Blessed Hope Bible Translation

Fixing Our Eyes on the Hope of the Gospel through Scripture

God's Word Bringing

Hope

My overarching goal in producing the Blessed Hope Translation has been to make the blessed hope of the gospel, as well as the basis of that hope and the call to holy living with which that hope is inextricably connected, clear for readers. We pray that God would use this translation to help you continue fixing your eyes on the hope of the gospel.

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“It [the grace of God] teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the BLESSED HOPE—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
Titus 2:12-14 (NIV)

Why the Blessed Hope Translation?

There are many excellent English translations in the world today. So why this translation? My primary reasons for producing the Blessed Hope Translation (BHT) can be summarized as follows:

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50,000+

GRAMMAR HEADACHES

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20,000+

TRANSLATOR’S NOTES

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3

FORMATS

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1

HOLY GOSPEL

The Approach and Availability of the BHT

It is my conviction that each translation philosophy has its own strengths and weaknesses, and is, therefore, worthy of being utilized at different times in the translation process. On the one hand, I share many of the values and concerns that cause many Bible scholars to favor more “formal” translations, many if not most of which have the seminary or another formal academic context as their womb. On the other hand, I also share many of the values and concerns of those who have labored faithfully in ministries that specialize in Bible translation and usually promote more “meaning-based” approaches to translation. Like a number of other English translations, therefore, I have attempted an integrative approach in the Blessed Hope Translation (BHT). Throughout the BHT, I have done my best to be transparent with readers, giving them an open window into thousands of translation decisions. The electronic version of the translation, along with all translator’s notes, is completely free online or via the BHT app. If people want a printed copy, they can either download a print-ready PDF and print it on their own, or order a copy at cost only (the printed version does not include translator’s notes). The BHT is licensed under Creative Commons, so please feel free to copy and distribute it in any medium or format you like (noncommercially, please).

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What Is a "Faithful" Translation?

At what point has a translator actually “crossed the line” and fallen into the arms of one linguistic and cultural milieu in betrayal of another to whom he or she also desires to be faithful? Indeed, the question, “What makes for a ‘good’ or a ‘legitimate’ or an ‘accurate’ or a ‘justified’ or a ‘faithful’ or a ‘trustworthy’ or an ‘acceptable’ or an ‘authorized’ Bible translation?” is a difficult one, the dispute over whose answer, at various junctures of history, has even cost some godly people—such as William Tyndale in the sixteenth century—their lives. It is this challenging question to which we now turn our attention.