[quote="Bert"]
Oh, certainly Paul wrote what he meant to say in Greek. The chalange of a translator is to convert that to English. By being determined to stay quite literal, you (or whoever) may actually not bring the same message in English.
I agree regarding the challenge to the translator. We owe a great debt to those over the ages that have sought to convey the message of the Bible in other languages.
Now, I'll refer to my prior example. Happy or Blessed? Is the word 'happy' conveying the same message? There are many bible readers out there who think that because another individual is going through some trying time and is unhappy, that they are not blessed--that proof of being blessed is a troubleless, happy life--that one must have done something to fall from a blessed state.
In translation we can't just replace a Greek word, regardless of where it occurs, with the same English word. The context has a large impact on the meaning of a word, in Greek as well as in English. If that wasn't the case, the lexicons (lexica) could be a lot smaller.
Could you clarify or give an example of what you mean by the same English word? I agree regarding context being maintained, but using the same word doesn't necessarily mean a loss of context. Unfortunately, we do not have some of the same words in English that there are in Greek. So, I understand what you are saying there. But why (for example) do we translate the vb. pisteo (ou?) with 'faith' in one instance and 'belief' in another? If we merely added our suffixes to the English word, we would have the correct meaning in English and keep to the intent of the author? Now, if it is okay for Rap music and its made-up language to be added to dictionaries why aren't biblical scholars and translators stepping up to the plate as well? Belief, as the meaning is understood, wouldn't have sufficed for the Isaelites coming out of Egypt, or any of the ill Christ healed. Mental assent wasn't enough. How could we convey that in writing? Aren't we going to need to explain at some point what was meant either way? So why change the wording to a different word altogether?
It definitely is a challange to write in English what the author said in Greek and not what you would have written.
Agreed.
Hey hey, are you saying that just because the English is more contemporary English, the level has dropped? If you are, I'll just have to bite the bullet and disagree with you. So there. I did it.
No, I am saying that the level of education received by a majority of Americans is poor at best (including myself when viewed in hindsight) and because of this the ability to understand anything above a 3rd to 5th grade level is nearly impossible. This being *my* thinking explains the need for more remedial (watered down) versions of the bible. There are some great versions, some adequate versions and then some really bad bad bad versions out there

The thought of comtemporary English reminds me of a joke about a priests first mass. He was encouraged to sip from the sacramental wine to ease his nervous. Later the monsignor said,"Next time sip--not gulp. There were 12 apostles not 10 and there were 10 commandments not 12. And we do not refer to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit as, 'Big Daddy, Junior and the Spook.'"
