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Download Modern Literal Version (NT) Final 2012 Edition

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Author:
Modern Literal Version NT Committee

e-Sword Version:
9.x - 10.x

Tab Name:
MLV

Updated Edition - 09-24-2012

The Modern Literal Version is just what it claims to be, as literal as possible while still being understandable.  Great care has been taken to translate Greek words uniformly throughout the entire NT when possible.  Also, footnotes are found at the end of each chapter.  Additionally, if you read the book of Mark, you will notice many references within the text.  These are a harmony of the gospel, inserted so that the reader can follow the New Testament in chronological order.

At the request of the copyright holder, a dictionary file is now included for download which gives the explanations of the asterisks and some of the words that are different from many popular translations.

Permission given to reproduce in electronic format as long as the E-Sword program and the Modern Literal Version remains FREE to the end users. Permission granted 12/08/2011 by G. Allen Walker, Computer Technician  for the New Testament Committee.

Notes:

This translation has been open for revision by anyone since 1998, and this is the current result. Corrections-- please email to mlvbible@gmail.com with subject line MLV

We need workers for the Lord...

The biggest help right now is that you read the Modern Literal Version. If you find any typo's, KJVism or archaic wording, general grammar mistakes please send them as you find them and the way you think the correction should be. Any English Teachers out there?

Preface To Modern Literal Version New Testament
2012 Version

Copyright 1999, 2012 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.

This translation has been open for revision by anyone since 1998, and this is the current result. This translation with continue to stay ‘open’ with a yearly version or “update log” until that is not possible. This was a first in the translation arena.

A few million people world-wide have visited the Christian Library On-Line and were able to view the Modern Literal Version and download a free copy. We can always use your input or additional proofreading. Any corrections please email to mlvbible (at) gmail (dot) com with subject line: “MLV”.

The NEWEST version with current corrections is located at:
http:www.ChristianLibrary.org/greek-ref
in various word processing, spreadsheet and database formats. The WP version is our offsite(s) backup which can be opened in the free Open Office Suite version 3.3 or lower, naturally.

The e-Sword module (Updated 9-24-2012):
http:www.biblesupport.com/e-sword-downloads/file/6955-modern-literal-version-nt-2012/

IF you have a website or your congregation, you can help the MLV in the search engine rankings by adding one or all of the download links above to your site. You may also add this translation with its own search module too. Any other free advertising like Facebook, Twitter, etc. is always appreciated. Thank you.

Restrictions of 1999 & 2012 copyrights as follows:

Copyright is to make sure the actual text is not changed by anyone but us and to stop some publishing company from copyrighting the MLV and then stopping free distribution.

When quoting the Modern Literal Version the quotes are to be noted by ‘Modern Literal Version’ or ‘MLV’. Footnoting larger amounts is totally acceptable.

If you want to publish this version into book form please contact us immediately.

This translation may be used in any Bible commentary, study module, tract, class book, similar study materials as long as noted according to the guidelines above and the Modern Literal Version’s part does not exceed 33% of the volume of the total project. So ‘have at it.’

After 33% you cannot ever sell the MLV! Including no handling or shipping fees! Please report any violations. ‘We want to be rich in money as well as Spirit.’ (smile)

If you want to incorporate this version into computer form, the answer for non resale (true non profit or give away) is YES but the request must be formal (paper trail.) At any given time you sell your product, the MLV must be removed from the product.

The HTML version and search engine can be reproduced on other web sites but requires permission (until final release). (Too many OLD copies of the MLV are around and we would like to have those fixed.)

We are not here for profit and will entertain requests for items not listed.


Quick Overview:
The MLV is a ‘word for word’ translation of the Original Greek New Testament according to the Majority Text. It does not use paraphrasing, dynamic equivalence, free style or any other fancy wording to describe paraphrasing or other lame excuses for sloppy translation principles. Any form of paraphrasing would make the opinions of the translators your ‘Word of God.’ The goal of everyone involved with this project was to keep any form of commentary out of the translation as is humanly possible. Punctuation and capitalization are not inspired and are at a minimum. Chapter and verse numbers are retained though not inspired.

History:
The ‘Modern Literal Version New Testament’ came about because of a young Christian’s quest to find an accurate modern-English translation from which to study. The New American Standard contradicted itself in Matthew 5:17 and Ephesians 2:15 for example. The New King James is often too paraphrased rather than literal. Almost all other modern-English translations do not claim to be literal or even word for word and most that do are really not.

Initially a revision of the 1901 American Standard Version was started. This idea was dropped with too many problems: underlining Greek text, footnotes, archaic words. A better idea grew, the creation of a modern literal version (which later became the name). A group of scholars, who believe in the total authority and inspiration of the Bible, were assembled to undertake the revision. Now, over 22 years later, at least 25 experts in the original language have contributed work to making this translation a reality. Many others, about 116, have also helped with large amounts of proofreading, English comprehension, double-checking Greek definitions, compounds, synonyms, Greek concordance look-ups, and other menial (but extremely essential) tasks. Altogether hundreds of corrections have been received via E-mail for changes, so far.

In 1987, the MLV was the first translation to use the power of the computer and would have been impossible before the computer age.

