The Bible Translator: Volume 28, Issue 2

There are basically two ways of translating and being faithful to the original text: faithfulness to the original form, called the old way; and faithfulness to the original meaning, called the new way. Discusses the language barriers posed by the old way: (1) single words do not overlap in meaning; (2) sentence structure differs; (3) technical terms do not translate over; (4) nouns have different meanings in a new setting; (5) idioms and figures of speech; and (6) pronouns must frequently be rendered as nouns. The new way consists of three stages: (1) analysis from several angles of the text; (2) transferring the ideas into a second language; (3) restructuring. View Less

There are about 70 problems in the NT with verse divisions; about 37 chapter numbering problems in the OT and the Psalms present unique problems. Offers several solutions after outlining example problems: (1) the Hebrew Bible is not the final authority; (2) there is value in the pragmatic solution of keeping to the numbering of the most common European Bible in an area; and (3) translators work out their own numbering. View Less

Genesis 15 is a key chapter in the Bible because of the prominent place Abraham plays in biblical history. Yet, in older translations like the RSV there are serious problems to understanding the chapter. Discusses some of the places where the RSV causes difficulties in understanding and suggests a translation into simple, current English which seeks to remove the problems. View Less

An effort to defend the TEV translation from some common objections. Discusses: interpretation; copyrights; variations in the text of the King James; the journalistic format of the TEV; differences between a translation and a paraphrase; and how God can best speak to people today. View Less

A problem posed by the Yala language has wider implications. It concerns the cultural and meaning tie-ins to words so that a wrong translation of a biblical idea creates a barrier to the spread of Christianity. Various conclusions were drawn by a translations group attempting to solve the problem and a procedure to follow is outlined. The procedure is similar to that by which an English dictionary is produced, in which words are noted in the context of their usage, and an overall meaning recorded from component meanings. View Less

Discusses certain problems in the TEV translation with suggested restructuring in wording but not in meaning to reduce difficulties in understanding. View Less

What is this “order” of Melchizedek of which traditional translations speak? Discusses three main ways of understanding the difficult phrase used in Hebrews 5–7: (1) there are 2 successions of priests, one of Aaron and one of Melchizedek; (2) there are 2 ranks of priests, where Aaron and his descendants are a lower rank; (3) Christ is simply like Melchizedek. Since there is no succession to Melchizedek’s priesthood, the best possibility is “just like Melchizedek.” View Less

A series of notes on the verses of Luke 11 for translators who might be working with the RSV because the English of that translation creates certain meaning problems. View Less

There are special problems in the book of Proverbs, for the wisdom literature generally is anti-feminist. This is the basic reason that man/men is retained in many person references in the Proverbs. View Less

Evaluates contemporary approaches to Psalm 23 where the reader is unfamiliar with the culture of the source text. View Less

Prefers the rendering “our present limitations” or “our limited spiritual understanding” in Rom. 8:26. View Less