Translation Translation The Making of the Language The Making of - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Translation Translation

The Making of the Language The Making of the Language Versions of the Biblical Writings Versions of the Biblical Writings

Some Great Biblical Some Great Biblical Verses Verses

• `rs"

`rs")x.a, al{å y[ )x.a, al{å y[iªro iªro÷ ÷ hw"ïhy hw"ïhy> >

• u
• u[

[twj ga twj ga.r .r hvga hvga, ,phsen phsen o`

• ` qeo

qeo.j to.n .j to.n ko ko, ,smon smon( w[ ( w[ste ste to.n to.n ui`o ui`o.n to.n .n to.n monogenh/ monogenh/ e; e;dwken dwken( i[ ( i[na na pa/j o` pa/j o` pisteu pisteu, ,wn eivj auvto wn eivj auvto.n .n mh mh. . avpo avpo, ,lhtai avllV lhtai avllV e; e;ch ch| | zwh zwh.n .n aivw aivw, ,nionÅ nionÅ

Some Great Biblical Some Great Biblical Verses Verses

`rs" `rs")x.a, al{å y[ )x.a, al{å y[iªro iªro÷ ÷ hw"ïhy hw"ïhy The LORD is my shepherd, I The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. shall not be in want.

Psalm 23:1 Psalm 23:1

Some Great Biblical Some Great Biblical Verses Verses

• u
• u[

[twj ga twj ga.r .r hvga hvga, ,phsen phsen o`

• ` qeo

qeo.j to.n .j to.n ko ko, ,smon smon( w[ ( w[ste ste to.n to.n ui`o ui`o.n to.n .n to.n monogenh/ monogenh/ e; e;dwken dwken( i[ ( i[na na pa/j o` pa/j o` pisteu pisteu, ,wn eivj auvto wn eivj auvto.n .n mh mh. . avpo avpo, ,lhtai avllV lhtai avllV e; e;ch ch| | zwh zwh.n .n aivw aivw, ,nionÅ nionÅ

For God so loved the world that he gave his For God so loved the world that he gave his

• ne and only Son, that whoever believes in
• ne and only Son, that whoever believes in

him shall not perish but have eternal life. him shall not perish but have eternal life.

The Biblical The Biblical Languages Languages

• Hebrew

Hebrew – – almost the entire almost the entire Old Testament Old Testament

• Aramaic

Aramaic – – portions of Daniel portions of Daniel and Ezra and Ezra

• Greek

Greek – – the entire New the entire New Testament Testament

Key Questions Key Questions

• How did Bible translation begin?

How did Bible translation begin?

• How does Bible translation

How does Bible translation work? work?

• Can I trust my English

Can I trust my English translations? translations?

• Which translations should I use?

Which translations should I use?

A Brief History of Bible A Brief History of Bible Translation Translation

Some Early Bible Some Early Bible Translations Translations

• The Septuagint (LXX)

The Septuagint (LXX)

• Aramaic

Aramaic targums targums

• Syriac, including the

Syriac, including the Peshitta Peshitta

• Coptic

Coptic

• Latin, including the

Latin, including the Vulgate Vulgate

A Major Change for A Major Change for the Worse the Worse

• Changes produced by Latin and

Changes produced by Latin and Islam Islam

• In the East missions began to

In the East missions began to cease, while in the West Latin cease, while in the West Latin became the only allowed version became the only allowed version

• A few translations were made

A few translations were made (Wycliffe) but these were (Wycliffe) but these were generally opposed by the Church generally opposed by the Church

• Greek and Hebrew were virtually

Greek and Hebrew were virtually lost to the Church in the West lost to the Church in the West

The Rebirth of Bible The Rebirth of Bible Translation Translation

• Constantinople and the

Constantinople and the Renaissance Renaissance

• The printing press

The printing press

• The Reformation and

The Reformation and Bible translation Bible translation

The Modern Explosion The Modern Explosion in Bible Translation in Bible Translation

• Luther and the

Luther and the Reformation Reformation

• Wycliffe Bible Translators

Wycliffe Bible Translators and current Bible and current Bible translation agencies translation agencies

How Bible Translation How Bible Translation Works Works

Important Steps In Important Steps In Translation Translation

• Which books will be

Which books will be translated? (Canonization) translated? (Canonization)

• Which manuscripts will be

Which manuscripts will be consulted? (Textual criticism) consulted? (Textual criticism)

• What theory of translation will

What theory of translation will be followed? be followed?

