http://www.billmounce.com/blog/07-28-2010/back-cbt#comments
Back from the CBT
By admin – Posted on 28 July 2010
I am just back from three weeks locked away in Whistler, Canada, with the rest of the CBT (Committee on Bible Translation). Three weeks of discussing, agreeing, and sometimes disagreeing on the nuances of the meaning of words and the meaning of biblical passages. It doesn’t get any better than that!
Well, perhaps a week in Switzerland would be better.
It was a really good time. Some of the committee members I had only known from a distance. Some I had known through my dad since his Bethel days. One I lived with in graduate school (Craig Blomberg). And others were brand new friends.
What was most educational was to see how dynamic translation works, first hand. From my years on the ESV I had gained an appreciation for formal equivalent translation, but to actually be part of a dynamic translation (okay, “functional equivalence”) was a great teacher. I watched godly men and women struggle, sometimes agonize, over just the right wording so the NIV would faithfully convey the same meaning as intended by the biblical author. Whoever says dynamic translators have a lower view of Scripture needs to sit behind the veil and watch this group work.
What was amazing — and I didn’t realize this at first — was that some of these translators defined “dynamic translation” for my generation, as the NIV is the quintessential and defining example of functional equivalence. I heard stories of the 1970’s where these translators spent 10 weeks at a time creating the NIV. It was humbling to think that I get to sit and work with them.
Thank you for all your prayers for all the CBT. I am anxious to get blogging again in September. I have a whole new set of questions to ruminate on.
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Submitted by T Boyd (not verified) on Sun, 08/08/2010 – 13:44.
Dr. Mounce, I like the ESV very much, but occasionally it seems to take liberty in the Greek to English. The latest problem for me: Luke 1:35 – “the child to be born”. Maybe that is not less accurate than “thing” or “one”, but it seems to me it is. Maybe you could direct me to a comment about that. Thanks. Boyd
Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/22/2010 – 14:44.
This is very common Greek — to leave out words that we in English would include — and they have to be supplied from context. And there are clues int he form of the Greek that show us which word is intended. It is not liberties; it is necessary translation.
Submitted by Paul (not verified) on Wed, 08/04/2010 – 00:48.
P.S. Heard an interesting phrase last night in an otherwise politically correct independent film “her fellow man.” Just saying.
Submitted by Paul (not verified) on Wed, 08/04/2010 – 00:44.
I have used the NIV for years and am a big fan. (like the ESV as well, glad you are connected with both). I love the nuance of a functional equivalent translation. While teaching through 2 Corinthians I came across a place where where I felt the NIV opted for a modern idiom and lost one of Paul’s nuances. Paul tells the Corinthians, “You have such a place in our hearts that we would live and die with you.” In the original the word order is “die and live.” Not a great modern idiom, but it does capture Paul’s theology that in order to live with Christ we must die with him and that suffering (death) gives way to life. Life from death seems to be a major theme in the letter, and Paul seems to be enlarging on that theme in chapter seven.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 08/02/2010 – 14:29.
I’m pleased you had a great time, and I look forward to reading the results of all the work in due course.
However, I am confused how you were away for 3 weeks, from 27th July to about 2nd August???