The history of Korean translation of the bible started with the first publication Jesu Syungyo Nugabokeum Junsu (i.e. Jesus’ Mission Gospel of Luke) in 24th March 1882, translated by John Ross. Since then, during 130 years of time, starting from the first Korean bible Jesu Syungyo Nugabokeum Junsu, there has been 31 translations of the bible until Woorimal Sunggyung (i.e. Bible in our language) was published by Duranno Publishing in 2009.
New Korean Revised Version (NKRV), most Korean churches including Hapdong denomination use, is a bible translation fully translated in 1911, was revised and republished as Sunggyung Junsu (i.e Whole Bible) in 1938, was revised again according to the orthography of modern Korean and republished as Korean Revised Version(KRV) in 1956/61, and was revised again in 1998. Now NKRV 4th is used in public services. NKRV is known as a moderate translation which revised KRV in accordance with the modern grammar, and corrected the mistranslations while reflecting the flow and atmosphere of the original text KRV used. But despite of such advantages, verifying the revisions and corrections in grammatical and syntactical perspectives, there are immature points found in many places leaving regrets which make people think it was only a temporary countermeasure which does not fully suggest the correct translations based on the original text. In other words, NKRV does not suggest the solution to the fundamental problems. It is suspicious whether NKRV was published just as a temporary makeshift due to the urgency for a new translation to substitute the old KRV.This study examines the quality of the translation, formal equivalency etc. of the official translations, i.e. KRV and NKRV, and Korean Truthful Version used for educational purposes, by comparing each text with the Greek New Testament (Nestle-Aland 28th) in order to show how much they reflect the original text. Moreover, this article verifies the formal equivalency as well as the consistency of the translation comparing with the English Standard Version, well-known as one of formal equivalent translation, i.e. literal translation of the word, syntax, context as it is in the original text. As results, the formal equivalencies of various translations Hapdong is using will be revealed, and the necessity of a new bible translation will be realized.
In order for truthful preachings and teachings of the inspired words of God in pulpits and educational fields of our denomination pursuing the reformed theology, formal equivalent translation of the bible to the original text is desperately required. And I can assure the thing our denomination has to participate and serve for Korean church is this work: translating a new version of the bible, and publishing it in the shortest time.