Sometimes it can be puzzling to compare various translations of the New Testament, and I wonder just how some of the examples come to be so different. Today I find the use of just one word in one edition puts new thoughts into my mind.
From Colossians 2 I find :
English Standard Version (ESV)
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
King James Version (KJV)
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
New King James Version (NKJV)
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
New Living Translation (NLT)
15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
The Message (MSG)
He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
New International Version
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
There are some differences in each of the above, but none use the word "himself" as is found in the
Good News Translation
15 And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.
If that is accurate we might interpret it to say it is only in respect of himself that Jesus freed himself from the spiritual rulers, thus leaving them for we others to contend with. The other quotations could infer that the spiritual baddies were disarmed for all and we need not be fearful of them.
How does that word "himself" come in from earlier translations?
From Colossians 2 I find :
English Standard Version (ESV)
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
King James Version (KJV)
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
New King James Version (NKJV)
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
New Living Translation (NLT)
15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
The Message (MSG)
He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
New International Version
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
There are some differences in each of the above, but none use the word "himself" as is found in the
Good News Translation
15 And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.
If that is accurate we might interpret it to say it is only in respect of himself that Jesus freed himself from the spiritual rulers, thus leaving them for we others to contend with. The other quotations could infer that the spiritual baddies were disarmed for all and we need not be fearful of them.
How does that word "himself" come in from earlier translations?