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

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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

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

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.)

HT: David Ker

Translating the Bible into the vernacular often divides people, sometimes deeply. Why?

I’ve been posting some things on Bible translations on my blog:

1) Doug Moo (NIV), Wayne Grudem (ESV), and Ray Clendenen (HCSB) video’s from Liberty University’s Biblical Studies Symposium on Bible Translations.

2) A 34-part blog series comparing six major Bible translations using a methodology of my mentor, Andreas Kostenberger, in The Challenge of Bible Translation.
- Part 1
- Part 2
- When part 34 is done (November 5th) I plan on posting the whole thing as a document.

Also, a book from B&H will come from this, with chapters from the three above plus Philip Comfort. Kostenberger and I are editing it.

Blessings!

David Croteau
Associate Professor of Biblical Studies
School of Religion, Liberty University

Psalm 27 is written in iambic meter and lines 1 and 3 have 8 syllables each (called tetrameter), while lines 2 and 4 have 6 syllables (trimeter).

Psalm 27

My light and my salvation, Lord,
You ever are to me,
The stronghold of my life, now whom
Am I to fear or flee?

Though evil men assail me,
Upon my flesh to prey,
Or enemies come forth they shall
But stumble in the way.

Yea, though an army rise to fight
With ruinous intent,
Or war break out against me still,
Will I be confident.

For but a single thing I ask
Of him who is my stay,
And that most earnestly I seek
Throughout each night and day,

’Tis this, that I may dwell within
His house while life shall last,
To seek and gaze upon his face
In beauty unsurpassed.

For days of trouble lie in wait,
But safely will he keep
And hide me sheltered, safe within
His tabernacle deep.

And then upon a lofty rock,
My head exalted high,
Above my enemies around,
With shouts of joy shall I

Pure sacrifice present to him
And praises shall be heard,
While at his tabernacle flows
To music every word.

Now hear my voice and answer, Lord,
Be merciful to me.
Let not your ear my call disdain
Or closed or hardened be.

For to my heart you oft have said,
“Seek naught but all my face,”
Your face, O Lord, e’er shall I seek,
Its beauty to embrace.

Hide not your face, then, Lord from me,
Nor from your servant turn.
In anger for my countless faults
Let not your rancor burn.

My helper have you been till now,
O God, reject me not.
My Savior, think not to forsake
The work your hands have wrought.

Though father and my mother would
Their offspring disavow,
The Lord will yet receive me and
More charity allow.

Now teach me in your way, O Lord,
And in your path sustain,
For many are my enemies
Who o’er my life would reign.

And what they wish to do forbid,
’Tis violence they breathe,
And rising up they speak, but with
False testimony seethe.

Though trials increase, I’m confident
That I shall ever see
The goodness of the Lord fulfilled
Throughout the land to me.

Now wait, I say, before the Lord,
Be strong in will and heart,
And steady set your gaze on him
Who never fails his part.