Better Bibles Blog » Wayne Leman

borrowing or redeeming words in Bible translations

Wayne Leman — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:03:44 +0000

My friend and mentor, Hart Wiens, describes the two options Bible translators have when trying to find a word for the God of the Bible:

Translating Key Words: God and Allah

If the discussion is broadened to include other key Bible words, what relevance do you think this discussion might have for the vocabulary used in Bible translations targeted to speakers of contemporary English?

Eugene Peterson learns how to translate the Bible

Wayne Leman — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:07:20 +0000

Right now I am listening to a video interview with Eugene Peterson, translator of The Message version of the Bible. Peterson explains how he became a Bible translator. First he became a biblical language scholar. Then he discovered books recently published about how to translate the Bible. He read translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey, from Greek to English. He discovered the translation principles use by these translators. Finally, he began translating the Bible for his church congregation. Out of that experience came The Message. Peterson does not intend The Message to be a study Bible. But he intends it to help people understand the the message (!) of the Bible, expressed in contemporary English, applicable to their own lives.

You, too, can listen to this interview with Eugene Peterson:

http://www.qideas.org/practices/live/showing.aspx

You will need to register with your name, email address, and zip code before you can listen to the video. Actually, there are two videos, one on “Practicing Sabbath”, the other, the one I’m listening to, is titled “Immersed in Scripture.”

new multitask Bible app

Wayne Leman — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:03:58 +0000

Have you ever found your attention wandering as your read your Bible or listen to it in audio form? Your brain is probably trying to multitask because you have so much on your mind in our busy world. The answer for reading the Bible with divided attention will soon be here, the RDWT Bible app produced by Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth Inc. With the RDWT Bible app, you will not only be able to read and listen to the Bible, but at the same time you will be able to take notes on what you are reading or hearing, or write down anything else that comes to your mind, all without missing anything from your Bible experience. Do you need to liven up your Bible experience? You can with the dramatized audio track or video track options which you can select as you are experiencing the Bible with RDWT. In fact, you can select both tracks at the same time for fuller multitasking as you experience the Bible. And if you need further sensory input as you experience the Bible, you can press the Other Video button on the RDWT and add an unrelated video track.

The RDWT app will play on any smart phone, electronic reader such as Kindle, as well as legacy computers.

Each of the best-selling English Bible versions will be available on the RDWT app. You may experience them individually, but your Bible experience will be greatly enhanced as you select additional versions to be experienced at the same time. On the app you will have a choice of synchronizing the same Bible reference for each version, or you can select the multitask version mode to experience different Bible passages at the same time.

The RDWT is currently being Beta tested. But the latest RDWT memo says they hope to launch this revolutionary new Bible product to the market by April 1, 2013. Until then, those who would like to get a taste of what Bible multitasking can be like can do so by checking out the new Google multitasking cursor function: https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/multitask.html.

Have a good first day of April, and keep Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth!

watch a Bible translation committee work

Wayne Leman — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:11:31 +0000

Have you ever wondered what goes on when a Bible translation committee works? If so, here’s an interesting, informative video of the ESV translation committee meeting discussing how to translate biblical languages words having to do with slaves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx06mtApu8k

Eddie Arthur blogging about Father and Son

Wayne Leman — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:47:11 +0000

Bible translator Eddie Arthur has blogged several helpful, explanatory posts recently about how language, meaning, and Bible translation. He has focused on the discussion about how to translate the meaning of Father and Son in languages where these words have meanings different from the biblical languages and English.

Lifeway bookstores will sell NIV 2011

Wayne Leman — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:47:33 +0000

Scot McKnight blogs that Lifeway bookstores will sell the updated NIV (2011).

How Not to Do Bible Translation

Wayne Leman — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:52:38 +0000

I’m an Alaskan. I have a special interest in Bible translation of Alaska Native languages. I just discovered a blog post titled “How Not to Do Bible Translation.” The post begins:

An Alaskan radio station is reporting on the dire reception of a new Tlingit (an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast of America) encyclopedia. “The problem is: The language in the book is not recognizable by contemporary scholars, or Native Tlingit speakers.” All in all, the story is absolutely baffling and provides a very clear negative example for Bible translators.

Drew, the blog author, continues with his conclusions on what the translator did wrong. It’s worth your read and worth comments, if you with to make them.

Background on this translation project is given on the website of the above-mentioned Alaskan radio station which reports on matters concerning the languages and cultures in Southeastern Alaska where Tlingit is spoken.

translation of divine familial terms

Wayne Leman — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:37:47 +0000

C. S[tirling]. Bartholomew has referred to a critically important topic for Bible translation today, in the Share section of this blog. Feel free to read the article to which Stirling linked to see how intensely the issue of translation of divine familiar terms is discussed. There is a great deal of misunderstanding in that article and in the comments on it. I hope that the following statement from SIL, one of the Bible translation organizations mentioned in the article, can help clarify that the translations referred to do *not* take away the belief of Trinitarians (I am one) that God has revealed himself as Father and Son (as well as Holy Spirit). Intense discussions have been occurring among Bible translation organizations about how to translate the Fathership of God and the Sonship of the second person of the Trinity without at the same time communicating the idea that the Father must have had sexual intercourse with Mary to produce the Son. Such as idea is scandalous to intensely monotheistic Muslims (and Jews, and should be to monotheistic Christians, as well) and results in rejection of Christianity, unless there is adequate communication that while God has revealed himself as having a Father and Son relationship within the Trinity, this does not mean that God had sex with Mary. This, of course, is not an accurate understanding that should come from communicating biblical truth about the Fatherhood and Sonship of God.