The original intentions and guidelines for the ‘Modern Literal Version’ were:

1. To translate the original languages, word for word into English. Then to further boost the accuracy of the MLV, translate the same Greek word into as few different English words as possible. The same with English words– not to use them for different Greek words.

This is why the “Modern Literal Version” is different from all other translations.

(About 600 Bible Greek words actually have more than one meaning even after careful consideration of which English word to use in translation and the context determines which meaning should be used.) No language can be treated purely like a math equation.

The New Testament is its own best commentary when you see the same Greek word translated the same throughout. Careful attention was paid to synonyms, antonyms and compound words.

The Majority Greek New Testament contains approximately 5401 different Greek words, 1877 only occur once, 589 are proper names, 1450 are compounds of two words that should be translated the same or very similar as if the two words were not in compound or contracted form. The MLV uses about 4600 unique English words.

2. To improve upon the literalness of the original ASV.

3. To have, in places where a literal translation could not be understood or was an idiom used by the common Greeks, the literal Greek footnoted or put in the Appendix. For example: ‘unto the ages’ is an idiom for ‘forever’. (These are not as common as many people would have you believe).

4. To keep the number of footnotes down to about what the KJV had originally or less.

5. To use italics for supplied words and use supplied words as opposed to paraphrasing.

6. To not attempt to make the MLV a translation that is perfect everyday English, but try to make it understandable to the mass majority of English speaking people; again as opposed to paraphrasing. Verses in the MLV may start with conjunctions like 'and' 'but' or 'for'. This was a good way to split 50+ word sentences in Greek into English. Large amounts of punctuation typical of English is not used. The original Bible only had punctuation used to distinguish between different words that are spelled the same and contractions.

7. To use ‘will’ for all future tenses. Though not Proper English, it is the way most English people speak. ‘Shall’ is retained in questions.

8. To translate some verses that have been misinterpreted for years by many religious groups, as close as possible to the original language.

9. To arrange the Greek object-subject-verb order into English, subject verb object.

10. To use 'The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform 2005 compiled and arranged by Maurice A. Robinson and William Pierpont' (the 'Majority Text' as referred to by most.)

11. To show testament parallels by placing the Old Testament reference at the end of the verse in curly brackets ( {} ) and mark the quote with a single quotation mark ( ' ).

12. To further break down of chapters into more paragraphs. (Some chapters may require a footnote like Acts 1 & 2.)

13. To translate the Greek money system as transliterations or modern American currency and place them in the Appendix.

14. To show a Harmony of the New Testament by showing AD dates and when epistles were written and show the locations in the Book of Acts so that a person can read the entire New Testament in chronological order. (Start at Mark, then go to Acts.)

15. Many of the 1st person active tense verbs were translated ‘is VERB-ing’ to help show action. Many people wrongly say the ‘-eth’ ending used in older translations meant continual action. It was simply the way they spoke in the 1500's to the 1800's.

16. To use the more proper ‘may’ or ‘might’ for the subjunctive mood. The ASV used ‘should’ and ‘shall.’ Shall is not consider ‘conditional’ in Modern English but equal to the future tense ‘will.’

The 1987-1999 version, roughly 95% completed, was formally U.S. copyrighted and placed into the ‘Christian Library’ in June, 1999 at http:
www.ChristianLibrary.org.

In Christ,
G. Allen Walker, June 9, 1999. Revised 2012.
Computer Tech for the New Testament Committee, 1987-2012
Amen.

Appendix

This translation leaves present tense unchanged. The Greeks wrote in present tense to give the reader the feeling of ‘being there.’

Red Lettering is used for the words of Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit even in an indirect quote as in Acts 26, 1Tim 4. If you do not believe the RED should be used in a certain area, please ignore. (A BOLD letter version is available for printing purposes.)

Italicized words are the words added by the translators. They do not have a Greek counterpart. The articles ‘a’ ‘an’ are always supplied though never marked. These italicized words are used to help make very literal phrases or sentences more readable, as opposed to paraphrasing the Greek.

Paragraphs are used in this translation with no credence given to chapter or verse numbers. (Verse format or other special formatting takes ideas out of context too often.) Double spaced paragraphs are an attempt to arrange by subject. Single spaced paragraphs are for conversations or for sub topics. We did not put in ‘subject headings’ these would then be our opinions not your ‘Word of God.’

Quotes “ ” are not used in this translation because Greek never had them or a way to know for sure where they should be in English.

- (Hyphen) often represents two English words which were only one Greek word. It is used more for the translators or the in depth studiers and for reference later to the Concordance. Please ignore these.

The curly brackets ( {} ) contains words not in the Bible, such as the reference to the Old Testament, ‘footnotes,’ and the ‘Harmony of the New Testament’, see below.

The Old Testament reference may be an exact quote or a paraphrase by the inspired writer or simply the location of the historical event. Single quotes ‘ ’ are used at the beginning and end of actual quotes or paraphrases of such. We did not try to translate the Greek in these O.T. quotes to match the Hebrew to English translations.

Footnotes ( {F} ) appear at the end of the chapter. The footnote appears in curly brackets with verse numbers given.

