Resolution - to read the Bible

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airclean, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.

Translation of text, especially when it's multi-language, multi-text source, is always going to be problematic. That's why we all need a hermeneutic (a lens through which to filter our own reaction to the translation). I personally use Jesus and Hillel's (and Deuteronomy's) shorthand: Love god, love neighbour as self.
 
Mendalla said:
Yeah, I'm almost wondering if he meant the NRSV.
Click to expand...

Not likely.

There are two general schools of thought with respect to translation. One is Form Based and the other is Meaning Based.

Form-Based translations emphasize "literal" translation whereas Meaning Based translations emphasize "dynamic equivalencies." Literal translations do their best in a word for word substitution which works well when the languages involved share all word ideas in common. Which is difficult in Hebrew or Greek to English translations. Dynamic Equivalence translations focus on the meaning of the words being used which gives us a somewhat better grasp when what is being translated is a colloquialism.

A quick demonstration working the other way, from English to Greek (just for fun)

The English text I want to translate comes from a Newfoundlander who writes:

Some day on clothes.

Using a literal translation you would read that in Greek as:
Κάποια μέρα στα ρούχα

Using a dynamic translation you would read that in Greek as:
Είναι θυελλώδης σήμερα

Neither translation is really incorrect. If you don't know how a Newfoundlander thinks or communicates you might miss something in the translation.

In this instance, the dynamic translation captures the best meaning even though it is not the best literal translation of the original text.

There are no perfect translations of scripture (we have no original documents to compare) and even if we did we would need to know when a colloquialism is employed to know that a literal translation is not the most faithful translation to the intent of the original.

Best translation also depends upon who you ask.

For Form Based translations the battle for top spot alternates between NASB, RSV and NKJV. For Meaning Based translations the battle for top spot alternates between CEV, GNT and NCV

The point being that locking one's self into one translation only without considering the work of other translators narrows one's understanding needlessly.
 
BetteTheRed said:
airclean, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.

Translation of text, especially when it's multi-language, multi-text source, is always going to be problematic. That's why we all need a hermeneutic (a lens through which to filter our own reaction to the translation). I personally use Jesus and Hillel's (and Deuteronomy's) shorthand: Love god, love neighbour as self.
Click to expand...
Airclean--post--
I am sorry BetteTheRed, I went to the other thread, but I posted 2-3 times , so have no idea which one you mean. Now as far as your , ( Hillel's and Deuteronomy's go) Shorthand; Dose it say who your Neighbour is?
 
need to know when a colloquialism is employed

This is a vernacular bomb if you cannot relate to time space and light of the stranger ... heh who come from away boies ... some would refer to this as ET as a person beyond the dirt and into far out intelligence ... "heh's from away lads!"

A lot of stern builders hate strange rudder-isms ... like Lord Rotherham on light ... rye? Split flow like snake eyes as slits ... wiles!

One has to be sly to think amongst a flood of emotions ... metaphors acting as an icon for anthropomorphisms ... when personalizing emotions ... tis not empathetic! Just alternative story or myth?

The robes can use high breeze to blow through eM ... knocks out the hubris ...
 
This afternoon I finished the book of Exodus. The first part was interesting rereading the familiar story of Moses and the Israelites, the escape from slavery, the journey in the desert, the covenant and laws. Reading the laws was interesting - I touched on that up-thread.
But the last few chapters ???? lengthy detailed descriptions of building the tabernacle for the arc of the covenant, right down to the clothing for Aaron and his sons, who became priests, and a recipe for making incense. Some people might find this interesting - the coloours, the richness, the materials used, the directions for assembling it all together - and the rituals to be followed. (In a way it reminded me of a romance novel I recently read where the author seemed to find it necessary to describe in detail every outfit the heroine and her friends wore - it must appeal to most of her readers but not to me.) And it repeated over and over:
From Ch. 28
"These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece, a woven tunic, a turban and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. 5 Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen
6 “Make the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands. 7 It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. 8 Its skillfully woven is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen."
From Ch. 39
They made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 3 They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen—the work of skilled hands. 4 They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached to two of its corners, so it could be fastened. 5 Its skillfully woven waistband was like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen, as the Lord commanded Moses

I don't anticipate being too excited about much of Leviticus either, although I remember years ago taking a course on an overview of the Old Testament, the Anglican priest teaching the course told us that, other than the gospels, he considered Leviticus to be the most important book of the Bible. We'll see. I'll try to have an open mind.
 
If you try anything with an open mind the restrained sols will object actively ...

Makes the world turn ... revelations!
 
Visited with an old time friend this weekend. She is Baptist. Her whole church is studying "The Story". That a selection of bible writiings from the NIV version-put into a story form and making the bible read like a novel. Minister is preaching on the section weekly and small groups are using study guide-and short video to delve further in. It reminded me of you Seeler, as you read through.
 
Tabitha said:
Visited with an old time friend this weekend. She is Baptist. Her whole church is studying "The Story". That a selection of bible writiings from the NIV version-put into a story form and making the bible read like a novel. Minister is preaching on the section weekly and small groups are using study guide-and short video to delve further in. It reminded me of you Seeler, as you read through.
Click to expand...

I think this would be very interesting, particularly for people beginning their journey into reading the Bible - but I think there might be a bit of 'cherry picking'. Picking the stories and slanting them the way the writer(s) interpret them - and leaving out parts that don't lend themselves to 'story' like the long, repeat descriptions that I found at the end of Exodus and continued, I'm finding, in Leviticus.
If I knew of such a group near me, I would be tempted to go - to share in the companionship of shared discussion after reading - and I often see the basis of a novel in some Biblical passages, but right now I think I am looking for something deeper.
 
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