This style guide started out as a set of internal principles that I’d been using—sometimes subconsciously in my translation work. These principles describe how decisions were made in practice, not ideals imposed afterward.
After working through several translations, it seemed like the time was right to make my previously intuitive decisions explicit—for evaluation, consistency across translations, and intentional deviation when warranted (see §7).
1. Core Commitments
1.1. The prime directive is twofold: honor the integrity of the inspired text as originally written; and trust the intelligence of the reader.
1.2. Translate, not interpret beyond what the Greek requires. Literalness in TBWM refers to faithfulness to Greek structure and meaning. It does not require one-to-one word correspondence, but must remain non-interpretive within the constraints of the target language.
1.3. Preserve ambiguity where Greek is ambiguous.
1.4. Preserve clause structure where possible.
1.5. Strive for elegant English with a literary and readable style, but prioritize consistency over elegance.
2. Diction and Glossing Principles
2.1. Choose precise, accurate, lexically justified English words to fully convey the original meaning of the Greek word.
2.2. Because the New Testament was written in common Greek for ordinary readers, translation choices should favor clarity and accessibility. Therefore,
2.2.1. do not use pretentious vocabulary for the sake of appearing sophisticated;
2.2.2. do not use clever words to show off; and
2.2.3. do not use novel words just to be different from or unique to other translations.
2.3. Because the New Testament is God’s Word, it must be translated with precision and restraint. Therefore,
2.3.1. choose words purposefully;
2.3.2. favor plain words over academic jargon;
2.3.3. favor plain words over theologically loaded transliterations that function more as doctrinal shorthand than translation, but do not avoid traditional terminology for the sake of being novel or clever;
2.3.4. favor rich words that convey the contextually-justified subtle nuances of the Greek word being rendered; and
2.3.5. despite the admonition to favor plain words, do not fear using a refined, formal, or sophisticated word if that is the best possible word for conveying the meaning of the Greek.
2.4. Choose the English word that corresponds to the contextually-appropriate sense indicated by the lexicon. Many Greek words have various different meanings in English.
2.4.1. In order to avoid arbitrarily selecting a possible gloss, rely first on the context in which the word is used in the sentence and the greater context of the surrounding passage.
2.4.2. Once a contextually-appropriate gloss is chosen, be sensitive to nuance by selecting the English word that carries as much semantic similarity to the Greek word as the English language will permit. For example,
2.4.2.1. μένω → remain. μένω in 1 John is often translated as “abide,” which is correct, but it lacks nuance. John is writing to people who are abiding. So, he’s not telling them to abide but to keep abiding; thus, “remain” is a better choice. It carries the meaning of abide, but the nuance of continuing to abide.
2.4.2.2. περιπατέω → walk. The verb περιπατέω is rendered consistently as “walk,” preserving its concrete metaphorical force. While English alternatives such as “live” or “conduct oneself” may sound smoother, they abstract the image John intentionally employs. Retaining “walk” allows the ethical metaphor to remain vivid and interconnected across the epistle.
2.4.2.3. κόσμος → world. κόσμος is rendered as “world” even where the referent is moral, ethical, or spiritual rather than physical. Though “world system” or similar phrases may clarify interpretation, they introduce explanatory content not present in the Greek. Preserving “world” allows readers to encounter the term’s polyvalence as John employs it.
2.4.2.4. ζωή → life (article usage). ζωή is translated as “life,” with English articles supplied only where the context specifies a particular instance or defined category. Where ζωή functions qualitatively or generically, no article is added in English, even when the Greek includes one. This avoids falsely reifying “life” as an object rather than a state or reality.
3. Verb Handling
3.1. Greek verb forms carry aspectual and contextual information that cannot always be conveyed directly in English tense systems. Therefore, English verb choices in this translation are guided by sense and force, not by rigid one-to-one correspondence.
3.2. Perfect Tense Verbs
3.2.1. Greek perfect tense verbs are evaluated according to their resulting state and discourse function, not merely their temporal reference.
3.2.2. Greek perfects are treated as stative or result-oriented, not merely as past actions.
3.2.3. When a perfect emphasizes a present state resulting from a past action, it is typically rendered with an English present or present-perfect construction.
3.2.4. When the emphasis lies on the ongoing reality rather than the historical act, English present tense may be preferred.
