[B-Greek] Accuracy of Biblical Translations on the Original G reek

bgreek at ntresources.com bgreek at ntresources.com
Tue Dec 9 06:16:51 EST 2003


Your question seems to imply that only "word-for-word" translations are
accurate ("that properly adheres to the original language"). That's not an
uncommon notion, esp. since that's what we Greek teachers often teach first
year students to create! And such translations (e.g., NASB) can be helpful
as a "pony" for first year students when they are stuck trying to figure out
a word-for-word gloss of a particular verse. But there is far more to
translation that this.

A paper presented at the conference in Atlanta has recently been made
available that would be very helpful for you to read as you seek the perfect
translation. (It is a well-thought out paper on the subject of translation
philosophy in general, so I'd commend it even to the more advanced students,
but I suspect this is as far as the topic should probably go on this list
since we aren't devoted to translation philosophy here.)

Mark Strauss, Bethel Seminary, San Diego 
Form, Function, and the "Literal Meaning" Fallacy in English Bible
Translation
<mailto:ets at zondervan.com?subject=Strauss, Mark; Form, Function, and the
"Literal Meaning" Fallacy in English Bible Translation>

If you use the link just above it will open a preaddressed email with preset
subject line. Change nothing, send the email. You will receive a copy of the
paper as an attachment in a reply email.

It's a long link, so watch to make sure a line break doesn't mess it up,
esp. the subject (which should end with the word "Translation"). The manual
pieces you need are these:

Email address: ets at zondervan.com

Subject line should read: Strauss, Mark; Form, Function, and the "Literal
Meaning" Fallacy in English Bible Translation

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 
Rodney J. Decker, Th.D., Assoc. Professor/NT
Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit, PA, USA
URL: www.NTResources.com  
PURL: purl.oclc.org/NT_Resources/
Email: <rdecker> at <NTResources.com>
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Seth VM 
> [mailto:sethvm.at.hotmail.com at bgreek.at.ntresources.com] 
> Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 3:20 AM
> To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [B-Greek] Accuracy of Biblical Translations on the 
> Original Greek
> 
> 
> Greetings Everyone,
> 
> I had a question regarding the accuracy of english 
> translations on the 
> original greek. For me personally, although I am in the 
> process of learning 
> koine, it is important for me to be able to use an english 
> translation to 
> read the scirptures before having mastered greek and to even 
> compare and 
> check my translation efforts of the original text into english.
> 
> As a result, I would appreciate any input from you all 
> regarding a reliable, 
> readible, word-for-word based english translation that I 
> could use for my 
> studies that properly adheres to the original language.
> 
> Thank you all in advance for your input.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> Seth V. Moran
> "Little Greek"
> 
> 
> "...but whoever keeps His Word, in Him the Love of God has truly been 
> perfected."
> 
> -- 1st John 2:5
> 
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