Feb 21
Yes, it’s another Bible
Michael Bird posts news of another English Bible translation. The immediate comments on his blog are like yeah, this is what we really really need, not! (And no, that’s not the sort of English it will be written in.) I must confess that this was also my initial reaction. However, I am encouraged by two things:
- The first is that this translation will include the Apocrypha. That sets it apart from many of those on the market.
- Secondly, is this comment “The theological influences and expertise for the new translation are drawn from ecumenical biblical scholarship (Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish).” Again that distinguishes it from many of the most recent.
Equally, I have a big question mark to place against it. The blurb also says:
A new translation must attend to evocative language that is more engaging emotionally than precise, systematic syntax.
I am pleased that they will look for evocative language, though unsure how well this will engage their aim of an 8th grade reading level (though I may misunderstand the US grade system). But I’m a bit worried about the idea that you can’t be evocative with precise syntax. This sounds like a very imprecise (and possibly diplomatic) way of referring to the tired dispute over dynamic and formal equivalence. It is however expressed with such a lack of clarity that it must in itself raise questions about the project.
Michel notes that he is translating 1 Esdras. I am sure the exegesis and understanding will be really top quality. I’m just hoping the translation will be English and not Strine.
Oh, and Michael, speaking of English — I was irresistibly amused by your comment in another (helpful and interesting post) that “the coming of Christ compliments rather than replaces the Torah”. I can’t immediately find an obvious compliment Jesus pays to Torah. “I say, what a lovely law you are.” No, I think you mean “complement”. A certain amount of precision in English seems to me a rather helpful attribute in a translator.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Unlike most people it seems, I think there is a space for a new English Bible translation. Whether this will be it I don’t know.
Don’t you think Jesus affirmed Psalm 119:47,97,129? But I’m sure Michael meant “complement”.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Did you see the funding statement at the bottom? Despite their ecumenical collaboration statement, this one is sponsored by a subsidiary of the United Methodists… nothing quite like a(nother) denominational Bible translation.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Any project that has Joel Green is likely to be good. That said, I’m concerned that the project is audience driven rather than text driven. For my money that’s what’s lacking in English translations, there isn’t a respect for the text as primary. Every translation is colored by concerns of political correctness or theological correctness, concern for audience (aimed at xth grade), and/or continuity of a translational tradition.
Why can’t we just have a straight up translation concerned with accuracy first? Something that hits the English speaker’s ear the way the original hit the Greek and Hebrew speaker’s ear. Clear and simple where it was clear and simple. Literary where it was literary. Challenging where it was challenging. Obscure where it was obscure. (I think Revelations left Greek speakers scratching their heads, too.)
Is it that Bibles are such a valuable commodity that we are always under the curse of being market driven?
February 21st, 2008 at 9:38 pm
[...] A friend e-mailed me notice of a new Bible translation project which is being sponsored by a subsidiary of Cokesbury, which in turn is associated with the United Methodist Church. (He also passed me a link to this post at Metacatholic.) [...]
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:39 am
That blurb contains some of the ugliest English I’ve seen this week. But I’m sure their translation is evocative.
(P.S. “Ugliest English” referring to language not bloggers.)
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:08 am
[...] Metacatholic: Yes, it’s another Bible [...]
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
[...] Bible seems to have been going on for some time. I don’t know how I’ve missed this. Yesterday I was somewhat more cynical over another new translation. Today, I have to say that this proposal [...]