DBRP_041NewsUpdate
Welcome to all you who have started to listen to the DBRP!
New listeners: No matter how you found the DBRP, I recommend that you spend a little time at the dailybiblereading.info web site. Consider visiting our site if the listening app you are using doesn’t let you see the episode notes. Our apps for Android and Apple products will let you see them. You can always find the notes at dailybiblereading.info.
Most people find the DBRP through Youversion.com/bible.com, or their Bible reading apps. If you happened to find the DBRP on iTunes or some other place, I hope that you realize that our podcasts are in sync with the Digging Deeper reading plan found at those sites or apps. Again, visit dailybiblereading.info for information.
In the first two years of making the DBRP (2014-15) it was kind of lonely work for me. I learned to not expect much response from podcast listeners! It’s very different for me this year because of DBRPdiggingdeeper Facebook group. Now I get to see little glimpses of the way God is working through His Word in you great people who are members there. So thanks to each member of that group. If you would like to join, a link to the group can be found at dailybiblereading.info, and in the episode notes for this podcast.
About Bible translations: I want to give you the inside scoop on Bible translations— coming from a Bible translator. There are two main types, and then there are combinations of the two. Today I will just talk about the two main types. There are literal translations and meaning based translations. The literal translations give you a word for word picture of the original text, and the popular ESV is one of the literal translations. The literal method often works fine for the verses where English words and ways of expressing things closely match the meaning of the words and communicative strategy of the source language. But so often, this doesn’t work well when translating from ancient Greek and Hebrew. So, remember this: Literal translations give you the form of the text, but cannot always accurately convey the meaning to you. On the other hand, meaning based translations don’t make it a priority to follow the form, but the translator’s priority is to convey the meaning in a way that is as natural as possible in English. The Good News Translation we are using this year in the podcasts is one of the best meaning based translations. But translating for meaning often means expressing things in ways that do not have the same word-for-word form as the original. So remember: A meaning based translation gives you the meaning, but often does not mirror the form of the original text.
To see how this works, I suggest you compare Romans 1:16-17 in the ESV and the GNT.
I hope this will give you insight about the way translations work: For instance, you will find that the ESV translates a verse one way, and the GNT translates it in another. Someone will ask, “Which one is right?” BOTH are right! The ESV is giving you the form. The GNT is giving you the meaning. Now, what if you compare two excellent meaning based translations?— the NLT and the GNT. If you find a difference in wording, again you may ask, “Which one is right?” The answer is almost always again that both are right. In other words, the original readers of the source language text could have understood what the text says in both ways. Those two translations, in almost every case, will both accurately render the meaning in a way that can be defended by someone who knows the Biblical languages.
So when someone says, “The XYZ translation is best.” Then you must ask them, “Best for what?” Does the person mean best for detailed study, such as comparing how Paul uses a particular term in his letters? Or does the person mean best for quickly understanding the meaning in the morning before you rush off to work? It is BEST if every believer has at least one of the two main translation types, and learns how to use both types. If you are reading the Bible in the morning before work and you have a limited amount of time, then I recommend that you stick with a meaning based translation. When you have the opportunity for digging deeper, I suggest that you check out the online Bible research tools listed on the Shovels page at dailybiblereading.info.
The DBRP is really a hobby to me, and not my job. I don’t receive income from this. I simply want to promote the understanding and enjoyment of God’s Word. So, if you identify with me in wanting those same things, this is the idea I want to leave with you. If there is a day when you are listening to one of the podcasts, and the Holy Spirit speaks to you powerfully through God’s Word, hit the share button and share it with your friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment