APPENDIX 2: CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECT ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE
| Translation | Background | Style | Use of MT (Masoretic text, with translation of Isa 7:14 as indicator of theological leanings) | Gender language |
| NJPS (1985) | Jewish Publication Society | Formal correspondence, colloquial | No deviation from MT and uses Jewish chapter/verse numbering | Aims at “gender accuracy” (Note: 2006 JPS Contemporary Torah with more changes) |
| NRSV (1989) | Protestant, National Council of Churches | Formal correspondence, literary | Some deviation from MT in light of Dead Sea Scrolls and LXX | Modest move toward inclusive language |
| NIV (1978) | Protestant Evangelical, International Bible Society | Formal correspondence, literary | Very modest deviation from MT, mostly in notes. Modifies Hebrew of Isa 7:14 to match Matthew | |
| Today’s NIV (TNIV) (2005) | Protestant Evangelical, International Bible Society | Formal correspondence, literary | Very modest deviation from MT, mostly in notes. Modifies Hebrew of Isa 7:14 to match Matthew | Modest move toward “gender‐accurate” language |
| NASB (1971) | Protestant Evangelical, Lockman Foundation | Formal correspondence, quite literal and often awkward | Little revision of MT. Modifies Hebrew of Isa 7:14 to match Matthew | |
| GNT (formerly TEV) (1992) | Protestant, American Bible Society (particularly for missionaries) | Dynamic equivalence, colloquial and simple vocabulary | Little deviation from MT | Includes revisions toward gender‐inclusive language |
| CEV (1999) | Protestant, American Bible Society | Dynamic equivalence, colloquial, yet more simple vocabulary and syntax | Little deviation from MT. Modifies Hebrew of Isa 7:14 to match Matthew | Moves toward gender‐inclusive language for humans |
| REB (1989), revision of NEB (1970) | British Protestant and Roman Catholic churches | Dynamic equivalence, literary | Substantial deviations from MT | Moves in 1989 revision toward gender‐inclusive language |
| NJB (1985) | European Roman Catholic | Dynamic equivalence, but literary | Some substantial deviations from the MT | Very modest moves toward gender‐inclusive language |
| NAB (1991) | United States Roman Catholic | Mix of dynamic equivalence and formal correspondence (the latter especially in NT) | Some substantial deviations from the MT. Modifies Hebrew of Isa 7:14 to match Matthew | Modest moves toward gender‐inclusive language in NT and Psalms |
1 Studying the Bible in its Ancient Context(s)
3 The Geography and Major Characters of the Biblical Drama
4 Major Periods in the Biblical Drama
5 Multiple Contexts, Multiple Methods
9 Appendix: Israel’s History and Empires
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter introduces the basic orientation of the textbook and sets the stage for what follows with three overviews: geographical, historical, and methodological. The beginning of the chapter answers the questions “What makes academic study of the Bible different from typical ‘Bible study’?” and “Why is such academic study important?” We will briefly compare the general outline of the biblical story with the history of Israel that will structure this textbook. Next you gain a bird’s‐eye view of the major regions of the land of Israel, the periods of Israel’s history, and some methods used by scholars to analyze the Bible. Your future study will be helped in particular by learning the location of the two major regions of ancient Israel – the heartland of tribal Israel to the north and the area of David’s clan, Judah, to the south (with the famous city of Jerusalem between these two areas) – and by memorizing