Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Bible translation

One-Issue Organizations

by

I still remember one of my theology professors taking our class to a room with a piano in it. He sat down at the piano and presented a “Middle C concert” to us. He just kept hitting Middle C over and over.

His point was that that’s a bad way to do theology because truth is truth proportionally.

And that’s a danger for one-issue organizations—whether they are advocating a particular view of worship, creation, gender roles, revival, or whatever—because they tend to overemphasize the importance of their one issue:

[I]t often seems to be the case that organizations with such narrow focus and which have been formed for the conscious purpose of advocating that position in opposition to a position viewed as biblically flawed . . . tend to over-speak their case.

—Rodney J. Decker, “The English Standard Version: A Review Article,” Journal of Ministry and Theology 8, no. 2 (2004): 11n17.

I’m not opposed to one-issue organizations in principle; I happily support some and thank God for them. I’m merely pointing out a common weakness.

The Problem of Religious Conservatism

by

Dick France (b. 1938), who has served on the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT) for two periods (1990–1995 and 1999–present), reflects on “some issues in Bible translations” at the end of this article:

“The Bible in English: An Overview.” Pages 177–97 in The Challenge of Bible Translation: Communicating God’s Word to the World; Understanding the Theory, History, and Practice: Essays in Honor of Ronald F. Youngblood. Edited by Glen G. Scorgie, Mark L. Strauss, and Steven M. Voth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.

France briefly reflects on five issues:

  1. The Text to Be Translated
  2. Literal versus Dynamic Translation
  3. The Problem of Religious Conservatism
  4. Public and Private Reading
  5. Inclusive Language

What he says about the third issue applies to more than just Bible translation:

The Problem of Religious Conservatism

Conservatism—in the sense of resistance to change—seems to affect people in matters of religion more readily than in other areas. Thoroughly modern people with radical political views may nonetheless be staunch advocates of the KJV and the Book of Common Prayer. Saint Luke long ago summed up the typical reaction to change in matters of religion: “The old is good” (Luke 5:39 NRSV). This is a hurdle every Bible translator must face. [Read more…] about The Problem of Religious Conservatism

Three Related Book Reviews

by

I contributed three related book reviews to the latest issue of Themelios.

1. Review of The Story: Read the Bible as One Seamless Story from Beginning to End. Themelios 34 (2009): 106–7.

“The Story is an edifying tool for a variety of situations: a supplemental textbook for students (junior high, high school, or college), an introduction to the Bible’s storyline for non-Christians or young Christians, and a creative refresher for mature Christians.”

2. Review of The Books of the Bible: A Presentation of Today’s New International Version. Themelios 34 (2009): 108–9.

“The Books of the Bible is ingenious. The way it presents the Bible as a library of literature is unique, simple, and elegant, and it naturally encourages better Bible reading.”

3. Review of Christopher R. Smith, The Beauty Behind the Mask: Rediscovering the Books of the Bible. Themelios 34 (2009): 109–10.

“Smith clearly and persuasively argues that visually presenting the Bible in a single column without chapter or verse references encourages reading that is more informed and engaged.”

ESVSB

by

My Leather TruTone Classic Black ESV Study Bible arrived last Tuesday, but I had just left campus for a week so I didn’t get it until I returned to Deerfield this morning. I’m planning to read it in time to submit a review of it by March 1, 2009 for the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. For now I think one word sums up my initial reaction: wow.

Related:

Bible.org Gets a Facelift

by

Darrell Bock just posted this note on his blog:

“If you go to our host site, www.Bible.org, you will see a completely new look and feel. It is part of a several year discussion about how to best serve those who visit the site. Check it out.”

logo.gif

This site is one of my favorites listed on the “theological writings” page of my recommended resources:

*Bible.org: about, NET Bible (cf. my blog post), Daniel Wallace’s “Prof’s Soapbox,” authors, series, reviews, Q&A topics

Dignified Translations

by

Update: See an updated version of this post here.

Yesterday Jenni and I went on a long walk and listened to Robert Stein‘s first three lectures for his course on hermeneutics. He told some very funny stories about various Bible translations, and two rather shocking ones were news to me. These two translations occur below, each at the end of its list, and they illustrate the importance of dignified translations.

1 Samuel 20:30a

  • NASB (cf. KJV, RSV, NRSV, ESV, NIV) Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!“
  • NET Saul became angry with Jonathan and said to him, “You stupid traitor!“
  • Message Saul exploded in anger at Jonathan: “You son of a slut!“
  • NLT Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. “You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him.
  • The original Living Bible Saul boiled with rage. “You son of a bitch!” he yelled at him.

Romans 3:3-4a

  • KJV For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid:
  • NASB What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be!
  • ESV (cf. RSV, NRSV) What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means!
  • NET (cf. HCSB) What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? Absolutely not!
  • NIV What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all!
  • Message So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn’t abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life!
  • NLT True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? Of course not!
  • Cotton Patch Version All right, so some of them are hypocrites; does their hypocrisy nullify God’s sincerity? Hell no. [fn.: “Just about the proper strength for the Greek phrase.”]

Update on 3/31/2017: In my latest attempt to explain how to interpret and apply the Bible, I include a chapter on Bible translation (pp. 50–81).