6. Introduction to Bible Translations

Biblical Interpretation  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  50:06
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History of Translation and Transmission

Definitions

Autograph—the original letter or book penned by the author himself
Manuscript—a hand copy of the original penned by a scribe or copyist

Autographs in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek

Last books in the OT (Hebrew & Aramaic) written around 450-430 BC (Esther & Malachi)
NT autographs (Greek) ranging from AD 50-95

Translations through the Middle Ages

The Septuagint (LXX)
Language: Greek
Scope: Old Testament
Source text: Hebrew OT Scriptures
Translator(s): A group of 72 Greek speaking Hebrews
Date: ~3rd Century AD (AD 285-246)
Significance:
First translation of Scripture into a foreign language
Used by Jesus and NT authors
Helped scholars discern the meaning of many Hebrew words
Still used today by scholars
The Latin Vulgate
Language: Latin
Scope: Full Bible plus Apocrypha
Source texts: Hebrew & Vetus Latina
Translator: Jerome
Date: ~AD 400
Significance:
Used by the Catholic Church for ~1,500 years
Validated many Catholic practices/doctrines (including purgatory, penance, etc.)
Originally, made the Bible accessible to common Latin speaking people
Eventually, made the Bible inaccessible to the laity (and clergy) who no longer spoke Latin
Old English Hexateuch
Language: Old English
Scope: Portions of Genesis and the Hexateuch
Date: ~AD 955-1010
Source texts: Latin
Translator: Ælfric of Eynsham
Significance:
First Bible translation into English

Reformation-Era Bible Translations

Wycliffe Bible
Language: Middle English
Scope: Full Bible plus Apocrypha
Date: ~AD 1380-83
Source text: Latin Vulgate
Translators: John Wycliffe and colleagues
Significance:
First complete Bible Translation into English
Preceded and sparked the Protestant Reformation
Strongly condemned by the Catholic Church
Tyndale New Testament
Language: Early Modern English
Scope: NT and some OT Portions
Date: ~AD 1526
Source text: Erasmus’ Greek New Testament (1516)
Translators: William Tyndale
Significance:
First English translation from Greek
Strongly condemned by the Catholic Church
“The boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scripture than [an educated man].” —Tyndale
Tyndale was martyred for his translation in 1536
Coverdale Bible
Language: Early Modern English
Scope: Full Bible plus Apocrypha
Date: ~AD 1535
Source text: Tyndale NT (and OT portions), Martin Luther’s German Bible, Vulgate, etc.
Translators: Miles Coverdale
Other Translations during the Reformation: Matthew Bible, the Great Bible, Martin Luther’s German Bible, Zürich Bible, and more...
Geneva Bible
Language: Early Modern English
Scope: Full Bible plus Apocrypha
Date: ~AD 1560
Source text: Greek, Hebrew, Tyndale, Coverdale, etc.
Translators: Various Swiss Protestants
Significance:
First English Bible with chapter and verse divisions
The Bible used in Jamestown and brought over on the Mayflower
The first English “Study Bible” with marginal notes and commentary
King James Version (“Authorized Version”)
Language: Early Modern English
Scope: Full Bible plus Apocrypha
Date: ~AD 1611
Source text: Greek, Hebrew, Tyndale, Coverdale, etc.
Translators: Committee of 47 Biblical Scholars
Significance:
Best-selling Bible translation (and book!) of all time
Notable Quotes from the Translators of the KJV (from the 1611 Preface)

Zeal to promote the common good, whether it be by devising anything ourselves, or revising that which hath been laboured by others, deserveth certainly much respect and esteem, but yet findeth but cold entertainment in the world. It is welcomed with suspicion instead of love, and with emulation instead of thanks

Now to the latter we answer; that we do not deny, nay we affirm and avow, that the very meanest translation of the Bible in English, set forth by men of our profession, (for we have seen none of theirs of the whole Bible as yet) containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God. As the King's speech, which he uttereth in Parliament, being translated into French, Dutch, Italian, and Latin, is still the King's speech, though it be not interpreted by every Translator with the like grace, nor peradventure so fitly for phrase, nor so expressly for sense, everywhere.

A man may be counted a virtuous man, though he have made many slips in his life, (else, there were none virtuous, for in many things we offend all) [James 3:2] also a comely man and lovely, though he have some warts upon his hand, yea, not only freckles upon his face, but also scars. No cause therefore why the word translated should be denied to be the word, or forbidden to be current, notwithstanding that some imperfections and blemishes may be noted in the setting forth of it. For whatever was perfect under the Sun, where Apostles or Apostolic men, that is, men endued with an extraordinary measure of God's spirit, and privileged with the privilege of infallibility, had not their hand? The Romanists therefore in refusing to hear, and daring to burn the Word translated, did no less than despite the spirit of grace, from whom originally it proceeded, and whose sense and meaning, as well as man's weakness would enable, it did express.

But how shall men meditate in that, which they cannot understand? How shall they understand that which is kept close in an unknown tongue? as it is written, "Except I know the power of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh, a Barbarian, and he that speaketh, shall be a Barbarian to me." [1 Cor 14] The Apostle excepteth no tongue; not Hebrew the ancientest, not Greek the most copious, not Latin the finest. Nature taught a natural man to confess, that all of us in those tongues which we do not understand, are plainly deaf; we may turn the deaf ear unto them.

Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most Holy place; that removeth the cover of the well, that we may come by the water, even as Jacob rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, by which means the flocks of Laban were watered [Gen 29:10].

After KJV

Translation Theory

Overview of Select Modern Translations

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