Which Books Will be Which Books Will be Translated? Translated?

Which Books Will Be Which Books Will Be Translated? Translated?

• Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions

Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox versions will contain the will contain the Deutero-canonical Deutero-canonical books books

• Protestant versions will usually not include the

Protestant versions will usually not include the Deutero-canonical Deutero-canonical books books

• Some Protestant versions have included the

Some Protestant versions have included the Deutero-canonical Deutero-canonical books separately (KJV, RSV) books separately (KJV, RSV)

Which Manuscripts Which Manuscripts Will be Consulted? Will be Consulted?

Which Manuscripts will Which Manuscripts will be consulted? be consulted?

• Virtually all modern translations base the

Virtually all modern translations base the OT primarily on the Masoretic text OT primarily on the Masoretic text

• Virtually all modern translations consult

Virtually all modern translations consult

• ther ancient versions (LXX, Samaritan
• ther ancient versions (LXX, Samaritan

Pentateuch, etc) and will occasionally Pentateuch, etc) and will occasionally follow them against the Masoretic Text follow them against the Masoretic Text

Which Manuscripts will Which Manuscripts will be consulted? be consulted?

• Most modern translations use an eclectic

Most modern translations use an eclectic NT text, choosing the manuscripts that NT text, choosing the manuscripts that seem best to the translators seem best to the translators

• In general, most modern translations

In general, most modern translations give priority to the Alexandrian text over give priority to the Alexandrian text over the Byzantine/Majority text the Byzantine/Majority text

Which Manuscripts will Which Manuscripts will be consulted? be consulted?

• The key exception to this rule is the

The key exception to this rule is the New King James Version which New King James Version which gives priority to the Majority text gives priority to the Majority text

• Most modern translations will

Most modern translations will footnote any major differences footnote any major differences between the manuscripts between the manuscripts

Which Translation Which Translation Theory Will Be Used? Theory Will Be Used?

Major Translation Major Translation Theories Theories

• Essentially literal

Essentially literal

• Dynamic equivalence

Dynamic equivalence

• Paraphrase

Paraphrase

Essentially Literal Translations Essentially Literal Translations

An essentially literal translation translates the meaning An essentially literal translation translates the meaning

• f every word in the original language, understood
• f every word in the original language, understood

correctly in context, into its nearest English equivalent, correctly in context, into its nearest English equivalent, and attempts to express the result with ordinary English and attempts to express the result with ordinary English word order and style, as far as that is possible without word order and style, as far as that is possible without distorting the meaning of the original distorting the meaning of the original… …The main point is The main point is that essentially literal translations attempt to represent that essentially literal translations attempt to represent the meaning of every word in the original in some way or the meaning of every word in the original in some way or

• ther in the resulting translation.
• ther in the resulting translation.

Wayne Wayne Grudem Grudem, , Translating Truth Translating Truth, 20 , 20

Some Essentially Some Essentially Literal Translations Literal Translations

• King James Version

King James Version

• New King James Version

New King James Version

• Revised Standard Version

Revised Standard Version

• New Revised Standard Version

New Revised Standard Version

• New American Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible

• English Standard Version

English Standard Version

Advantages of Advantages of Essentially Literal Essentially Literal Translation Translation

• Keeps full meaning of text

Keeps full meaning of text – – even even secondary nuances secondary nuances

• More consistent translations of

More consistent translations of Greek and Hebrew words Greek and Hebrew words – – more more helpful for word studies helpful for word studies

Disadvantages of Disadvantages of Essentially Literal Essentially Literal Translation Translation

• More difficult to read

More difficult to read – – in many in many versions the English is not as smooth, versions the English is not as smooth, and unfamiliar words and metaphors and unfamiliar words and metaphors are often used are often used

• Misunderstanding can occur if people

Misunderstanding can occur if people do not understand the words and do not understand the words and metaphors being used metaphors being used

Dynamic Equivalence Translation Dynamic Equivalence Translation

A dynamic-equivalence translation can also be A dynamic-equivalence translation can also be called a thought-for-thought translation called a thought-for-thought translation… …In In making a thought-for-thought translation, the making a thought-for-thought translation, the translators must do their best to enter into the translators must do their best to enter into the thought patterns of the ancient authors and to thought patterns of the ancient authors and to present the same ideas, connotations, and effects present the same ideas, connotations, and effects in the receptor language. in the receptor language.

