So many different English translations are available that it might seem redundant to add another. A few comments are clearly appropriate.

Some while ago a couple of visitors came to our regular Bible study. They were working on a project that required use of the whole Bible. When they went to the different Bible publishers, they quickly discovered that all modern English versions are subject to licensing fees. In many cases this is not a problem because permission is readily granted for the use of a few verses without charge. However to use the whole Bible requires a license fee of tens of thousands of dollars. Added to that is the fact that free versions of the Bible on the Internet etc are generally limited to older versions such as the King James Version.

Checking on the Internet revealed a few current projects that aimed towards a modern translation of Bible that is not subject to these restrictions. Ebible is using the ASV as a base, updating its English—which is very much second best to a new modern English translation. One of the most interesting projects is the Wikiproject Wiki Bible that follows on from the very successful and much used Wikipedia. This is an Internet community project, and anyone can go in and make edits etc. However this project is still in progress with only a few Bible books translated to date. I have been involved in this and contributed some basic translations of the gospels. For details go here: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Wikisource:WikiProject_Wiki_Bible

Additionally such "open" projects are subject to the downside of such a process in that anyone and everyone can make changes, whether legitimate or not. This led me to consider the possibility of producing a new translation from the Greek of the New Testament. This is what has happened under the Lord's leading. The Freedom Bible Version New Testament is a new translation from the Greek. Its intent is to be as faithful to the original meaning without being awkward or misleading. The style is contemporary English without using slang or fashionable colloquialisms, speaking to our modern society in a way people will understand.

This is an ongoing project that will continue to develop over time. Use is encouraged with the following permissions:

1. Source attribution is given, i.e. it is cited as “Freedom Bible” or “Freedom Bible Version,” abbreviated  “FBV.”
2. No changes are made to the text.
3. It is not reproduced or published for profit.

I pray that this new version will provide some new insights, and give the motivation to take another look at God’s wonderful and vital message to us. My hope is that as we take the time to look, we will end up “Seeing God” as revealed to us by Jesus—who told us that if we’ve seen him, we’ve seen the Father, and that the reason why Jesus came was to make God known.

Jonathan Gallagher

Revised August 2010

If you would like to write to me, feel free to send an email to freedombible AT hotmail.com

But bear in mind I may not be able to answer everyone...