This is not an issue of political correctness nor of accommodation to any other religion, including Islam. Instead, it is a matter of accuracy in translation when literal translation does not communicate the original biblical meaning accurately.

Ask yourself the difficult question: How might you translate the Fatherhood and Sonship of God without readers of your translation of the Bible understanding that to mean that God has sex with the mother of Jesus? This issue has confronted Christian-Muslim interaction for centuries.

Following is the article from SIL and I do have permission to share it with you all:

SIL International Statement of Best Practices for Bible Translation of Divine Familial Terms

Translation of the familial terms of God in Scripture has unfortunately generated considerable controversy. We want to clearly state our position on this important subject.

In SIL, we strongly affirm the eternal deity of Jesus Christ and require that it be preserved in all translations. Scripture translations must promote understanding of the term ‘the Son of God’ in all its richness, including Jesus’ relationship as Son with God the Father.

Without reservation, SIL’s Scripture translation practice is to use wording which accurately communicates to the intended audience the relationship of Father by which God chose to describe Himself in relationship to His Son, Jesus Christ, in the original languages of Scripture.

There are some cases in which it can be shown that a word-for-word translation of these familial terms would communicate an incorrect meaning (i.e. that God had physical, sexual relations with Mary, mother of Jesus; not only does this communicate obvious wrong meaning, but can also give readers the impression that the translation is corrupt). In these situations, the translations convey the accurate meaning by using terms that clearly have familial meaning but do not imply a procreative relationship. Where necessary, Scripture translations should include an explanation of the meaning of divine familial terms. This may be in an introduction, in one or more footnotes, or as a glossary entry, as seems appropriate to the situation.

Bible translation is complex work carried out by translation teams of highly skilled and dedicated people. In SIL, all personnel subscribe to a statement of faith which affirms the Trinity, Christ’s deity, and the inspiration of Scripture. SIL is committed to translating the Scriptures in the best way possible to preserve and not distort these truths. Respecting well-established Bible translation principles and practices, translation decisions are always made in consultation with other partners and the host communities, in order to achieve the best possible translation of God’s Word.

January 2012

********************************

UPDATE (February 6, 2012)

SIL announces additional dialogue with partners on translation practice

http://www.sil.org/sil/news/2012/SIL-dialogue-translation-practice.htm

6 February 2012) In light of a number of questions raised about our Best Practices Statement on the translation of Divine Familial Terms, we recognize it is important to have a fuller dialogue with our many partners globally and benefit from their input to our approach in Scripture translation related to this issue. Since questions about our commitment to these translation principles have been raised, we will proactively engage to understand the concerns, clarify misunderstandings, and where indicated, adjust practice.

Therefore, SIL announces that as of today, February 6, 2012, in situations where we are involved and partnering with others in translation, and have the responsibility to do so, we will put on hold our approval of publication of translated Scripture around which this criticism is focused.

We expect this dialogue with partners, and the corresponding hold period, to commence immediately and run for an extended period.

Related links of interest

SIL responds to false accusations

Overview of translation in SIL

SIL International is a faith-based nonprofit organization committed to serving language communities worldwide as they build capacity for sustainable language development. SIL does this primarily through research, translation, training and materials development. SIL facilitates the translation of Scripture in contexts where such activity is within the scope of SIL’s working agreements and where translation of Scripture texts has been identified as a needed resource for spiritual development. The translation goals for each language are decided in close interaction with communities and partner agencies, thus Scripture translation is not always included in SIL’s language development services. http://www.sil.org/sil/

Tom Wright’s New Testament Translation

Wayne Leman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:20:56 +0000

Scot McKnight likes Tom Wright’s new New Testament translation:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2012/01/19/tom-wrights-new-testament-translation/

Fr. Charles Erlandson, a fellow Anglican, likes Wright’s translation but finds a number of translation decisions he disagrees with. See Erlandson’s review on this page:

http://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-New-Testament-Contemporary-Translation/dp/0062064916/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

fulfillment

Wayne Leman — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:55:20 +0000

How would you respond to these questions?

1. Are you fulfilled in your job?

2. Is your life fulfilling?

3. Are your days fulfilling?

4. When your days are fulfilled, what will you do next?

(After you think about these questions and comment on them, if you wish, look up translations of 2 Samuel 7:12 and comment on any phrase in those translations that matches any phrase in the questions above.)