Thomas Wayment’s The New Testament: A Translation for Latter-day Saints, Revised Edition is an exceptional resource for anyone, and particularly a Latter-day Saint, interested in studying the New Testament from a fresh and modern perspective through its clear and readable translation, insightful commentary, and expanded introductory material.
One of the standout features of this book is its readability. The translation is clear, easy to understand, and faithful to the original text. The text flows well and is not bogged down by archaic language or convoluted syntax, making it more accessible than, say, a 400-year old translation. In many ways, I also found it more accessible than the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) (my usual go-to translation).
Additionally, the commentary in the footnotes is insightful and enriching. Wayment provides helpful background information on cultural and historical contexts, as well as offering his own interpretations of certain passages. The footnotes are well-researched and thought-provoking, providing a deeper understanding of the text without being overly wordy or academic.
The revised edition differs from the original in several ways. First, the revised edition includes upwards of two hundred updates and corrections to both the translation and the footnotes, taking into account recent scholarship to improve the accuracy of the translation. Second, the revised edition features expanded introductory material that includes discussions of the Joseph Smith Translation and on reading scripture, which were both interesting and helpful. Finally, the appendices detailing the instances in which the language of the New Testament appears in other Latter-day Saint scripture are also a welcome addition, providing readers with a broader perspective on the text.
In summary, The New Testament: A Translation for Latter-day Saints, Revised Edition is an excellent resource for anyone interested in studying the New Testament. It is both accessible and insightful, making it an ideal choice for personal study or group discussion. I highly recommend it.
I taught GD New Testament last cycle using Wayment’s translation and recommended it to my class. Many bought it and loved it. I am grateful for Wayment’s hard work to bring this to us. Highly recommend it. Really can’t say enough praise.
Do you know why a Kindle version of the revised edition isn’t available?
I prefer my books on kindle and have the original there.
I don’t actualy know on that. The two editions are by different publishers, which might be part of it.
Steve Marsh: Unfortunately, due to how the 1st edition was formatted, it would have required too much time (and thus $) to create a quality epub version–particularly one with Thom’s excellent notes directly linked and clickable from the main text. For the reason, the only electronic version of this edition is a pdf ebook available through Google Play Books that retains the print formatting.