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. |
