Fair translation? I know it’s rude …
I know it’s rude to make fun of other people’s names, but now that first John Hobbins has praised the ISV translation for having the perspicacity to invite him to review it, and Lingamish has asked the vital question “Why does the so-called International Standard Version of the Bible not have any Internationals translating it?” my attention has been drawn to this hitherto unknown to me project.
Sadly for me, the first thing that struck me was the list of contributing scholars. Is there really a Bible translator called Mona Bias? (maybe that doesn’t sound as funny without an English accent!) I haven’t had as much pleasure from an appropriate name since I discovered The Graeco-Roman Contexts of Early Christian Literature was written by a bloke called Roman Garrison.
March 11th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Funny, especially the part about why I highlighted the translation on my blog. Actually, it’s not funny so much as true.
As for David’s claim and your English accent, it might be appropriate to note that Mona Bias has taught, at least in the past, in the Philippines which seems to be her native land. I’m sure Bias is not pronounced the way you that comes naturally to you.
I think they would be wise to involve a more international selection of scholars. Peter Flint, whom they’ve enlisted to do a one-of-a-kind apparatus for the Hebrew Bible, is South African.
March 11th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Thanks for clarification. My comment was flippant. I can only imagine that the International Standard “poetry” is like fingernails on a chalkboard for John:
6 In God’s own form existed he,
And shared with God equality,
Deemed nothing needed grasping.
7 Instead, poured out in emptiness,
A servant’s form did he possess,
A mortal man becoming.
(Phil. 2:6-7, ISV)
Source: Better Bibles page on ISV
I applaud their attempt but I don’t see anything “International” or “Standard” about such a translation.