Working for the Word - a Bible translation podcast

As we continue our series on China, we’re going to look at an issue that created massive conflict when translators from different backgrounds tried to come together to create a unified translation. This issue was the word for God, and it stands as one of the monoliths of Bible translation debate history. It came to be called the Term Question, and some have said it was the greatest controversy of the Protestant mission in China. We're joined by Dr. Simon Wong from UBS to talk about this issue. You can check out Dr. Zetzsche's book The Bible in China here. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook

There is so much we can learn from history and the ways other people have dealt with translations. In this episode we’re going to continue our conversation with Dr. Jost Zetzsche and talk about some of the strengths of Chinese for translating the Bible, about the richness of its idioms, and more. We’re continuing to lay a foundation for some of the history of Bible translation in China. You can check out Dr. Zetzsche's book here. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook

With a population of over a billion people, China is one of the world’s oldest civilizations. It’s massive, it’s diverse, and it has an incredibly rich history. And in all that history I’m interested in exploring the question of how the Bible was first translated in China. What were the different challenges people faced? What can we learn from their mistakes and triumphs? We’re going to talk about this and more across multiple episodes. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook

We’ve said before on this podcast that translating bibles can be like making sausages; a peek behind the curtain of the process can reveal some unpleasant realities. But part of my goal with this podcast is to cut through any saccharine veneer that people might have in their minds and help them understand what doesn’t always get talked about. I especially want people interested in serving in Bible translation (BT) to get a clearer picture of what they may face so that they can count the cost. We’ve talked a lot about the joys of BT, and they’re real. But today we’re going to dip into some things that may be disillusioning or disenchanting. Sometimes you might just end up talking about poop, bastards, and testicles for hours as a translation consultant. Find out why in this episode. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook

As we continue our discussion of the Tyndale House Greek NT with Dr. Dirk Jongkind, we’re going to tackle some more in-depth questions about early translations of the NT into languages like Latin and Syriac, and how they factor into the textual criticism of the NT. We’re also going to discuss some of the ways NT and OT textual criticism differ, especially in terms of reliance on manuscripts of translated versions as opposed to manuscripts of the original language they were composed in. Finally, we’re going to hear Dr. Jongkind share his biblical theology of the transmission of the text and why God has ordained that textual criticism be necessary. The Bible Translation Fellowship If you’d like to enter to win a copy of Dr. Jongkind's new book An Introduction to the Greek New Testament produced at Tyndale House, Cambridge, simply email me at andrewdcase@gmail.com by April 17th, and tell me 1) how you discovered this podcast and 2) what one of your favorite episodes has been. Or, if you’re a Mac or iPhone person, another way you can enter is by leaving a review of this podcast on iTunes and sending a screenshot of that review to my email. This is open to people living in any country.  my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook

As we touched on last time, in Bible translation it’s important to be able to decide what text you’re going to translate before you get to the task of translation. So to do that we need to compare manuscripts and ancient versions, and weigh the evidence, which is called textual criticism. This will be the first part of a conversation with Dr. Dirk Jongkind, the editor of the Tyndale House Greek New Testament. At Tyndale House Dr. Jongkind does research in the transmission of the text of the New Testament and maintains an interest in lexical and grammatical studies. So get ready to learn some new things and stretch your mind.   Peter Gurry's evaluation of Coherence-Based Genealogical Textual Criticism. If you’d like to enter to win a copy of Dr. Jongkind's new book An Introduction to the Greek New Testament produced at Tyndale House, Cambridge, simply email me at andrewdcase@gmail.com by April 17th, and tell me 1) how you discovered this podcast and 2) what one of your favorite episodes has been. This is open to people living in any country. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook

In this episode we’re going to look at some concrete examples of where the knowledge and discipline of textual criticism is important to help us navigate what text we are actually going to translate. Often these are little details that make simple verses turn into more difficult challenges than one might imagine. We’ll focus on the book of 1 Samuel and see how a simple narrative on the surface can turn out to be a complex balancing act underneath. my books | free Scripture prayer apps | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook

The Passion Translation (TPT) has sold millions of copies and is recommended by some big names in the evangelical world. I think it needs to be addressed because there are some slippery, sneaky things going on behind it that many people may not know how to deal with. This is an episode on how Bible translation can go horribly wrong and make someone a boatload of money at the same time. It’s the story of how spiritual language, the supernatural, and sophomoric talk about the biblical languages can impress a lot of people. To some of you this may be a terrifying episode, but I hope it proves helpful to those who have been wondering about this translation. Article on Polysemy and Homonomy in Biblical Hebrew Fact sheet about TPT Problems with Peshitta Primacy Mike Winger's critiques on YouTube The Peshitta Study Tool The Gospel Coalition critique from Dr. Shead Sid Roth's interview with Brian Simmons my books | free Scripture prayer apps | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook

If you go to the entry page on Wikipedia for the word 'almah you’ll find this: “despite its importance to the account of the virgin birth of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, scholars agree that it has nothing to do with virginity.” They sound very sure of themselves, and this tide needs to be turned. Dr. Rico is helping us see how this sort of definition is completely wrong based on the evidence, unhelpful, and obscures the contextual meaning of Isaiah 7:14. This episode is full of everything from musicology to exposition. It's going to be a good one. Make sure to get your own copy of Dr. Rico's book here. For those who might want the French version, it's available here. This is his book that teaches Greek as a living language. Wikipedia pages on 'almah and Isaiah 7:14. Sing, O Barren One Other music and YouTube links 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 my books | free Scripture prayer apps | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook

We’re continuing a series on the translation of Isaiah 7:14, which says: Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and bear a son, and his name shall be called Immanuel. If you’re like me, it’s always good to review what we heard last time, so Dr. Rico’s going to recap and add some detail along the way, and then he'll get into the positive arguments for why we should translate 'alma as young virgin. Make sure to get your own copy of Dr. Rico's book here. For those who might want the French version, it's available here. This is his book that teaches Greek as a living language. my books | free Scripture prayer apps | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook