The Concordant Bible, translated by A.E. Knoch aims to be a literal, word for word translation. The unique aspect of the Concordant version is that it renders each word the same throughout the entire text. For example, you won't see "love" in one place and "affection" in another.
The Introduction states:
Since men carry over the truth into another language only so far as they grasp it themselves, no translation can be fully satisfactory. The compiler of this version, the late A. E. Knoch, was aware of his shortcomings in this regard. To keep from emphasizing his personal views and traditional errors, he developed the concordant method of translation.
The purpose of the compiler was to make a translation that agreed as closely as possible to the original language, yet be presented in readable English. This method recognizes the importance of the vocabulary of Scripture keeping distinct the well-chosen words of God in His revelation of truth. There is an effort to keep to a minimum the confusion resulting from translating different Greek words with only one English word. Thus, phileo is rendered "be fond" and agapao is rendered "love." Except for a few idiomatic usages, each English word stands for only one Greek word in this version.
The word order and sentence structure of the early Greek manuscripts are followed more in this version than in most others. However, when needed, the Greek sentence structure is altered in order to achieve acceptable English.
In the words of the Publishers:
"Our research efforts are centered upon the many issues involved in discovering the meaning of the original Scripture declarations themselves. Then we seek to determine how we may best translate these same Scriptures, endeavoring to do so objectively, accurately, and consistently. Our translation principles, both of vocabulary and grammatical analysis, govern all that we do.
We first seek to determine essence of word meaning; wherever possible, according to internal scriptural evidence. For each Original word then, we assign a STANDARD English word. To facilitate a readable English translation, additional synonyms or other concordant variants are also used, as needed. In nearly all cases, any such standards, synonyms, and variants are used exclusively for a single word in the Original, thereby eliminating almost all “crosswiring” between languages. Thus a substantial formal correspondency is maintained between the original and receptor language. It is such very principles of translation themselves, together with our many years of refining our efforts according to these principles, which distinguish our work, and its results, from that of others."
The Concordant employs the literal phrase "eonian" in place of "eternal" consistently; as well as using the original Greek words; Gehenna, Hades, etc., rather than translating them all as "Hell."
This translation is a must for anyone who desires to study ultimate reconciliation in a more literal translation of Scripture.
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This Bible is hardcover with simulated leather cover, title gold-embossed. Contains a keyword concordance. Is most useful with it's companion volume, the Concordant Greek text.
