Shepherd's College: Biblical Interpretation #2

Introduction to Biblical Interpretation Lecture 2 Shepherds College Scott Jacobsen, Instructor 8 October 2024 Course notes Assigned Books and Number of Chapters Contained Week Galatians--6 Week 1 Ephesians--6 Week 2 Philippians--4 Week 3 Colossians—4 Week 4 1 Samuel – 2 Samuel – 55 Week 5-6 Isaiah 66 Week 7-8 Romans 16 Week 9 Matthew 28 Week 10 Psalms 150 Daily Proverbs 31 Daily  Read Each Week Read Psalms with the intent of finishing the entire book by the end of the course. Keep in mind that this comes out to about 11.5 Psalms per week, but Psalm 119 is very long. Read Daily Each day complete your readings to finish the week’s assignment. Each day read one chapter of Proverbs, repeat each month. Medieval monks read through the entire book of Psalms every week. 366 2 Vocabulary • Translation • Version • Edition • Study Bible • Cross-Reference • Concordance 3 Introduction What is translation? Transferring the message of one language into another language. 4 Introduction What is biblical translation? Transferring God’s message found on the pages of the Bible, which was originally written in Hebrew and Greek, into your language. 5 How Did We Get Our English Bible Who wrote the Bible? 6 How Did We Get Our English Bible 7 How Did We Get Our English Bible Out of whose mouth did Scripture come, then? God’s or man’s? The only biblical answer is “both.” Indeed, God spoke through the human authors in such a way that his words were simultaneously his. 8 How Did We Get Our English Bible This is the double-authorship of the Bible. Scripture is equally the Word of God and the words of human beings. Better, it is the word of God through the words of human beings. John Stott 9 How Did We Get Our English Bible Who wrote the Bible? Through inspiration God used various human authors to write the Bible. “All scripture is God-breathed…” 2 Tim. 3:16 10 A Brief Survey of English Translations English Translations prior to 1611 11 A Brief Survey of English Translations Features of the Vulgate • Latin translation completed by Jerome around the year 400 AD. • Commonly used in British Isles for 1000 years. 12 Geneva Bible 13 14 A Brief Survey of English Translations Features of the Wycliffe Bible • 1st complete translation of Bible into English. • Translation completed around 1380. • Word-for-word translation from Latin into English. 15 A Brief Survey of English Translations Game Changers • Invention of the printing press • Renewed interest in classical languages • Protestant Reformation 16 A Brief Survey of English Translations William Tyndale 17 A Brief Survey of English Translations Features of the Tyndale New Testament • 1st complete translation of New Testament from Greek into English. • Died prior to completing translation of Old Testament from Hebrew into English. 18 A Brief Survey of English Translations The Authorized Version of 1611 19 20 A Brief Survey of English Translations Features of the Authorized Version • Commissioned in order to satisfy factions within the English Church. • King James I in 1604 authorized this project. • Came to be know as the King James Version. 21 A Brief Survey of English Translations Features of the Authorized Version • A translation in the common language, yet still dignified for worship. • AV underwent significant revisions in 1629, 1638, 1729 & 1762. • The 1769 revision is still in use today. 22 A Brief Survey of English Translations Challenges presented by the KJV • Translation is based on an inferior Greek text. • Use of archaic English words and phrases 23 A Brief Survey of English Translations • Exodus 19:18: “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke.” • I Samuel 5:12: “And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods.” • Psalm 5:6: “Thou shalt destroy them that speaking leasing.” 24 A Brief Survey of English Translations • James 2:3: “And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing.” • James 5:11: “The Lord is very pitiful.” 25 A Brief Survey of English Translations English Translations since 1611 26 A Brief Survey of English Translations Modern Translations that update the KJV • English Revised Version • American Standard Version • Revised Standard Version 27 A Brief Survey of English Translations Popular Modern English Translations • New American Standard Bible • New King James Version • New Revised Standard Version • New International Version • English Standard Version 28 Approaches to Translating God’s Word The Difficulties of Translation • No two words are exactly alike. • The vocabulary of any two languages vary in size. • Language utilize syntax differently. • Languages have different stylistic preferences. 29 Approaches to Translating God’s Word Translation entails “reproducing the meaning of a text that is in one language (the source language), as fully as possible, in another language (the receptor language).” Mark Strauss Distorting Scripture? 30 Approaches to Translating God’s Word Two Approaches to Translation • Formal Approach • Functional Approach 31 Approaches to Translating God’s Word Characteristics of the Formal Approach • Attempts to maintain structure of source language • Less sensitive to the receptor language, which may result in an awkward translation 32 Approaches to Translating God’s Word Characteristics of the Functional Approach • A thought-for-thought approach, which focuses on today’s language • Less sensitive to the source language, which may result in distorted meaning since form helps communicate meaning 33 Approaches to Translating God’s Word 34 35 Approaches to Translating God’s Word What is a Paraphrase? • A paraphrase is not a translation. • Restatement of a particular English translation using different English words. 36 Choosing a Translation Choose a translation that… • uses Modern English. • is based on the standard Hebrew & Greek text. • was translated by a committee. • is appropriate for your purpose. 37 Translations to Avoid • Paraphrases • The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses) • The Amplified Bible • The Recovery Bible • The Passion Translation • The Message • Translations that attempt to be inclusive or gender-neutral: • NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) • NEB (New English Bible, British) 38 Cross-References 39 40 Choosing an Edition • Footnotes aid in understanding the text. Are not Scripture • Cross References reflect quotes and similar passages • Headings and book divisions are not Scripture 41 Recommendations and Avoidance for Study Bibles Recommended ESV: ESV study Bible; Reformation Study Bible; ESV editions with Cross-references NIV: NIV study Bible; other versions with cross-references NKJV: Reformation Heritage Study Bible; others with crossreferences NASB: New American Standard Bible with cross references 42 Avoid • Scofield Reference Bible • Ryrie Study Bible • Over-specialized Bibles 43 Some Popular Translations • AV or KJV (1611) • NKJV • ASV (American Standard Version) • NASB (New American Standard Version) • NASB95 • RSV • NRSV 1989 • ESV 2001 • TEV aka Good News Translation Some Popular Translations • NIV84 • TNIV • NIrV (New International Readers Version) • NIV • LB (Living Bible Paraphrase) • NLB (New Living Bible translation) • HCSB • NET Bible • CEV • The Message Bible Editions • Study Bibles • Scofield Reference Bible • Ryrie Study Bible • ESV Study Bible • NIV Study Bible • Reformation Study Bible • Life Application Study Bible • Thompson Chain Reference • Archaeological Study Bible • Apologetics Study Bible Bible Editions • Features of Study Bibles • Basic helps • Theological notes • Specialty Bibles • Other Editions • Reader Bibles • Pew Bibles • Portions Bible Layout and Format • Formats • Text • Paragraph • 2 Column • Single Column • Cross reference • Centre Column • Side references • Bottom references Cross-References & Footnotes 51