Few Greek words in the New Testament have given translation teams as many fits as the one used by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 19 to describe our world’s future:
“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’ ”
That’s the ESV. The NIV calls it “the renewal of all things”. The New Living translators went with “when the world is made new”. The KJV, among numerous others, calls it “the regeneration”. Holman goes with “the Messianic Age”, which is interpretation, not translation (though I think he is correct). The CEV says, “in the future world”. The Good News Translation calls it the “new age”, and GOD’S WORD® (how did they ever get that trademark registered?) calls it “the world to come”. The ISV calls it “the renewed creation” and Weymouth goes with “New Creation”.
Talk about variety! But you get the idea, I’m sure.
