The Bible Translator: Volume 39, Issue 4

Was Phoebe a deaconess? The context shows that women occupied positions of prominence in the early church. Cross references indicate women likely held office as deacons. To translate diakonos as “deaconess” implies a distinction in ecclesiastical office from that of “deacon.” Using “servant” focuses on function but diminishes the responsible position Paul recognizes she holds in the church. “Minister,” “Who holds office,” and “who is active” all emphasize her leadership. Translation of this term ought to reflect the person’s special function in the church. View Less

In Exod 3:14,15 the name by which God is to be remembered might be either I Am (Ehyeh’) or He Is (Yahweh). Both names are forms of the same verb. Study of demonstratives indicates Yahweh is in focus. View Less

In Job 15, speech devices, basic information and implications are identified. Excessive use of rhetorical devices and length of the text can obscure the message of a discourse and lead to loss of meaning. View Less

Do the 3rd person pronouns in Eccl 5:13–17 refer to the father, the son or “everyman"? The context is of little help. Grammatical clues indicate vv. 13-14a speak of a rich man. Vv. 14b-16a shift focus to the child. The rest of the passage is general in nature. View Less

In 1 Cor 5:5, sarx may refer to the physical body or to the whole man. Context indicates Paul is not concerned with the specific sin of incest but with the general indifference to moral purity. His overall purpose in the epistle is to bring out discipline in the church on the corporate and individual levels. What is to be destroyed is not the body but the tendency to sin. View Less

Concludes that the “angel of the Lord” in Gen. 16:7–14; 21:17–21; 22:9–19; 31:10–13 is the Lord himself appearing as an angel. However, it is difficult to express this in Bassa, a language of Liberia. View Less

Three writers discuss the question of whether Jesus was in the boat or on the shore when he commanded Peter. View Less

Falam is one of the language groups in the northern section of Burma. The lack of family names in Falam creates a special problems for individual names. A person is his name. Discusses some of the unique problems associated with Royalty and forms of address (such as father, mother). In Falam society, para-messages are sent when honorific titles and other forms of address or reference are used in verbal communication. Address by personal name sends a message of disrespect. Translation must adjust to these cultural norms and para-messages. View Less