Translation of a Greek Word in KJV

[Justin Kissel]

The word paradosis is rendered "tradition" about a dozen times in the KJV New Testament. Only once is it something different: in 1 Cor. 11:2 the KJV has "ordinances" instead of "traditions". After researching this as well as a layman who doesn't know Biblical Greek can, I couldn't find any rhyme or reason for doing this. To add to the confusion, the NKJV renders it "traditions," and then the 21st century KJV goes back to "ordinances". Most other versions I looked at render the word "teachings" or "traditions" in the passage. So... does anyone know why the KJV translators chose this particular passage to make an exception?

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Justin,

I think I have the answer but since I cannot be absolutley certain, I don't want to say anything. Do the fathers address this verse?

Also, what do you mean by the 21st century KJV, has the translation changed from the 17th century?

[Justin Kissel]

21st Century KJV is the name of the newest edition of the KJV. Well, of course there were dozens and dozens of versions of the KJV, but I mean that is the third name that they have used. The only Father I checked was St. John Chrysostom, whose commentary didn't really touch upon anything relevant in this case (I also checked the Orthodox New Testament by Holy Apostles Convent but they didn't have anything for this passage). I certainly don't want to push you to speculate if you think it improper; please let me know if you think of something else though or change you mind

[Mor Ephrem]

Aside: how is the 21st Century KJV different from the Third Millenium Bible?

[尼古拉前执事]

Dear Deacon Nikolai,

Thank you for your interest in the 21st Century King James Version
(KJ21) and the Third Millennium Bible (TMB).

As for the difference between our bibles, the 21st Century King James
Version is published by KJ21 Bible Publishers. The Third Millennium
Bible is published by Third Millennium Publications. Both are
subsidiaries of Deuel Enterprises, Inc. Many of the same staff worked
on both.

The two Bibles are very similar in that both are updatings of the
Authorized (King James) Version of 1611, replacing obsolete and archaic
words with the most exact modern synonym. Both have standardized and
updated spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Chapter summaries and
cross references found in the original are contained in both. They are
printed on high quality acid-free paper with sewn bindings for maximum
durability. The wording of the two are in essence the same, with only a
few changes in updating evaluation separating the two.

The two are different in that the TMB contains the complete updated text
of the Authorized Version, consisting of the Old and New Testaments as
well as the Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical Books while the KJ21 contains the
Books of the Old & New Testaments. The Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical Books
number fourteen, as in the 1611 Authorized Version. The TMB employs a
crisp italic font indented from both margins to set apart the Words of
Christ while the KJ21 uses several typefaces to differentiate specific
text including a unique font for the Words of Christ. The TMB is
physically a slightly longer, slimmer volume making it very comfortable
to hold in the hand. The Apocrypha/Deuterocanonical Books in the TMB
are placed as in the 1611 KJV, between the Old & New Testaments.

I hope this answers your questions. Please be in touch again if we can
be of further service.

Blessings,

Julene Kaiser
Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
Publishers of Fine Bibles
www.tmbible.com
www.kj21.com
tmb@tmbible.com
kj2@kj21.com

[Justin Kissel]

OOD,

The New King James Version (NKJV)--which is what the Orthodox Study Bible uses--and the 21st Century KJV are for the most part just updated version of the KJV from what I understand. The KJV had a lot of errors and inaccuracies when it first came out (not to mention the Apocrypha in an appendix), and was heavily revised in the centuries that followed. I think by the time the NKJV and 21st Century ones came out, they were mostly just trying to make some of the language more intelligible and eliminate some of the idioms. Though I haven't checked, I doubt the newer versions say "pisseth upon the wall" to refer to males, for example, as the KJV does These newer versions are still based primarily on the Received Text, or Byzantine Text, making them about as close as Protestant Bibles come to the Orthodox New Testament.

Mor Ephrem,

While they both seem to be based on the same MSS, the Third Millenium Bible retains the "-eths" and "doths" and whatnot, while the NKJV and KJV21 doesn't. For a comparison, here's Ps. 1 in the four versions...

Third Millenium Bible
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

King James Version
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

New King James Version
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

21st Century King James Version
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

This page on the Third Millenium Bible website has some comparisons.

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

I wonder how much of an "update" KJ21 is. Sounds interesting.

Justin, all I can say is that "Paradosis" doesn't have duel meanings in Greek; It means (and sorry for the elongated translation) "to give something over for it to be with them in their lives". "Para" in Greek means to be along side, like in "Paraklesis", "to be with for comfort"; "Paradosis" may be a bit different than "tradition" (strictly speaking). "Tradition" implies "repeating" and maybe even "repeating" with slight variations whereas "paradosis" means more like to "give it over" as you would something tangible, which would be a "giving over" of something "intact" "for your use".

Translating this as "Tradition" is about as good as you're going to get. "Ordinances" may have been used to imply this was not some ancient "tradition" St. Paul "was passing on", but something new. But as it is most often, "Ordinances" is not a perfect translation either; maybe better than "Tradition" in this case, but not perfect.

This is just my opinion and is not to be construed as fact. You would have to ask the translators I guess why they did what they did.