1. The foundations of Scripture: Part V
The Transmission of God’s Word:
Theory and Initial Problems

2. The Foundations of Scripture
The Nature of God’s Word (Scripture’s Doctrine)
The Makeup of God’s Word (Scripture’s Canon)
The Preservation of God’s Word (Scripture’s Text)
The Transmission of God’s Word (Scripture’s Translation, 3 Parts)
The Interpretation of God’s Word (Scripture’s Meaning, 6 Parts)

3. The Transmission of god’s word: Theory and Initial Problems
The Theory of Translation
The Problem of Translation

4. The Transmission of god’s word
Shrek: 2001 DreamWorks Animation
Domestic Gross: $268M
Japan Gross: $18M
Featuring:
Ogres
Little Red Riding Hood
Three Blind Mice
Three Little Pigs
The Gingerbread Man
Pinocchio
The Three Bears
Saving a princess from a castle and a dragon
A magical transforming kiss
How would any of this be applicable in Japan?

5. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence:
Seeks to keep the FORM of the originals as closely as possible
Thus, focuses on word equivalence instead of thought
Dynamic Equivalence:
Seeks to keep the IMPACT of the originals as closely as possible
Thus, focuses on sentence meaning instead of narrowly focusing on words

6. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Some primary considerations:
There is no “literal” translation
NASB states that it italicizes words “which are not found in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek but implied by it”

7. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Some primary considerations:
There is no “literal” translation
There are no equivalent words from English to Greek
Both language and culture/time are problems

8. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence (+)
Allows for better understanding of the structure of texts

9. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence (+)
Allows for better understanding of the structure of texts
In Greek, Ephesians 1:3-14 is 1 sentence
NIV: 7 Sentences
NASB: 6 Sentences
ESV: 5 Sentences
KJV: 3 Sentences

10. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence (+)
Allows for better understanding of the structure of texts
Keeps metaphors/idioms in place

11. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence (+)
Allows for better understanding of the structure of texts
Keeps metaphors/idioms in place
2 Corinthians 6:12, KJV:
Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

12. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence (+)
Allows for better understanding of the structure of texts
Keeps metaphors/idioms in place
Brings reader to the culture of the writer
Allows, at its best, easier recognition of biblical themes
“Edify”, “Build up”, “Encourage” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

13. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence (-)
Can hinder meaning

14. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence (-)
Can hinder meaning (ESV)
Mark 1:2; Acts 8:23; Psalm 12:2, 147:10; Amos 4:6; Luke 17:35

15. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence (-)
Can hinder meaning
Leads to more difficult English
Acts 22:22; 1 Cor 9:16; Isa 22:17; Jer 12:2; Rom 8:37

16. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Formal Equivalence (-)
Can hinder meaning
Leads to more difficult English
Mistaken impression of being “closer” to the original

17. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Dynamic Equivalence (+)
Provides readers a clearer indication of meaning
Leads to more acceptable English

18. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Dynamic Equivalence (-)
Misses common themes
See 1 Thess 5:1, above

19. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Dynamic Equivalence (-)
Misses common themes
Can interpret for readers
Matthew 21:7 (ESV): They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.
Matthew 21:7 (NIV): They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

20. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Dynamic Equivalence (-)
Misses common themes
Can interpret for readers
Difficult to do thoroughly
C.f. NIV, ESV, KJV, TNIV, and HCSB on Matthew 6:9

21. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Dynamic Equivalence (-)
Misses common themes
Can interpret for readers
Difficult to do thoroughly
Can be confused with reader response
Can provide poor implications for modern readers
Matthew 5:25 NET “warden”

22. The Transmission of god’s word
The Theory of Translation
Neither is “best”
Each uses a mixture of the other

23. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Traduttore Traditore
“Translation is Treason” – but even here we lost something!

24. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Das Aesthetische Wiesel – Christian Morgenstern
Ein Wiesel A weasel
saß auf einem Kiesel put some teasel
inmitten Bachgeriesel on top of an easel

25. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Das Aesthetische Wiesel – Christian Morgenstern
Ein Wiesel A weasel
saß auf einem Kiesel sat on a pebble
inmitten Bachgeriesel in the midst of a brook’s ripple

26. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges
Different implied values
Different functions
Different punctuation
Canonical problems

27. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges (σῴζω – Matthew 9:21)
Different implied values
Different functions
Different punctuation
Canonical problems

28. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges (πίστις – Gal 2:16)
Different implied values
Different functions
Different punctuation
Canonical problems

29. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges (הגה – Psalm 1:2; 2:1)
Different implied values
Different functions
Different punctuation
Canonical problems

30. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges
Different implied values (Matt 15:26-27; Amos 4:1)
Different functions
Different punctuation
Canonical problems

31. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges
Different implied values
Different functions (Mark 1:8; 1 Cor 12:13)
Different punctuation
Canonical problems

32. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different functions (Mark 1:8; 1 Cor 12:13)
I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. (Mk 1:8, ESV)
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body (1 Cor 12:13, ESV)

33. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges
Different implied values
Different functions
Different punctuation (Gal 3:11)
Canonical problems

34. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different punctuation (Gal 3:11)
ὅτι δὲ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ θεῷ δῆλον, ὅτι ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται OR
ὅτι δὲ ἐν νόμῳ οὐδεὶς δικαιοῦται παρὰ τῷ θεῷ, δῆλον ὅτι ὁ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται

35. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different punctuation (Gal 3:11)
Now, it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith” OR
Now, because no one is justified before God by the law, it is evident that “The righteous shall live by faith”

36. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges
Different implied values
Different functions
Different punctuation
Canonical problems (Psalm 2:1)

37. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges
Different implied values
Different functions
Different punctuation
Canonical problems (Psalm 2:1)
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed (i.e. his Christ)…

38. The Transmission of god’s word
The Problem of Translation
Different semantic ranges
Different implied values
Different functions
Different punctuation
Canonical problems
But, even in all this, meaning is still transferable, and God’s word can be inerrantly given to us!