Background & History
Overview
The first complete Bible
produced by The Lockman Foundation was the Amplified Bible.
The Amplified Bible is a translation that, by using
synonyms and definitions, both explains and expands the meaning
of words in the text by placing amplification in parentheses and
brackets and after key words or phrases.This unique system of
translation allows the reader to more completely grasp the
meaning of the words as they were understood in the original
languages. Through multiple expressions, fuller and more
revealing appreciation is given to the divine message as the
original text legitimately permits.
The Amplified Bible is free of personal interpretation
and is independent of denominational prejudice. It is a
translation from the accepted Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek
manuscripts into literary English. It is based on the
American Standard Version of 1901, Rudolph Kittel’s
Biblia Hebraica, the Greek text of Westcott and Hort, and
the 23rd edition of the Nestle Greek New Testament as
well as the best Hebrew and Greek lexicons available at the
time. Cognate languages, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and other Greek
works were also consulted. The Septuagint and other versions
were compared for interpretation of textual differences. In
completing the Amplified Bible, translators made a
determined effort to keep, as far as possible, the familiar
wording of the earlier versions, and especially the feeling of
the ancient Book.
Through amplification, the reader gains a better understanding
of what the Hebrew and Greek listener instinctively understood
(as a matter of course). Take, for example, the Greek word
pisteuo, which the vast majority of versions render as
"believe." That simple translation, however, hardly does justice
to the many meanings contained in the Greek pisteuo:
"to adhere to, cleave to; to trust to have faith in; to rely on,
to depend on." Notice the subtle shades of meaning which are
unlocked in John 11:25:
"Jesus
said to her, I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life.
Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me,
although he may die, yet he shall live."
The Story of the Amplified Bible
The story of the
Amplified Bible is a remarkable story of faith, hope, and
love. It's the story of a woman, a foundation, a committee, and
a publisher. Commitment, energy, enthusiasm, and
giftednessthese are the words that paint the picture, the
picture of the making of a translation.
Frances Siewert (Litt.
B., B.D., M.A., Litt. D.) was a woman with an intense dedication
to the study of the Bible. It was Mrs. Siewert (18811967) who
laid the foundation of the Amplified Bible, devoting her
life to a familiarity with the Bible, with the Hebrew and Greek
languages, and with the cultural and archaeological background
of Biblical times, which would result in the publication of this
unique translation.
Every vision needs
visionaries willing to follow the cause. The story of this dream
is no different. Mrs. Siewert's vision was seen by a California
nonprofit foundation called The Lockman Foundation, made up of
Christian men and women who through their commitment, their
expertise, and their financial support under girded Mrs.
Siewert's monumental translation project. The Lockman
Foundation's purpose remains today what is was then: to promote
Bible translation, Christian evangelism, education, and
benevolence.
Commitment, energy,
enthusiasm, giftedness the things visions are made
ofdescribes the efforts of the committee appointed by The
Lockman Foundation to carefully review the impressive work of
Mrs. Siewert. This Editorial Board, made up of dedicated people,
lent credibility and organization to this unprecedented attempt
to bring out the richness of the Hebrew and Greek languages
within the English text itself.
One chapter yet remained
to bring the vision into reality. A publishing house in Grand
Rapids, Michigan, on its way to becoming a major religious
publishing firm, seized the opportunity to participate in a
project which all visionaries involved strongly believed would
be used by God to change lives. The Zondervan Publishing House
joined the team, and the dream became reality with the
publication of The Amplified New Testament in 1958, followed by
the twovolume Amplified Old Testament in 1962 and 1964, and the
onevolume Amplified Bible in 1965.
Biography of Mrs. Frances Siewert
Remembered by The Lockman
Foundation for her long life of tireless devotion to God, her
expertise in the Greek language, and for her impressive
knowledge concerning Scripture, Mrs. Frances Siewert went home
to be with the Lord late Wednesday night, March 29, 1967. As the
official Research Secretary of the
Amplified Bibleproject, Mrs. Siewert displayed her
tremendous passion for the Lord. This passion shown brightly
throughout her monumental task of laying the translation
foundation for the Amplified Bible.
Born in 1881, Mrs.
Siewert (Litt. B., B.D., M.A., Litt. D.) dedicated her life to
the intensive study of the Scriptures as well as to the cultural
and archaeological background of biblical times. When asked by
The Lockman Foundation in 1956 to recount, in her own words, her
long journey as a Christian, Mrs. Siewert submitted the
following amazing list concerning her life as a Christian to
that point:
 At
six years of age knew scores of hymns and Bible verses.
At
ten passed an oral examination on the Catechism.
At
fifteen entered the academy of Pacific University, deeply
religious atmosphere, compulsory Bible study.
At
seventeen was meeting regularly with classmates to help them
prepare for their Bible lessons.
At
eighteen entered Willamette University. Elected president of the
Y.W.C.A. under intensely spiritual stimulus. Elected editor of
the Willamette Collegian by unanimous vote of all
factions of the student body. (With no Bible in Willamette’s
curriculum, she started a campaign to have it introduced, which
authorities honored and was graduated at barely twenty with the
degree of Bachelor of Literature, "cum laude.")
At
twentytwo married a minister, who was a brilliant Greek
student.
At
twentyfour began helping ministers with their public written
work, religious authors and editors with their manuscripts,
writing stories for Sunday School material, some to be
translated into German. Later, articles for such periodicals as
the Sunday School Times.
At
twentynine received Master of Arts degree from Willamette
University. Thesis subject, "The Effect of the Bible on English
Language."
At
thirtytwo received bachelor of divinity degree from Schuylkill
Seminary (to which the credits had been transferred to make the
graduation of a woman possible).
At
thirtythree teaching Bible to girls and women on campus at the
University of Washington, downtown in Seattle from city’s high
schools and factories.
At
thirtysix teaching young people and teachers of Bible in
Denver, Colorado.
At
forty teaching Bible daily in Clay County High School, Kansas,
sixteen communities represented. In constant demand for Bible
lectures at clubs, conventions, and in organized classes 254
such talks in one year. In meantime, completed seventeen reading
courses at University of Indiana, and earned considerable credit
in Psychology and teacher training at Kansas State College.
Studied all of the courses pertinent to Bible teaching.
In
1940 left a widow. Devoted full time to biblical research for
ministers and religious writers.
From
1952 to the present (1956) devoted time entirely to the
translation task now in hand, with the work of the Gospel of
John, which preceded it.
For all her immense
educational preparation and thorough knowledge of Scripture,
Mrs. Siewert always remained a humble servant of the Lord. In
correspondence dated Sept. 8, 1954 to The Lockman Foundation
President and Founder, F. Dewey Lockman, she stated, "Every day,
almost, I find myself bubbling with the thrill of discovering
some shade of meaning in the original Greek that had never been
evident to me before. I have averaged 4 hours a day of serious
Bible study since 1914, when I was already a theological
seminary graduate, and yet I am finding daily evidence of the
fact that there are countless Scripture passages which have been
obscure to me until now."
With the Amplified
Bible, Mrs. Siewert left us a legacy of her love for God,
and we are forever indebted to her for her contributions,
insight, and vision, which can still be seen today throughout
the pages of the Amplified Bible's unlocked word
meanings and timeless truths. |
