Comments on Confessions of a Bible Virgin: To Be or Not to Be

This is such a handy site. Some fascinating lingu...

2009-02-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is such a handy site. Some fascinating linguistic differences. However, there does not appear to be any Hebrew version listed, even for OT passages. Granted, translations all stem from that, but this is where authenticity plays in.

Definitely not--mistranslation is possible from an...

2009-02-27T20:04:00.000-08:00

Definitely not--mistranslation is possible from any of the mentioned languages ;-) And who knows better than us the power the translator has over the original. Like Seamus Heaney's Beowulf, where he replaces the "Behold!" and "Hark!" of previous translations with "So." Speaking of translating from the Hebrew, last semester while researching for my World Lit class, I found and read the most interesting lit. crit. article regarding the superiority of the King James Version, specifically as it pertains to the OT. The author's primary line of argument was focused on the use of figurative language by the Hebrews and the accuracy of the KJV translations precisely because of its poetic force. An internet site, biblegateway.com lets you cross-compare various translations of a given passage.

Since I know so much more about the NT, it's somet...

2009-02-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

Since I know so much more about the NT, it's sometimes hard for me to restrain from getting into what I know is coming. This role as "bible virgin" forces me to approach each page here as if new to it all.

From thought comes action, so if we begin with the right thought, as Jesus directs, shouldn't right action follow? I hope so.

"No mistranslation from the Hebrew," but is one of your points that mistranslating is not possible from Greek or Aramaic into now English?

Hey Val--So we're still chillin' in the OT, right?...

2009-02-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

Hey Val--
So we're still chillin' in the OT, right? 'Cause then I think Helen's right--it's do unto others, etc. It is about action, but that's OT. Once Jesus shows up, it's a revolution. He says it's not enough to forgo adultery--if a man looks upon a woman with lust in his heart, then the sin has been committed (apparently, the ladies get a free pass). So it's not just actions, it's intentions. He says that he comes in fulfillment of all laws and then gives to ultimate laws: love the lord thy God with all thy heart, and love thy neighbor as thyself. No mistranslation from the Hebrew here since the NT was written in Greek and Jesus spoke Aramaic. Just my two cents . . . btw, still enjoying your blog!