W
W
W
W World Wide Web
Witness Inc.
Home Page
What is New
On Translations of the Bible
Words about
Words
Get out of the Way,
To Let the
God of the Bible
Have His Say!
Rev. Dr. Robert E. Donaldson
Published by World Wide Web Witness Inc.
September 2005
This has now been replaced by
ISBN 0 9757881 5 9
For 21 Chapters, click here
PREFACE with POINT
This volume commenced life as a Chapter, but it has grown over the years since it first publication in 1997, until both in its organisation and its size, it has become better as a volume in its own right. It now appears to approximate some 500 pages, and various polishing, expansions and additions have occurred in this process.
The topic is important, and the 53 translations given of various verses, because of diversity and developments, are an endeavour to bring clarity such as belongs to the word of God, to bear.
In the preliminary notation, it is explained how translation has become just one more place for devilish intrigues as well as needless confusion, so that the word of God being paramount for understanding of His will, an overview is needed. His adequate care is proverbial and practical at the same time: after all, it is His own word!
It is hoped that those who use these pages will be able to see the fundamental simplicity of the issues en bloc, and the savour the clarity of the word of God, when it is given its own free rein, to govern all thought. That is the meaning in the sub-title!
More than this, there is in the Bible, such a cohesive correlation of the topics, themes, spirit, order, organisation, penetration of one aspect with another, of meanings, that it is like some living skyscraper, some organic whole, synchronised in splendour, moulded in majesty. Thus so far is it from needing 'help', which is very often a name for cultural invasion from baseless premisses, that when with the utmost care, one brings out what is there, in the text for one's own language: then there is a resonance with the rest of the scriptural structure, a clarity which compels.
It is also deep, so that one may be shocked by oxymorons, into a stronger awareness, hit by concepts in augmenting cohesion, which do not yield to superficial enquiry. When however one continues, guided by each relevant text, there is an explosion of meaning, as in the last movement of some grand symphony: and this of course is so in the area of Predestination and Freewill in particular, where the translation, for example, in Matthew 11:27 (32 below) is in beautiful accord with all the rest of the word of God.
Again, in Isaiah 64:4-5 (21 below), one finds when the utmost circumspection is given to the integrity and accuracy of the translation, there is a positively inspiring unleashing of meaning which both adorns the understanding, and coalesces with the matrix of the word of God, like a kitten in the hands of its mistress. Number 33 below (Matthew 28:9) is another startlingly perfect example, concerning the resurrection.
Thus this is one phase of biblical Christian Apologetics, where one may also find the scrupulous harmony, without mere flattery to the passing reader, one which expands the understanding and rewards careful enquiry; and it is one which results from careful translation. Give to that work its objective due and behold, it is then that the flow of the whole, the concurrence of thoughts, the sweep of the splendour is to be seen, witnessed like a spectacle at dawn.
Such is what one would expect when no less than God is back of the inspiration, and it is, as these pages will illustrate continually, what one finds. In the forest of fecundity, there is verification en masse!
Meanwhile, it needs to be noted that compared with the original format for this topic, the order of items has been changed, so that it may correspond both with the order of the biblical books. It is this which is provided in the main list, enabling hyperlink reaching of any given text in mind, from that well-known mode of listing: starting with Genesis, ending with Revelation.
In the text, because of its original construction, it follows the original mode, very largely. Thus both the continuity and ease of access are safeguarded.
For those wanting immediate
action, the list is below. For others, and it is hoped for many in due time, the
more leisurely movement through the preliminary considerations of
Chapter 1, and the detailed conspectus of
Chapter 2, would be preferable.
CONTENTS
THE 61 TEXT CASE,
OVERALL LIST
THE LIST OF SPECIAL CASES CONSIDERED, NOTED in this Chapter, IS AS FOLLOWS.
The numbers
are as found in the text, in that order, BELOW, and there they are to be found.
Preliminary:
Psalm 12:6 and
Revelation 19:8 have already appeared in Ch. 1 above, together with
I John 5:7,
on which last, see Ch. 1,
*2 above, and in Ch. 1 as marked.;
and these occur as numbers 6) and 50) and 51 below.
Seven texts are set between other numbers, to preserve numerical continuity, 1A, 8A, 21A, 23A, 24A, 40A and 48A.
SET OUT IN BIBLICAL ORDER,
the TEXTS AVAILABLE re TRANSLATION ARE THESE.
Gracious Goodness Ch. 6, Bright Light Ch. 9, Dayspring et al..
1 A) Genesis 1:14-18
2) Lev. 19:20
3) II Kings 7:13
4) II Kings 8:10 and
5) Job 21:30
6) Psalm 12:6 is also covered in the preliminaries, at End-note *1.
7) Psalm 19 is translated in Christ Jesus: the Wisdom and the Power of God Ch. 3.
8A)
Psalm 59:17
not 'My God of mercy,' but literally 'God of
my Mercy' (AV). In the Hebrew, the 'my' appears in association with 'mercy' not
with 'God'. If mercy is the concern, there is He who lovingly and personally
dispenses it, the God who is also his only defence, refuge and strength, basis
and fount of all these things. The Psalmist is not here singularising his God as
the site of mercy, but mercy appropriated as fathered for him, by this God over
all and for all who receive Him. It is He as He is, multiple in marvels, unique
as self-defined in His word, the Bible, the book of the Lord: the only Saviour
(Psalm 62, 71, 96:5, Isaiah 34:16, 43:10-11).
10) Psalm 139:16
11) Isaiah 2:22
12) Isaiah 7:14 SMR pp. 766, 770ff., 916
13) Isaiah 8:19
14) Isaiah 9:3
15) Isaiah 9:6-7
16) Isaiah
13:12
18) Isaiah 26:19
21) Isaiah 64:4-5
21A) Jeremiah 13:27
22) Ezekiel 34:29
The
True God ... Ch. 1
24) Joel 2:23 and
24A) Hosea 13:1-2
25) Amos 4:13
26) Habakkuk 2:13
27) Zech. 9:17
28) Zechariah 14:5 (with I Thess. 3:13) is to be found at End-note *2A, below.
32)
Matthew 11:27
33)
Matthew 28:9
34) John 1:1 For the actual wording of the translation, see here.
35) Acts 9:35
37) Romans 3:25
38) Romans 5:12-15,
39) Romans 9:5
40) Romans 16:25-26
40A) I Cor. 13:8-10
42) Ephesians 1:3-5
44) II Thessalonians 2:2
45) II Timothy 3:16
46) Titus 1:2-3
47) Titus 2:12
48) Hebrews 11:1
48A) James 4:5-6
49) II Peter 1:19-21
50) I John 5:7-8 - see Ch. 1, *2 above, and in Ch. 1 as marked.
51) Rev. 19:8 - see Ch. 1
52) Rev. 20:4
53) Rev. 22:14
54) Rev. 13:12-15
There are 21
Chapters, selected with one or more items,
and the links to these follow.
In each case, the items within (according to the
numbers above listed),
appear at the top.
The actual translations are marked § and each scripture concerned is given in the one print format, for uniformity's sake and speedier recognition: it is
THIS FONT.
Chapter 1 THE PROMISES
Chapter 2 PONDERING PRECISION IN BIBLICAL TRANSLATION
Chapter 3 TRANSLATION OF
BIBLICAL TEXTS
IN ZECHARIAH, ROMANS, ISAIAH