From the Introduction to the New Living Translation. From the Introduction to the New Living Translation.

Dynamic Equivalence Translation Dynamic Equivalence Translation Dynamic equivalence translations do not Dynamic equivalence translations do not attempt to translate every word, but rather attempt to translate every word, but rather give the meaning of every thought (though give the meaning of every thought (though most words will be translated). most words will be translated).

Some Dynamic Some Dynamic Equivalence Equivalence Translations Translations

• New International Version

New International Version

• Today

Today’ ’s New International Version s New International Version

• New Living Translation (but not the

New Living Translation (but not the Living Bible) Living Bible)

• Contemporary English Version

Contemporary English Version

• Good News Bible

Good News Bible

Advantages of Dynamic Advantages of Dynamic Equivalence Equivalence Translation Translation

• The translations produced by this

The translations produced by this method are easier to read and method are easier to read and understand, and generally are written in understand, and generally are written in smoother English smoother English

• These translations make it easy to

These translations make it easy to understand the central meaning of a understand the central meaning of a verse verse

Disadvantages of Disadvantages of Dynamic Equivalence Dynamic Equivalence Translation Translation

• Nuances and secondary meanings of the

Nuances and secondary meanings of the verse are often lost, especially when verse are often lost, especially when comparing with other verses having the comparing with other verses having the same underlying words or phrases in the same underlying words or phrases in the

• riginal languages
• riginal languages
• This method requires more

This method requires more interpretation by the translator than an interpretation by the translator than an essentially literal translation essentially literal translation

Paraphrase or Free Translation Paraphrase or Free Translation

A paraphrase or free translation is a A paraphrase or free translation is a loose rendering, usually from the same loose rendering, usually from the same language, which intends to convey the language, which intends to convey the meaning of the original document in an meaning of the original document in an easier to understand version easier to understand version

Paraphrase or Free Translation Paraphrase or Free Translation Paraphrases or free translations are most Paraphrases or free translations are most concerned with a fresh way to express the concerned with a fresh way to express the meaning of the passage, and are generally meaning of the passage, and are generally not concerned to translate each underlying not concerned to translate each underlying word or even phrase from the original word or even phrase from the original language language

Some Paraphrases/ Some Paraphrases/ Free Translations Free Translations

• Living Bible

Living Bible

• The Message

The Message

Advantages of Advantages of Paraphrase or Free Paraphrase or Free Translation Translation

• Translations produced by this

Translations produced by this method will usually be very original method will usually be very original and may cause the reader to take and may cause the reader to take more notice of the passage more notice of the passage

Disadvantages of Disadvantages of Paraphrase or Free Paraphrase or Free Translation Translation

• These translations are highly

These translations are highly interpretive interpretive

• These translations have no concern

These translations have no concern for translating each underlying for translating each underlying word or phrase and so are not good word or phrase and so are not good for study purposes for study purposes

Comparison of Bible Translations Comparison of Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 5:14 2 Corinthians 5:14

NASB - For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, NASB - For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; that one died for all, therefore all died; NIV - For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that NIV - For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that

• ne died for all, and therefore all died.
• ne died for all, and therefore all died.

NLT - Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that NLT - Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. life. Message - Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love Message - Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.

Comparison of Bible Translations Comparison of Bible Translations

1 Corinthians 7:27 1 Corinthians 7:27

• NASB - Are you bound to a wife? Do not

NASB - Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

• NIV - Are you married? Do not seek a

NIV - Are you married? Do not seek a

• divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look
• divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look

for a wife. for a wife.

• NLT - If you have a wife, do not seek to

NLT - If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married. wife, do not seek to get married.

