Featured So You Want to Be a Bible Translator!

So you're saying that being educated in the original languages of Scripture is Gnosticism, right? So, never ever learn Greek or Hebrew, right?

 

I believe that education in the original languages of the Word of God is essential for a Bible translator. There are translators who do without this, as I've pointed out. You can translate from the English (or whatever your heart language is), but that is called a double translation, and doesn't not produce the best target text. If the translator works from the English, he or she should certainly learn to access the original languages through software and interlinear versions such as 27818 has recommended

Unfortunately, there are plenty of translators out there who do not do this. As I've said previously, many (I don't know how many) Wycliffe translators work from an English text. I believe training should be provided for them.

Bible Baptist Translators Institute (BBTI at Baptist Bible Translators Institute, Bowie Texas - Baptist Bible Translators Institute, Bowie Texas) only has one semester of Greek and no Hebrew, and I think that's a mistake. FirstBible (3-Year Degree Plan), on the other hand, has a great Hebrew and Greek curriculum. Our own program also has plenty of Greek and Hebrew (Baptist Theological Seminary - Doctrinal Precision. Revival Vision.).

 

That's where translation consultants come in. One such mission board I'm familiar with is Bibles International: Bibles International - the Bible Society of Baptist Mid-Missions

The translation consultant is an expert in the original languages of the Bible, and travels worldwide to help translation teams with their difficult passages. One I know with BI was in our chapel service recently, and I think he told us he had assisted on 47 Bible translation efforts!

One of our graduates works in Africa and oversees an African team there (Kenya, I believe), teaching them Hebrew and Greek, and consulting on difficulties when they need him. I feel this is the ideal translation effort: nationals doing the work with the missionary helping.

 

So what do you mean by "Gnostic?" And by "academia" do you mean Christian colleges and seminaries? (That is usually where translators get their Hebrew and Greek.)

These are serious questions. I've asked something similar of you before....

 

This morning during the service I was having my muttonchops put on in preparation for my part as a "Charity Solicitor" in our church version of "A Christmas Carol" (Dickens) when I received notice that Pastor wanted my on the platform right away. With only one muttonchop placed I hurried into the auditorium.

There I was presented with the first copy of our Japanese Lifeline NT printing. Then a Japanese couple in the church we are friends with was called up to receive their own copies from me. Very moving moment, the culmination of many, many years of labor. I'm attaching photos.

 

Yep.

 

I often ignore your questions because I have you on "Ignore" and only occasionally look in on you. I find you to be often caustic and insulting, and I get tired of it.

And you still have not answered what I asked. Gnosticism in history is a religion that believed all things physical were evil, and that Christ Himself was only an "emanation" from God. You, however, have used the term a number of times without defining it, and once again you do not define it.

I'll ask you plainly, then: do you believe in the historical meaning of Gnosticism, or some meaning of your own?

And here I asked you if you meant Bible colleges and seminaries, where the Hebrew and Greek languages of the Bible are taught. You have not answered.

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This is a definition of "interpreter," not "translator." You are entirely welcome, even urged to interpret the Bible. Just don't call it translation, because it is not.

"Special knowledge" of the Bible and its truths are needed to teach Sunday School and discipleship. Greek and Hebrew are not needed for that, but are very important for Bible translators.

And again I'll ask: what do you mean by Gnostic? By "academia"?

 

How am I supposed to answer your questions when you won't even define your terms!!!!
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For crying out loud, DEFINE GNOSTIC!!!
For any normal definition of Gnostic, no, of course not. But then you seem to have some other definition.

And no one here agrees with you. Name one single translation scholar who agrees with you--just one.

What "special knowledge"? Greek and Hebrew? You never say. So how am I supposed to interact with you, answering your questions, when all you give me is ambiguity??
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Here's a definition of translation by Anthony Pym, a noted translation studies scholar, from his document, "Translation research terms: a tentative glossary for moments of perplexity and dispute."

"Translation: Word that can refer either to the product, process or entire institution of translators’ activities. When used with an article ('a translation', 'the translation of this text') it refers to the product, and is a more accessible term than 'target text'. The corresponding adjective would then be 'translational'. When used without the article, it usually refers to the social institution (for which the same adjective could be used). Reference to the process is more elegantly made by the term 'translating'." (pp. 93-94). (Source: https://www.intercultural.urv.cat/media/upload/domain_317/arxius/TP3/pym.pdf)

As you should see, this does not make room for Van's definition, nor does any other definition of translation I've seen. I'd like for Van to produce a definition from a scholar that actually sounds like his.