Randal,
While I respect you personally, I must disagree. Of course there cannot be an exact word-for-word translation because the Greek (and Hebrew) grammar do not correspond one-to-one to English. However, there is a big difference in philosophy of translation between a group whose goal is to give as literal a translation as possible while still being readable and one that up front states that is not their goal, but to rather give what they think it means in order to "clarify" the thoughts being conveyed. I for one want a translation (or translations) that is as close to the original as is possible. Even the NLT site acknowledges the difference through their explanation here:
http://www.newlivingtranslation.com/...philosophy.asp.
When one takes the thought clarifying philosophy in translation, it is impossible for the translators' biases to be left out. As I stated, all translations do have errors in them and none are totally free of biases, but on a scale of less biases to more, my understanding from those who know and understand the Greek (I am not one) is that the "essentially literal" versions are generally less free of biases than are "thought based" translations. Does that mean they are perfect? No. None are. But when considering that the these translation committees (for BOTH methods) are made up of people from all sorts of denominations, one *should* wonder just how much Calvinism and other doctrines of men have crept into "thought based" translations, leading folks astray. These kinds of translations are dangerous at best, and not translations at all at worst. I could not in all good conscience recommend anyone to use them.