| It's kind of a mix. Most of the intent is to bring out nuances in the
original language that can't be conveyed in most translations. Most
translations try to remain at least somewhat readable, so if a greek or
hebrew word has a complex meaning, instead of trying to convey that whole
meaning, the translators will pick one english word that does the best job,
even if something is then lost. The Amplified Bible does the opposite - it
makes no real attempt to be particularly readable, it tries to convey as much
of the meaning of the original language as possible, even if it takes a slew
of words to do it. So far so good.
But it also tries to include some level of cultural understanding, i.e. -
what would these words mean to the people to whom they were originally
spoken? I found that sometimes this seems very accurate and helpful, but
other times it seems more like commentary than expansion of the Word.
For the most part, I've found it to be a very good companion to the more
standard translations. It's certainly not one to memorize verses in, though!
From what I've seen, (I've only read a few chapters so far) Wuest is much
closer to what I thought the Amplified was, doing the utmost to get every
nuance from the original language, without trying to add anything else.
Unfortunately, Wuest is only the New Testament.
Paul
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| A friend asked me to post a couple of comparative verses from the Amplified
and Wuest.
In the intro to the Amplified, it notes that it includes in () "additional
phases of meaning implied in the original languages," and in [] "clarifying
words or phrases not actually expressed in the immediate original text."
Wuest goes into much more explanation of how many nuances of the text that he
tries to bring out than I am willing to type in. He does things like try to
keep word order for the correct emphasis, emphasizing verb tenses, etc. But
I'll post a few examples, trying for either familiar ones, or ones where the
other translations really bring out something.
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John 3:16
KJV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever beleiveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Amplified
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up
His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in,
clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but
have eternal (everlasting) life.
Wuest
For in such a manner did God love the world, insomuch that His Son, the
uniquely-begotten One, He gave, in order that everyone who places his trust
in Him may not perish but may be having life eternal.
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Matthew 16:19
KJV
And I will give unto the the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
NIV
I will give you the keys of the kindom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth
will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven.
Amplified
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind
(declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound
in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is
already loosed in heaven.
Wuest
I shall give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind
on earth [forbid to be done] shall have been already bound [forbidden to be
done] in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth [permit to be done] shall
have already been loosed in heaven [permitted to be done].
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Phil 2:5-8
KJV
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of
no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men. Amd being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
NIV
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but
made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in
human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!
Amplified
Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in
Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being
essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of
the attributes which make God God] did not think this equality with God was a
thing to be eagerly grasped or retained. But stripped Himself [of all
privileges and rightful dignity] so as to assume the guise of a servant
(slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He
had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and
carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!
Wuest
This mind be constantly having in you which is also in Christ Jesus, who has
always been and at present continues to subsist in that mode of being in
which He gives outward expression of His essential nature, that of absolute
diety, which expression comes from and is truly representative of His inner
being [that of absolute diety], and who did not after weighing the facts,
consider it a treasure to be clutched and retained at all hazards, this being
on an equality with diety [in the expression of divine essence], but himself
He emptied, himself He made void, having taken the outward expression of a
bondslave, which expression comes from and is truly representative of His
nature [as diety], entering into a new state of existence, that of mankind.
And being found to be in outward guise as man, He stooped very low, having
become obedient [to God the Father] to the extent of death, even such a death
as that upon a cross.
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