300 reasons why I do not use the RV1960 Spanish Bible
In this article, I present the reasons why I cannot use the Reina Valera 1960. The reader should keep in mind that this is not a complete list of every error in the RV1960 but rather my personal reasons why I refuse to use this version. Before we begin, let me be clear about a few facts.
The famous Eugene Nida was the organizer and overseer of the Reina-Valera 1960 revision committee. Like most modern textual critics, he was a huge supporter of the Critical Text. In his book Bible Translating, he encourages Bible translators to use the Critical Text when translating the Bible to any other language.[1]
Nida admits to intentional departures from the Received Text in the RV1960. In his book The Bible Translator he wrote:
Nevertheless, in some instances where a Critical Text is so much preferred over the traditional Textus Receptus the committee did make some slight changes, particularly if such changes were not in well-known verses where an alteration would be unduly upsetting to the constituency.[2]
The men behind the Reina-Valera 1960 said themselves that they used the Critical Text. They specifically stated that they tried to insert the Critical Text into the RV1960 in such a way that would not be "upsetting" to those who would buy the Bible.
Jose Flores, who was the President of the Spanish Bible Society and a consultant to the RV1960 revision committee, speaks to the incorporation of the Critical Text in the RV1960 Spanish Bible. He said:
One principle added to the first list of the RV 1960 revision committee was that wherever the RV1909 Version has departed from the Textus Receptus to follow a better text, we did not return to the Receptus. Point 12 of the working principles states: in cases where there is a doubt over the correct translation of the original, we consulted preferentially The English Revised Version of 1885, The American Standard Version of 1901, The Revised Standard Version of 1946, and the International Critical Commentary.[3]
Flores clarifies that the RV1960 not only used the Greek Critical Text but also followed English Critical Text translations. Since this is the case, we are using the ERV, ASV, RSV, and other translations to show that the RV1960 contains the same corrupt reading in many verses. The RVG and KJV are included to show the correct reading in both Spanish and English.
Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Reina-Valera 1960 ® © Sociedades Bíblicas en América Latina, 1960. Renovado © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1988. Utilizado con permiso. Reina-Valera 1960 ® es una marca registrada de la American Bible Society y puede ser usada solamente bajo licencia.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation©, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the Lexham English Septuagint. Copyright 2019 Lexham Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the English Revised Version (ERV) of the Bible, originally published in 1885 (Public Domain).
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, American Standard Version (ASV), published in 1901 by Thomas Nelson & Sons. This work is in the public domain.
[1] Eugene Nida, Bible Translating, (American Bible Society), 1947, 50.
[2] Eugene Nida, The Bible Translator, Vol 12, 1961, 113.
[3] José Flores, El Texto Del Nuevo Testamento, CLIE 1977, 323.
