how God's Word would open upin a whole new way.
The translation also offers: - Footnotes- concise historical and archaeological data and devotional insights, plus hundreds of references to particular authors and resources. - Book Introductions describe the writer, their qualifications, the purpose, and theme of the book - Concordance- locates relevant verse locations (Featuring more than twenty-five thousand entries!). - Bibliography and Glossary-give you a checklist of itemized resources cited in the review notes and the most frequent amplifications in the text.
For a translation to have wide distribution it must remain free of personal interpretation, and independent of specific Church denominations. The baseline is the American Standard Version of 1901. Various Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts were used, including: Rudolph Kittel's Biblia Hebraica, the Greek text of Westcott and Hort, the Greek Septuagint, and some Latin interpretations. Others, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, were compared for context and interpretation. Translators made every attempt to keep the most widely accepted wording of earlier versions, in particular the 'feel' of the historical Books. Incorporating that same methodology the KJV Amplified Parallel Bible is now available alongside the NASB, the NKJV and a few other more modern translations.
Translation Background and its Affiliations
The story of the Amplified Bible cannot be fully told without sharing the details of the dedicated and enthusiastic team that made the project a reality. Their passion for God's Word, shared by a woman, a foundation, and a publisher, paints the picture behind the new translation.
Frances Siewert (Litt. B., B.D., M.A., Litt. D.), an expert voice in Biblical culture and archaeology, was determined to offer the world a translation that explained the nuances of First Century manuscripts. Ms. Siewert gave her heart and soul to Bible Study; in particular the Biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek. A California based organization known as the Lockman Foundation - an advocate for quality Bible translation, Evangelism, and Bible training, soon noticed her work. The Amplified Bible project was perfectly aligned with the Lockman Foundation's core goals, so they provided substantial financial support, which ultimately made the final product possible.
An Editorial Board comprised of many devoted and accomplished men and women would provide organization to coordinate the effort, and critical review as it progressed. With the translation work underway, they began to search out a publisher. Zondervan Publishing House quickly recognized the importance of the project - and would quickly be convinced it would open believer's eyes to a richer understanding of God's Word. Zondervan committed to the printing, binding and retailing of the new Bible. The New Testament was published in late 1958, the Old Testament in 1964 and the full Amplified Bible in 1965!
To comprehend the intent of the manuscripts written by the New and Old Testament writers, most readers would need to take ancient Greek and Hebrew, which not everyone can do. The scholars of the Amplified project assembled extra information, which they inserted alongside the English translation. Then, incorporating a system of brackets, parentheses and italics, they created expanded, defined, and expounded on particular phrases and important words; all giving new revelations to studiers.
Biblical Linguistics and The English Language
It is not possible for every word from any other language can be translated into a single English word. Some words have additional nuances, and some sentence structure or syntax does not easily match. For example, you will find most translations rendering the Greek term 'pisteuo', as 'believe.' However, that single word, fails to do justice to the nuances of the actual Greek. The Amplified Bible notes additionally: ["...to adhere to, cleave to; to trust ~ believe in ~ have confidence in ~ rely on, to have ~ to possess ~ to get faith in; depend upon..."] Imagine the entire Bible with that level of explanation and you can now see how God's Word would open upin a whole new way.
The translation also offers: - Footnotes- concise historical and archaeological data and devotional insights, plus hundreds of references to particular authors and resources. - Book Introductions describe the writer, their qualifications, the purpose, and theme of the book - Concordance- locates relevant verse locations (Featuring more than twenty-five thousand entries!). - Bibliography and Glossary-give you a checklist of itemized resources cited in the review notes and the most frequent amplifications in the text.
For a translation to have wide distribution it must remain free of personal interpretation, and independent of specific Church denominations. The baseline is the American Standard Version of 1901. Various Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts were used, including: Rudolph Kittel's Biblia Hebraica, the Greek text of Westcott and Hort, the Greek Septuagint, and some Latin interpretations. Others, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, were compared for context and interpretation. Translators made every attempt to keep the most widely accepted wording of earlier versions, in particular the 'feel' of the historical Books. Incorporating that same methodology the KJV Amplified Parallel Bible is now available alongside the NASB, the NKJV and a few other more modern translations.
Translation Background and its Affiliations
The story of the Amplified Bible cannot be fully told without sharing the details of the dedicated and enthusiastic team that made the project a reality. Their passion for God's Word, shared by a woman, a foundation, and a publisher, paints the picture behind the new translation.
Frances Siewert (Litt. B., B.D., M.A., Litt. D.), an expert voice in Biblical culture and archaeology, was determined to offer the world a translation that explained the nuances of First Century manuscripts. Ms. Siewert gave her heart and soul to Bible Study; in particular the Biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek. A California based organization known as the Lockman Foundation - an advocate for quality Bible translation, Evangelism, and Bible training, soon noticed her work. The Amplified Bible project was perfectly aligned with the Lockman Foundation's core goals, so they provided substantial financial support, which ultimately made the final product possible.
An Editorial Board comprised of many devoted and accomplished men and women would provide organization to coordinate the effort, and critical review as it progressed. With the translation work underway, they began to search out a publisher. Zondervan Publishing House quickly recognized the importance of the project - and would quickly be convinced it would open believer's eyes to a richer understanding of God's Word. Zondervan committed to the printing, binding and retailing of the new Bible. The New Testament was published in late 1958, the Old Testament in 1964 and the full Amplified Bible in 1965!
About the Author:
We give it 4.5 out of 5. If you want to understand the intent of the Greek and Hebrew, separate the pieces, and reassemble them into practical meaningful insights for Christian living, this is your Bible. It is available in every shape, size, and binding through most online Christian bookstores, some places up to 50% off. You may own a dozen Bibles, but even if you do, you should own one more. Be Blessed. Godspeed.