Bible translations differ widely in many respects, but they all share in common the claim to be “accurate” and “faithful” to the source. How can every translation be accurate? Is accuracy a subjective quality? Is it in the eye of the beholder? Is it just a social fiction? Or could it still be the most important quality of a Bible translation? In this …
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How 55 Verses Were Removed From the Bible and More
Over the last 60 years, Bible translators have removed words, phrases, and verses from their translations of the Bible. These deleted portions are regarded as repetitive and an impediment to readability. One case is the translation of Numbers 7:12-83. This passage has been handled in different ways, from literally following the Hebrew to removing 55 …
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The Concept of Authority in Scripture and Translation
The Scriptures are authoritative, but does their authority have any significance for their translation? Many Bible translators today affirm the authority of the Bible in their doctrinal statement, saying, for instance, that "they are of supreme and final authority in faith and life" or that they speak "with supreme authority in all matters of belief and …
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Where Have All the Bible Translators Gone?
Today, fewer and fewer Bible translators are translating the Bible. What are they doing instead? They are producing written summaries and paraphrastic or free renderings of Scripture. Many are also producing audio retellings of the Bible. These works may have great benefit to those with and without Scripture in their language, but are they Bible …
5 Views of Accuracy in Bible Translation
More and more Bible translations are being produced in English, and every one is "accurate" and "faithful" to the source. Even translations that are the most free or paraphrastic still claim to be faithful to the original languages. No translation describes itself as inaccurate or less than faithful. It appears that accuracy is highly valued but also …