Words from the Chief Stylist

Greetings, blogophiles and bibliophiles. My name is Mark Taylor, and I will be contributing to the NLT blog from time to time.

In addition to serving as President and CEO of Tyndale House Publishers and Tyndale House Foundation, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Bible Translation Committee for the New Living Translation. And more specifically, I was the Chief Stylist for the NLT.

I will be happy to respond to specific questions about wording in the NLT or differences between the first and second editions of the NLT. And since I’ve been involved in the NLT from the very beginning of the idea, I will post some entries about the history and process of the translation.

Some of you will already have recognized the family relationship–and that Bible translation is in my blood. Yes, my father was Kenneth Taylor, who was the translator/creator of The Living Bible. He also founded Tyndale House Publishers and Tyndale House Foundation, so I’ve been in the family business ever since I was a kid.

I look forward to interacting with you.

Mark D. Taylor

3 thoughts on “Words from the Chief Stylist

  1. Dear Mark: I realize that this is an old blogpost so I don’t know if you are still active in responding to inquirers. If you are I would really be interested in speaking with you about an idea I have for the NLT. Thank you.
    Yours truly,
    Klaas Detmar,
    Ancaster, Ontario,
    Canada.
    905-648-2556

  2. Shalom Mark Taylor,
    Am most interested in the choice of the wording
    “God’s Law” for the Greek ἀνομίαν anomian during the translation of the New Testament. How was this choice made and why ???
    Shalom U’Brechot,
    Clint

  3. Replying to Clinton Nauert’s query:

    The term ἀνομία anomia is used 15 times in the Greek NT. In most of those instances the NLT uses typical terms like “sin” or “disobedience” or “lawlessness.” But I presume you are asking about Matt 7:23 and 1 John 3:4. There you have to read the complete context of the translation.

    Matt 7:23 NLT
    But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

    A literal translation of the last phrase is “the ones working lawlessness.” The NLT renders it “you who break God’s laws.”

    1 John 3:4 NLT
    Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God.

    A literal translation of this verse is “Everyone practicing sin also does lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” The NLT fleshes out the meaning as “breaking God’s law” and “contrary to the law of God.”

    All the best.

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