The Modern Literal Version (MLV) is a
Modern English translation of the New Testament of the Bible, originally translated in 1987, and updated regularly since then.
Translation approach
The Modern Literal Version translators' goal was to create an extremely
literal and accurate translation of the
Majority Greek Text while still using Modern English.
Although wordy and choppy in many verses, the MLV claims to be readable by any English speaking teenager.
The approach used in translation was to render the same Greek word into as few different English words as possible and to do likewise with the English word: using it for only one Greek word.
The 1200 or so Greek compound words in the New Testament were rendered as if they had been split when possible. In 2012, a comparison chart was made showing Greek words and then showing how those words are translated in the MLV, King James Version, and New American Standard Bibles.
The translators of the Modern Literal Version sought to be as literal as possible, and to keep any
paraphrasing to a bare minimum. Any commentary that was deemed absolutely necessary was included in the "Appendix." The translators expressly stated "With any form of paraphrasing, someone's opinion becomes your Word of God!"
History
Started originally in 1987 on two
IBM clone
8086
The 8086 (also called iAPX 86) is a 16-bit microprocessor chip designed by Intel between early 1976 and June 8, 1978, when it was released. The Intel 8088, released July 1, 1979, is a slightly modified chip with an external 8-bit data bus (allowi ...
and
80286
The Intel 80286 (also marketed as the iAPX 286 and often called Intel 286) is a 16-bit microprocessor that was introduced on February 1, 1982. It was the first 8086-based CPU with separate, non- multiplexed address and data buses and also the ...
computers, this is one of the first computerized translations of the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chri ...
. Without the power of the computer to keep track of Greek and English word renderings, this mathematical like approach would have been almost impossible.
In 1998, the
beta edition of the Modern Literal Version was placed online for readers to read. Some websites mistakenly state that it was first "published" on the internet in 2000. Unlike most modern translations, the MLV is (and has been) open for anyone who wants to suggest revisions in the wording used in this translation.
In 2012, a religious website offered a fully searchable online version of the Modern Literal Version.
In April 2012, the "Pre-Release" edition of the MLV was made available to the public.
The decision was made, at the beginning of 2013, to release annual updates to the MLV as needed in order to improve grammar or to improve any translation choices.
Popularity
In December 2011, the Modern Literal Version was made available in e-Sword format, and quickly became one of the top 100 downloads at BibleSupport.com, the officially recognized website for free third-party e-Sword resources.
Despite only being available since February 2012, the
MySword edition of the MLV is already among the top five English Bible downloads among third-party modules.
The Word Bible Software version of the MLV is among the top 75 downloads at WordModules.com.
See also
*
Modern English Bible translations
Modern English Bible translations consists of translations developed and published throughout the late modern period () to present-day (). A multitude of recent attempts have been made to translate the Bible into English. Most modern translations ...
References
{{Reflist
Bible translations into English