BIBLE NEWS: Translation is NOT easy

A few days back we mentioned that the Bible was not written in English - it's original writings were in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Thanks to scholars, we have a plethora of English translations which do their best to convey the original writings accurately. But what about people who speak less-popular languages? They often only have one translation provided by Missionaries like Wycliffe Bibe Translators. These languages may not have scholars who understand the ancient languages, and may not even have a starting point for discussion of things like "sheep" and "goats" depending on what part of the world they're in. So what is a Bible translator to do? Some recent controversies have highlighted the difficulty that Bible Translators have walking the line between making the Bible understandable to a foreign culture and language, and maintaining the theology taught by Christ.

Creson said that in some cases, what are known to scholars as the "divine familial terms" -- God the Father and the Son of God -- don't make sense in translation in some cultures. Islamic teaching, for example, rejects the notion that God could be involved in a relationship similar to a human family, and Creson argues that people in such cultures might be immediately put off by those terms.
"Translation is a very laborious process, because you have to understand the culture of the community, and you don't understand that overnight," he said.
But using words like "Messiah" instead of "Son" and "Lord" instead of "Father" badly distorts the essential Christian doctrine of the Trinity, in which God is said to be one being in three persons, according to Wycliffe's critics.

Be praying for Bible translators. The job may seem straightforward - exchanging words for other words - but all too often, it is walking a minefield without a map.

Using all things for Good

Most people forget, but the Gideons know that God can not be thwarted. Even attacks on Him server to further his plans. And to spread His Word further.

The more controversy there is over whether Waterloo Region public schools should be giving out Gideon Bibles, the more requests there are for the free copies, officials say.

Officials at Gideons International in Canada, an evangelical Christian group that has given away millions of Bibles worldwide, say that there has been a “considerable” upswing of requests this year and last, when the controversy was high and attracted media attention.

An estimated 800 to 1,000 copies a year are now being given away to Grade 5 students in Waterloo Region, said Gordon Balfour, chief business officer of the Guelph-based Gideons organization.

That’s about one student out of four that requests the free copy of Gideons’ Little Red Answer Book, which includes the New Testament, plus the Hebrew Bible books of Proverbs and Psalms.

Bringing your Bible to School?

When I was in high school, I brought my Bible to school all the time - sometimes as a witness, sometimes just as something to read between classes. No one ever gave me a hard time for it. But some students are finding school administrators less than open to it these days.

Nathan de La Garza tells the Racine Journal Times his pastor had challenged him to carry his Bible with him at all times.
It didn't go over well at Park High School, where an assistant principal told him to keep religion discussions out of school.
De La Garza tells the Journal Times the assistant principal was concerned he might offend somebody and entice a physical fight.

Have you faced any discrimination for bringing your Bible to school?