3.2.5. The goal is to preserve the continuing effect of the action, not merely its completion; therefore, Greek perfects are not flattened into simple past unless the context clearly warrants it. See example in 3.3.5.
3.3. Present Tense Verbs
3.3.1. Greek present tense verbs are evaluated according to contextual force, not assumed to be progressive by default.
3.3.2. When the present tense describes an ongoing or habitual action, English progressive or habitual constructions may be used.
3.3.3. When the present tense functions categorically—describing identity, condition, or defining characteristic—it is rendered as such in English.
3.3.4. Particular care is taken in theological or ethical contexts (e.g., 1 John), where present tense verbs often describe states or identities, not repeated actions.
3.3.5. Example: γεγέννηται is rendered as “has been born,” emphasizing present identity rather than past event, whereas present-tense forms describing defining characteristics (e.g., “the one who loves”) are treated categorically rather than progressively.
3.4. Subjunctive Mood
3.4.1. The Greek subjunctive expresses possibility, contingency, or purpose, rather than uncertainty.
3.4.2. English auxiliaries (“may,” “should,” “might”) are used sparingly and only when necessary to preserve force.
3.4.3. Where English idiom permits, the subjunctive sense is conveyed through clause structure rather than added modal verbs.
3.4.4. The aim is to reflect the force of the subjunctive without overstating uncertainty or importing interpretive theology.
4. Participles
4.1. Greek participles are preserved wherever English can naturally sustain them without obscuring meaning or burdening readability.
4.2. Retaining Participles
4.2.1. Participles are retained when they:
4.2.1.1. convey ongoing action, manner, or attendant circumstance;
4.2.1.2. preserve theological or logical connections within a sentence; or
4.2.1.3. reflect intentional compression in the Greek.
4.2.2. Retention is favored when participles contribute to the rhythm or argument of the text.
4.3. Converting Participles to Finite Verbs
4.3.1. The aim is to reflect the force of the subjunctive without overstating uncertainty or importing interpretive theology.
4.3.2. Participles may be converted to finite verbs when:
4.3.2.1. English would otherwise become awkward or opaque;
4.3.2.2. multiple participles overload a sentence beyond reasonable clarity; or
4.3.2.3. the participle functions primarily as a coordinate assertion rather than a modifier.
4.3.3. Such conversions are made conservatively and only to preserve clarity, not to simplify theology. For example, a participle describing attendant circumstance may be converted to a finite verb when English would otherwise obscure the main assertion, but without introducing temporal or causal sequencing absent from the Greek.
4.4. Avoiding Over-Paraphrase
4.4.1. When participles are converted, care is taken not to:
4.4.1.1. introduce temporal sequencing not present in the Greek;
4.4.1.2. add causal or logical connections not explicit in the text; or
4.4.1.3. flatten theological nuance.
4.4.2. The goal is clarity without expansion, and precision without commentary.
5. Pronouns and Capitalization
5.1. By default, pronouns will be rendered in lowercase. Capitalizing pronouns—however justified—is interpretive.
5.2. There are exceptions. When a term is clearly, plainly, and unambiguously referring to a member of the Trinity, the word may be capitalized. E.g., “the One,” and “Holy One” Exceptions are judgment calls that should be made on a case-by-case basis, with a presumption to follow the default rule unless context absolutely invites otherwise.
6. Punctuation Philosophy
6.1. Greek manuscripts did not originally contain punctuation or capitalization. Therefore, punctuation in Greek manuscripts were added by others for our convenience. They are interpretive. For example, commas in the Greek manuscripts are for sense, not structure.
6.2. Consequently, punctuation in an English translation must be English-driven, not Greek-driven.
6.3. Dashes are used for emphasis and are favored over adding English words that are not in the Greek. For example, dashes may reflect emphatic apposition or abrupt clarification where Greek relies on juxtaposition rather than explicit connective words.
7. Principled Deviations
7.1. Do not slavishly follow this style guide. Consistency is important so long as it serves conveying meaning thoughtfully and accurately.
7.2. Deviations from this style guide are necessary when meaning requires it.
7.3. Deviations from this style guide are appropriate when intentional and undertaken to convey meaning more fully, accurately, and honorably.
8. Notable Conventions
8.1. When pronunciation is provided, it reflects a reconstructed Koine Greek system. This choice is pragmatic rather than prescriptive. Readers are not expected to abandon the pronunciation system they already use or prefer.
Note: This guide builds upon earlier translation principles, documented here.