MetaCatholic

ElShaddai Edwards draws attention to this interview with Dr. Ed Blum, General Editor of the Holman Christian Standard Bible. I have previously criticised this translation for what I think are inconsistencies and biases, though I’m quite prepared to accept other people’s tastes and opinions differ. I’m quite happy to note a defence of it from the horse’s mouth.

However, leaving aside some of the more obvious issues, there are a few places where Dr Blum rather over-eggs the pudding in extolling the virtues of his translation work. (Others of his points are quite reasonable.)

Mounce sent us an emailing saying that we’re the first translation that actually got John 3:16 correct. Instead of “for God so loved,” it’s actually, “God loved the world in this way.”

Well he may attribute this to Mounce, but he seems quite happy to accept the accolade. Unfortunately, I note the New Jerusalem Bible: “For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son … ” which predates the HCSB by more than a decade. I could also note the archaic rendering in whatever translation was used by Thomas Cranmer for the BCP: “So God loved the world …” which certainly includes, and perhaps primarily intends, the sense of “Thus, in this way”. Not exactly the first translation to get it right then.

He goes on:

Also, regarding the controversy over the translation of doulos, all the English translations except ours translates doulos either as “servant” or “bondservant.” But there is a big difference between a slave and a servant.

Certainly the majority do this, and I think he’s right that “slave” is to be preferred. But, wait, what’s this:

• Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God (Rom 1:1 NAB)
• If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ. (Gal 1:10 NAB)
• Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and ministers: (Phil 1:1 NAB)

And so on. “All the English translations except ours” is a tad inaccurate. The New American Bible also predates the HCSB, the text of the revised NT quoted here is copyright 1986.

I really don’t mind anyone, editor or fan, extolling the virtues of their favoured translations. But let’s bring a little accuracy into the debate — even when it means admitting the Roman Catholics were the first to get it right.