• Message - Are you married? Stay

Message - Are you married? Stay

• married. Are you unmarried? Don't get
• married. Are you unmarried? Don't get

married. married.

How To Choose and How To Choose and Effectively Use Bible Effectively Use Bible Translations Today Translations Today

Some Introductory Some Introductory Comments Comments

• There is no such thing as a perfect

There is no such thing as a perfect translation translation – – language is simply too language is simply too complex complex

• Due to the fact that languages

Due to the fact that languages change, all translations will have to change, all translations will have to be updated over time be updated over time

Some Introductory Some Introductory Comments Comments

• All translations involve some amount

All translations involve some amount interpretation by the translator, interpretation by the translator, although there is much less of this in although there is much less of this in essentially literal translations essentially literal translations

• No translation is perfectly

No translation is perfectly “ “word for word for word word” ”, nor is any translation perfectly , nor is any translation perfectly “ “thought for thought thought for thought” ” or a complete free

• r a complete free
• rendering. All exist on a spectrum.
• rendering. All exist on a spectrum.

The Continuum of Bible Translations The Continuum of Bible Translations

Choosing the Right Choosing the Right Translations Translations

• If you can not read Greek and Hebrew,

If you can not read Greek and Hebrew, you should use several different English you should use several different English translations translations

• You should choose translations which

You should choose translations which use different translation methods. Note use different translation methods. Note the graphic below, and choose the graphic below, and choose translations from different parts of the translations from different parts of the continuum. continuum.

Comparison Chart for Bible Comparison Chart for Bible Translations Translations

Essentially literal Dynamic Equivalence Paraphrase

Message Living Bible CEV NLT NIV NRSV NKJV ESV NASB Interlinear Bible

Choosing the Right Choosing the Right Translations Translations

• Your main Bible should be one of the

Your main Bible should be one of the translations on the left half of the translations on the left half of the

• graphic. I would not recommend
• graphic. I would not recommend

anything less essentially literal than the anything less essentially literal than the NIV for your regular Bible. NIV for your regular Bible.

Choosing the Right Choosing the Right Translations Translations

• You should have at least one translation

You should have at least one translation that is based on a different set of that is based on a different set of manuscripts (if you main Bible is the manuscripts (if you main Bible is the NIV, have either the King James or New NIV, have either the King James or New King James as well), or at the minimum King James as well), or at the minimum pay careful attention to the translation pay careful attention to the translation notes given in the margins/footnotes. notes given in the margins/footnotes.

Choosing the Right Choosing the Right Translations Translations

• Use or consult essentially literal

Use or consult essentially literal translations for serious study translations for serious study

• It is helpful to sometimes use a

It is helpful to sometimes use a paraphrase to paraphrase to “ “shock shock” ” you into you into paying attention to the passage. paying attention to the passage.

Getting the Most Getting the Most

• ut of Your Bible
• ut of Your Bible
• Read the introduction

Read the introduction – – most of most of them are quite informative on how them are quite informative on how the translation was created the translation was created – – which which manuscripts were used, what manuscripts were used, what translation theory was followed, translation theory was followed, how footnotes/marginal notes work how footnotes/marginal notes work in the Bible, how the Divine Name in the Bible, how the Divine Name YHWH is printed, etc. YHWH is printed, etc.

Getting the Most Getting the Most

• ut of Your Bible
• ut of Your Bible
• Although you will have one version

Although you will have one version that is your favorite, use several that is your favorite, use several versions in your study, and versions in your study, and

• ccasionally use a different version
• ccasionally use a different version

for reading. This will ensure that for reading. This will ensure that you are not missing anything and you are not missing anything and will help you to see the Scripture will help you to see the Scripture more accurately. more accurately.

Getting the Most Getting the Most

• ut of Your Bible
• ut of Your Bible
• Use good Bible helps

Use good Bible helps – – commentaries, commentaries, introductions, Bible encyclopedias, Bible introductions, Bible encyclopedias, Bible dictionaries, etc. dictionaries, etc.

• Read and study the Scripture

Read and study the Scripture prayerfully, and with your whole heart prayerfully, and with your whole heart AND mind. God deserves no less! AND mind. God deserves no less!