Complete Versus Dynamic Equivalence
COMPLETE VERSUS DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCE
One of the more recent debates has been whether a translation ought to be a complete equivalent or whether it is sufficient to be a dynamic equivalent of the original text. A Complete Equivalence seeks to preserve all the information in the text. This is a translation that attempts to be more literal in its rendition.
Dynamic Equivalence commonly results in more of a paraphrase. The problem with Complete Equivalence is that, being overly literal, it leaves figures of speech and ambiguous customs unexplained and difficult to understand. An example of this kind of literal versus paraphrase is seen in the way that various translations have rendered 1 Corinthians 13:8-11 where Paul uses the same Greek term on four consecutive occasions.
NAS|NIV|NKJV|
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:8-11).|Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (1 Corinthians 13:8-11).|Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:8-11).|
There are times when such consistency of translation is neither possible or desirable, but the NAS has a much better track record for this sort of thing.