Participles - The Greek is ‘participle crazy’ and are extremely common. Many sentences in Greek have no main verb just participle after participle. We have attempted to render more participles instead of chopping sentences into pretty little English sentences. (Literal vs. paraphrase.)

This translation does not adhere to traditions or theological discussions. John 3:16 is a good example of ‘pure’ translation principles in the MLV.

Harmony of the Gospels and New Testament is a man-made study help and combines information from the four books of Jesus’ life here on the earth. (The Bible was not written in Encyclopedia format. Not all information on any subject is generally all inclusive in any one area.) Here is an example of the ‘Great Commission’ or better ‘How to Make or Become a Disciple of Christ’ and the way it is represented in the ‘Modern Literal Version’ throughout Mark.

Why Have Another Translation?

We do have many translations available in book form and/or computer format. But how many can you buy that were NOT made for profit, especially in book form?

Computers and the Internet has allowed many translations to appear that are really nothing more that someone proofreading a currently old translation fixing almost nothing and re-releasing it in modernized English. They are not truly new at all!

Two distinct and opposite techniques are used in translating the New Testament of the Bible. Paraphrasing the Greek into English is today’s most common. (They read like the newspaper and contain less wording than the second type.) Almost all Bible translations in the past 30 years are this type. With any form of paraphrasing, someone's opinion becomes your Word of God! The second is literal or ‘word for word,’ where one Greek word translates into one English word or words, arranged into English syntax. This is the ‘Modern Literal Version.’

The second phrase of the ‘Modern Literal Version’ was to increase the accuracy of Greek word translations by translating the same Greek word as the same English word or words, therefore making the MLV even more accurate to the original language. Less than 3 translations have ever attempted to translate Greek words uniformly and consistently into English. None have tried to do the same with the English wording and not use the same English word for multiple Greek words. This task would have been about impossible before the computer age. For example, on a computer, it takes 2 seconds to display every verse that contains the word ‘bond-slave’ in the MLV.

Let's face it, this ‘uniform and consistent translating’ is an extremely hard task, not one that many translators would ever take the time to do even now that it is possible with computers. Probably the worst word in the Greek New Testament, ginomai, Strong's number 1096, is about 42 different English words in the King James Version & New American Standard, in the American Standard about 15 and in the MLV it is translated into 7 different English words. This is only one of a thousand words translated more accurately in the Modern Literal Version. As literal as the King James Version was, Jay P. Green Sr. in his revision of the Englishman’s Concordance showed the English word ‘will’ (not future tense) was used for 69 different Greek words.

Prepositions in all translations are extremely inconsistent. An example is the word ‘for,’ that comes from Greek words that means ‘in behalf of,’ ‘because of,’ ‘because,’ ‘to,’ ‘ toward,’ ‘of’ and a mild form of ‘because.’ The MLV translated all ‘because’ and ‘because of’ just that and used ‘in behalf of.’ The other meanings are shown by use of asterisks * with the 2 most common Greek words translated as ‘for’.

Very few translations in existence use the Majority Text (‘The New Testament in the Original Greek Byzantine Textform 2005 Compiled and Arranged by Maurice A. Robinson and William Pierpont’). It is a composite of the most used words or wording of all Greek manuscripts not just the 2 older manuscripts as represented by all the minority texts (W&H, UBS, NA2x, etc.). These two texts disagree with each other 30,000 times and neither are complete Matthew to Revelation. That is not the God we worship! Almost all modern paraphrase translations use the Minority text so the reader could lose almost 20% of the Word of God between the text and paraphrasing. Some translations use the Textus Receptus (KJV, NKJV, KJVII, YLT, etc), most generally carry ‘King James’ in the title.

Most modern translations are made up of committees that oversee only some books of the Bible, not the New Testament as a whole. So naturally one committee might translate verb tenses or words differently than another committee does. ‘The Modern Literal Version’ did not do this for the most part.

A challenge to all who think that another translation is more accurate to the original Greek then the MLV: show us the correction needed! Please remember ‘thus saith the Greek’ not 'my version says.' This translation needs to be judged by the Greek, not anything else!

Appendix for Greek Variants Adopted

'The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform 2005 compiled and arranged by Maurice A. Robinson and William Pierpont' does have some words in question originally enclosed by brackets. A very few of them may have been left out. See http: www.christianlibrary.org/bibles/MLV/maj2005.zip


Notes to Translators of Foreign Language Bibles

This translation is so faithful to the original language in English that it has been used by missionaries who do not know Greek as a basis for a Bible translation into a foreign language in which there is currently no native tongue translation available. Even though this results in a paraphrase, it is still better, more accurate and a faster way to deliver the Word of God to someone than trying to teach English. In the future we hope that Christians from that country would create their own translation from the original Majority Text Greek.

We can supply you with a list of all the English words which occur in the Modern Literal Version. You type the equivalent ‘native’ word next to them. We can then computer generate your ‘native tongue’ translation. You will still need to rearrange English word order (subject verb object) to the native tongue sentence structure.

All that is asked is that you make sure the reader knows this is a translation from the English Modern Literal Version to ‘Native Tongue’ not directly from the original Greek language.