This is the work of Dr. William F. Beck, whose cause was to simplify the English Bible for people of all ages. There are almost 5,000 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament all over the earth, plus many thousands of the Latin, Syraic, and other translations. Dr. Beck felt that God wants us to have a passion for the truth; to use all the best evidences from the manuscripts, dictionaries, and grammars as light on the text; and to search with burning hearts for its exact meaning.
In recent years, two very important papyri from about A.D. 200 have been published. These now provide us with the finest evidence for several readings, one of which comes from John 1:18 -- "the only Son who is God."
The translator did his utmost to make both the Old Testament and the New Testament the most accurate on the market, in regard to the best text, the most thorough lexiographical, grammatical, and archaeological evidence. His goal was to have God talk to the hearts of people in their language of today and tomorrow.
The main purpose of the Bible is its saving doctrine. The translator felt that the Revised Standard Version undermines the Heilsplan (plan of salvation) by cutting down the prophecies of the coming Savior in the Old Testament and the important truths about Christ in the New Testament. The section "What Does the Text Say?" at the back of this Bible gives examples of these changes in the Revised Standard Version and the New English Bible and how they differ from the renderings in An American Translation.
This translation has been acclaimed as the most significant Lutheran contribution in the span of some 450 years since Martin Luther translated the Bible into German. However, it is a Bible not only for Lutherans but also for every English-speaking person. It is a faithful translation, not a paraphrase.
As no translation is perfect, this third edition took into consideration helpful suggestions, which were evaluated. These created further demand for expertise in the original languages. Numerous changes have been made as a result.
The New Testament in the Language of Today was first published in 1963 by Concordia Publishing House.
Sample Verses
Genesis 1: 1, 2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was desolate and uninhabitable, and it was dark on the deep sea, but God's Spirit hovered over the waters.
John 1: 1 - 3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
Everything was made by Him, and not one thing that was made was made without Him.
Comparisons
The following comparative studies include this version:
- Entering His Rest
- Epistle of James
- Falsifying Scribes
- From Eternity or From Ancient Times?
- Fringe on the Borders of a Garment
- Gifts of the Spirit
- God So Loved the World
- Hebrew Synoptic Gospels
- Horses from Egypt and Kue
- Israelites and Baal-Peor
- Let No Man Judge You
- Letters of Paul
- Minor Prophets
- Name of Our Heavenly Father
- Offering Sacrifices to the He-Goat
- Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread
- Reference to the Trinity
- Sabbaths and Sundown
- Scripture Inspired by God
- Seventy Weeks of Daniel 9
- Sides of the Court of the Tabernacle
- Some Variations in the Book of Acts
- Song of Solomon
- Story of the Adultress
- That Which Will Happen Before the End
- Those Who Work Iniquity
- Tragedy at Beth-Shemesh
- Words with Heathen Origins in the Scriptures
| Abbreviation: | AAT |
| Released: | 1976 |
| Contents: | Old Testament, New Testament |
| Source Used: | Leader Publishing Company (1976) |
| Location: | Tyndale House, Cambridge, United Kingdom |