πρὸς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἐξηρτισμένος
It is sometimes (often?) a theme in more conservative Christian circles that the more literal Bible translations are the better translations. Translations that are “less literal” and more “thought for thought” are not as faithful to the text and may end up adding to it, or at least so the thinking goes. The thing about … Continue reading Literal Bible Translation Should Not Literally Be Done
"Back before the creation of the earth, Satan used to be a beautiful cherub named Lucifer. But after he rebelled against God, he was cast out of Heaven and his name was changed to Satan..." If you were like me, you may have grown up hearing a similar narrative and accepted it at face value. … Continue reading Lucifer Is Not Satan’s Original Name
When it comes to translation, sometimes there are instances where English (and other languages) express multiple concepts that are contained within a single word in the source language (Hebrew or Greek in this case). The words commonly translated as “angel” or “messenger” are perfect examples of this. The Hebrew word we get “angel” from is … Continue reading Angel or Messenger? Some Interpretation in Translation
The basic goal of translation is to communicate the meaning of the source language into the target language. That is, in the context of Bible translation, to accurately communicate the words of the original language, whether Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic, into the best possible equivalents in English. There are two basic philosophies for trying to accomplish this: formal … Continue reading When Translation Obscures: The NLT and Romans 4:6-9
If you were to pick up a King James Version Bible and turn to Matthew 18:11, you would find that it says, “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” If you were to pick up an ESV and tried to turn to the same verse, you would find that … Continue reading Greek Texts and Textual Differences in Bible Translations
There are quite a number of English Bible translations out there. Probably too many. With the various different kinds of translations that exist, it is good to know what type of translation you are using and what it is trying to accomplish with its translation philosophy.To hopefully help bring some clarity to the various types … Continue reading Comparing Bible Translation Philosophies
Equip the Saints 