The New Living Translation (NLT) is a dynamic equivalence translation first published in 1996 with the goal of being easy to understand while remaining faithful to the original texts. It was revised in 2004 to be more literal. The NLT was produced by a team of 90 evangelical scholars and aims for a modern style while retaining accuracy. It has received praise for readability but also criticisms for occasionally straying too far from the original meaning.

1. The New Living
Translation
A Presentation by Hillary B. Kimsey

2. Introduction to the NLT
(according to the NLT)
● Goal: Contemporary English Translation
● First published in 1996; second edition in
2004, revision in 2007
● Dynamic-equivalence or thought-for-
thought translation
● Written to be read aloud

3. Translation used in the NLT
● Old Testament translators used the Masoretic Text and
referred to other sources (Vulgate, Septuagint, Dead Sea
Scrolls, etc)
● New Testament translators used United Bible Society’s
Greek New Testament as well as Nestle and Alan’s
Novum Testamentum Graece.
● NLT strives for gender neutral language for humanity
but purposely retains masculine language for God.

4. Translation, cont’d
● Modern measurement conversion
● Clearer currency translation (“normal daily wage” is
used rather than “denarius”) or amounts are given in
measurements of precious metal
● Modern months and times are substituted with notes.
● Cultural phrases are translated dynamically for
connotation (“beating their breasts” translated as “in
great sorrow”)
● Metaphors and similes are explained and expanded
(http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/05discoverthenlt/nltintro.asp)

5. Why Create the NLT?
● To revise The Living Bible with a greater emphasis on
translation rather than paraphrase. To offer a loyal
“dynamic equivalence” translation.
● Because of this goal, some argue that the NLT is not a
new translation but merely a revision of a previous one.
On the NLT website, however, translators attest to
referring to texts in the original language.

6. Praise for the NLT
● Offers a readable and aurally-appealing
version that still translated with a high level
of scholarship
● Modernization of measurements removes
initial confusion
● Offers new, creative, and eloquent
renderings

7. Praises
● Much better than the Living Bible, which did not even refer to the original
manuscripts in the ancient language.
● Names of revisers were a “viritual Who’s Who of evangelical OT
scholarship”
● Many of the mistakes and anachronisms of the Living Bible are fixed
(Psalm 119’s flashlight!)
● More up to date with modern scholarship (the Living Bible stated that
Ecclesiastes was written by “Solomon of Jerusalem, King David’s Son”;
Living Bible also named male voice in Song of Songs “Solomon”; includes
some scholarly footnotes not included in the conservative NIV)
Sprinkle, Joe M. 1997. "Holy Bible: New Living Translation." Journal Of The Evangelical Theological Society 40, no. 3: 455-459.
ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed April 10, 2014).

8. Criticism
● According to Mark R. Norton: “We do not suppose that Taylor or the NLT
revisers of his work consciously chose to inject their theology into the version.
Nor do we doubt that they sincerely wished to make the Bible easy to understand.
We prefer to say that, under the license of "dynamic equivalence," they have failed
to practice self-restraint, and have ended up presenting their own theological
notions as the inspired word of God.”
● “There may be a place for this version in the education of children, but we
conclude that it is not suitable for use by adults in the Church. The version carries
over too much of the unsound paraphrasing of the Living Bible.”
http://www.bible-researcher.com/nlt.html#brief ---> Critical review by Norton

9. Criticisms
● According to Joe Sprinkle, the NLT’s efforts (inconsistent
though they are) to revise for gender-neutral language are
“both understandable and regrettable”....
● The NLT, in it’s quest for modern language and emotional
renderings, sometimes strays too far, to where the original
thought is skewed.
●

10. “Meddlesome Interpretations”
Literal translation
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with
the judgment you give you will be judged.
New Living Translation
Stop judging others, and you will not be
judged. For others will treat you as you treat
them.
These are apparently designed to prevent the reader from misunderstanding the text where a
literal rendering would leave room from misinterpretation, but in many cases they are more
meddlesome than helpful. For example, Matthew 7:1-2.
Mark R Norton at http://www.bible-researcher.com/nlt.html#brief

11. Does this matter? (Maybe...)
● Published by Tyndale House Press, who
claim that the NLT is a “easy to understand”
and “relevant to today.”
● Tyndale initially printed 950,000 copies and
dedicated $2.5 million dollars to print and
web promotion of the new and revised NLT.

12. The Translators
● 90 scholars
● Conservative, Evangelical, and Protestant
● Primarily North American with a small number British
and Australian contributors
● Divided into committees of three scholars per book of
the Bible
● “aimed at a higher reading level than the NCV or CEV”
Gilmore, Concise Dictionary of Bible Origins and Interpretations, page 138

13. The Revision
● In 2004, Tyndale put out a revised edition of the NLT
which was much more literal than the original version.
● Our previous critic, Mark R. Norton, notes that many of
his objections were fixed in the new version.
● Many viewed the revision as positive, and popularity has
increased.
● This version is now the base translation for the
Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series
(http://www.bible-researcher.com/nlt.html) (http://biblestudymagazine.com/preview/NLTreview.
pdf)

14. Familiar Verses, (revised) NLT style
John 3:16: For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7: 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It
does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not
rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses
faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Micah 6:8: No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all
your heart;
and this is what he requires of you: do not depend on your own
understanding.
to do what is right, to love mercy, 6 Seek his will in all you
do,
and to walk humbly with your God. and he will show you which
path to take.

15. Conclusions
● The NLT began as a conservative endeavor and became
more literal (and thus, more popular) with its revision.
● The NLT is an enjoyable and legitimate secondary or
devotional translation--readable and often poetic -- but
perhaps not suited for advanced language study.
● According to Sprinkle, NLT is “a serious and legitimate
translation worthy of consulting alongside others in our
attempt to ascertain the meaning”.... “but too
paraphrastic.”

16. Bibliography
Gilmore, Alec. A Concise Dictionary of Bible Origins and Interpretation. London: T & T Clark, 2006. 138. Print.
"New Living Translation™: Discover The NLT." New Living Translation™: Discover The NLT - Endorsements. Tyndale
Publishion, n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/05discoverthenlt/nltintro.asp>.
Norton, Mark R., Ed. "The New Living Translation (1996)." The New Living Translation. Bible Researcher, June 2005. Web. 10
Apr. 2014. <http://www.bible-researcher.com/nlt.html>.
Sprinkle, Joe M. 1997. "Holy Bible: New Living Translation." Journal Of The Evangelical Theological Society 40, no. 3: 455-459.
ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed April 10, 2014).
Tyndale Publishing. Shelf Life: New Living Translation Study Bible. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2-14. <http://biblestudymagazine.
com/preview/NLTreview.pdf>.