Challenge of Bible Translation, The (Paperback)

by Glen G. Scorgie (Editor), Mark L. Strauss (Editor), Steven M. Voth (Editor), Kenneth L. Barker (Contributor), D. A. Carson (Contributor), Charles H. Cosgrove (Contributor), Kent Eaton (Contributor), R. T. France (Contributor), Andreas J. Kostenberger (Contributor), Douglas J. Moo (Contributor), Moisés Silva (Contributor), James D. Smith III (Contributor), John H. Stek (Contributor), Ronald Veenker (Contributor), Larry L. Walker (Contributor), Bruce K. Waltke (Contributor), Walter W. Wessel (Contributor), Herbert M. Wolf (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The theory, history and practice of Bible translation in a collection of twenty-one essays by leading scholars and practitioners in honor of Ronald F. Youngblood.

From the Back Cover
An In-Depth Look at Bible Translation · The concerns, issues, and approaches · The history · The ins and outs of the translation task

With a reach that covers the entire globe, the Bible is the best-selling, most earnestly studied book of all time. It has been translated into well over 1,000 languages, from those of global reach such as English, French, and Arabic, to a myriad of isolated tribal tongues. Yet while most readers of the English Bible have a favorite version, few understand how the different translations came about, or why there are so many, or what determines whether a particular translation is trustworthy.

Written in tribute to one of today’s true translation luminaries, Dr. Ronald Youngblood, The Challenge of Bible Translation will open your eyes to the principles, the methods, the processes, and the intricacies of translating the Bible into language that communicates clearly, accurately, and powerfully to readers of many countries and cultures. This remarkable volume marshals the contributions of foremost translators and linguists. Never before has a single book shed so much light on Bible translation in so accessible a fashion.

In three parts, this compendium gives scholars, students, and interested Bible readers an unprecedented grasp of:

1. The Theory of Bible Translation 2. The History of Bible Translation 3. The Practice of Bible Translation

The Challenge of Bible Translation will give you a new respect for the diligence, knowledge, and care required to produce a good translation. It will awaken you to the enormous cost some have paid to bring the Bible to the world. And it will deepen your understanding of and appreciation for the priceless gift of God’s written Word.

Contributors

Kenneth L. Barker D. A. Carson Charles H. Cosgrove Kent A. Eaton Dick France David Noel Freedman Andreas J. Köstenberger David Miano Douglas J. Moo Glen G. Scorgie Moisés Silva James D. Smith III John H. Stek Mark L. Strauss Ronald A. Veenker Steven M. Voth Larry Lee Walker Bruce K. Waltke Walter W. Wessel Herbert M. Wolf

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310246857
• ISBN-13: 978-0310246855
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #687,805 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In honor of the eminent Dr. Youngblood, August 3, 2003

By	E. Johnson (El Cajon, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have been one of numerous people influenced by the teaching ministry of Dr. Ronald Youngblood, a man whom I call both a gentleman and a scholar. This book is comprised of 21 essays that were dedicated to Dr. Youngblood's honor. Personally I have been taught by several of the contributors(James Smith, Mark Strauss, Walter Wessel). Thus, for me, reading through this compilation was a delight because of my familiarity with these people during my time in the mid-1980s/early 1990s at Bethel Seminary San Diego. Dr. Youngblood's mastery in the classroom as well as his style (nobody has a more dry sense of humor, as any student of his can attest) and scholarship are duly noted in these pages.

As far as this book's collection of essays goes, most of the topics are only going to interest the biblical scholars. If you're not familiar with the ancient languages and other technical writing, the vast majority of this book will have little impact. Personally, I did not bother reading a quarter of the essays from their beginning to end because the individual content of these particular chapters just did not interest me.

However, this is not to say that there are not some jewels here. In fact, let me briefly mention four of my favorite essays. First, chapter 3 by D.A. Carson ("The limits of functional equivalence in Bible translation--and other limits, too") gives a good history of the gender-neutral debate, especially as the Today's New International Version (TNIV) is concerned. This is an informative chapter for those not very familiar with the background of the TNIV controversy, and thus I recommend it.

A second essay was the book's next chapter by Mark Strauss ("Current issues in the gender-language debate: A response to Vern Plythress and Wayne Grudem"). I liked it because: a) it was cutting edge and not just a rehash of previous work, which a number of these essays were; b) it deals with the current TNIV controversy from the perspective of Dr. Strauss, who does a good job answering his (and the TNIV) critics. Even if you disagree with Dr. Strauss, one must admit that his points are worthy of consideration.

Third, I liked Dick France's chapter 7 ("The Bible in English: An Overview"). Of course, general overviews of the translation of the Bible are a dime a dozen, and some may criticize its inclusion. However, I think that this was one of the most interesting and informative overviews on Bible translation I have ever read.

Finally, I appreciated John Stek's chapter 10 ("The New International Version: How it Came to Be"). This is one of the most detailed histories of the NIV in a short-order format. Based on the faithfulness of God and those (including Dr. Youngblood) who responded to His calling, I believe the process of the NIV translation was quite ethical and completed in a godly fashion. Perhaps this is why God has blessed its use throughout the world.

Each person is different and may find other chapters to be of more interest, but for me, these four essays made the purchase of this book worthwhile. May God continue to bless the work of Dr. Youngblood, and may we continue to work through the texts of scripture provided to us by God Himself.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insights Into Translation, November 4, 2003

By	Gontroppo "Music and Theology Lover" (Bathurst, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This is a fabulous book. Most of the essays are well worth your time. It is divided into 3 sections:
The Theory of Bible Translation
The History of Bible Translation
The Practice of Bible Translation
I particularly appreciated the articles by Don Carson and Mark Strauss, in which they interact with criticism of the TNIV, the updated version of the NIV. I like the way that both authors discuss the gender language debate and provide us with useful updates to what they had to say in their helpful books on the subject.

Silva's article "Are Translators Traitors?" explains the difficulty of transmitting the nuances of one language into another, even when you are bilingual.

Those who are dismissive of the NIV and the later TNIV need to absorb what these writers tell us. They show how all versions interpret, including so-called literal versions. They also help us to step back from our immersion in the language of the KJV and think about how God's Word should be communicated in the 21st century.