Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Get a Bible with All the Words

Told you I was not alone...

3 comments:

Zach Doppelt said...

Danny,

I agree, but I have not felt comfortable being quite as blunt about it as Piper :)

Scott Barger said...

I think he demonstrates an incomplete or slanted view of Greek syntax. Some of these conjunctions have several corresponding English meanings. Sometimes, syntactically speaking, English words can be omitted to allow for a smoother read (the definite article for example).

The translators made an interpretive choice. Translations always include theologically driven interpretations. Always.

Finally, I am also not sure that I would build an entire sermon on two words...unless those words are "Jesus Christ"...but you get my point.

danny2 said...

hey scott,

thanks for your comment! been a long time since our college years, huh.

The translators made an interpretive choice. Translations always include theologically driven interpretations. Always.

Completely agree. Totally.

However, I think my point and Piper's would be that a word for word translation is going to involve less interpretive decisions than thought for thought translations. (it's a spectrum thing. neither word for word nor thought for thought eliminates interpretive decisions, but word for word has less.)

i actually think choppy/difficult english sentences can also (in a weird sort of way) be an aid to the reader to drive them to original language tools to help them get the fuller meaning.

Conversely, i also appreciate how the NASB alerts the reader to additional words not originally found in the text....which fewer translations offer....but that's another rabbit trail.