Working for the Word - a Bible translation podcast

As we wrap up this series on the Bible in Arabic, I want delve a little deeper into the issue of how BT orgs are handling the issue of Muslim Idiom Translations today. That way hopefully we can have more informed conversations about a healthy way forward and know how to pray for Bible translation in Arabic and other Muslim-dominant languages. We also want to look at how these orgs are communicating or not communicating openly about these things with financial partners, and see what we can learn. For this episode I’m going to be quoting at length from a forthcoming publication by linguist, Bible translator, and former Mormon Seth Vitrano-Wilson (listen to a previous episode with him here). The Arlington Statement on Bible Translation workingfortheword.com | my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline

What are the underlying assumptions that might influence our choice of how to translate the Bible into Arabic, and also in other Muslim contexts? We’re going to step back in this episode and try to understand what presuppositions might be driving certain ideas in this debate. In order to do that, Dr. Aaron Shryock has kindly agreed to contribute his perspective. This will be interesting, because I’m sure there are a lot of people who would disagree strongly with his view, but I hope that we can all learn together by listening and trying to empathize with different convictions and positions in the world of translation. Books Aaron recommends: Translating the Bible in Plain Language by de Jong Muslim Conversions to Christ Aaron’s website Aaron’s email: aaron@horizonsinternational.org my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline

We’ve heard from some significant voices on translation issues in Arabic and other Muslim contexts, but so far we haven’t been able to sit down with a native speaker of Arabic and hear their perspective. As D.A. Carson said, it’s important to listen to people from the Middle East, rather than focus our attention only on Western opinions. So that’s what we’re going to do in this episode. Georges Houssney is our guest, and he grew up in Lebanon and he’s an author. He has vast experience in missions, Bible translation, linguistics, and engaging Islam. He is also the president of Horizons International mission. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline

In the spring of 2012, the World Evangelical Alliance leadership agreed to facilitate an independent external review of Wycliffe and SIL International’s practice of the translation of the words for “God the Father” and “Son of God.” The review was intended to focus on SIL’s Statement of Best Practices for Bible Translation of Divine Familial Terms, to set boundaries for theologically acceptable translation methodology particularly in Muslim contexts, and to suggest how to implement the recommendations practically. We're going to work through this 30-page document together and see what we can learn. Read the whole document from the WEA here. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline

Last episode we saw how the controversy unfolded over translating "Son of God" and "Father" in reference to God in the Arabic-speaking world and among other large Muslim groups. Now we want to focus on what biblical theology is at stake in the translation of divine familial terms. For this we get the privilege of listening to D.A. Carson talk about some of the content in his book titled Jesus the Son of God: A Christological Title Often Overlooked, Sometimes Misunderstood, and Currently Disputed published in 2012 mainly to address the controversy.  my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline

In the last episode we saw that contemporary Bible translators in Muslim contexts face some unique challenges. We also saw how the particular challenges in evangelizing the Islamic world can lead to creative ways of contextualization that may end up being harmful, deceptive, or simply unbiblical in different ways. Now we want to set the stage for understanding the broader history of the brouhaha that erupted out of the issue of making Islamized Bible translations that are more conducive to Insider Movements missiology. We’re going to trace more of the academic debate, as well as the events surrounding the biggest recent controversy in BT. Read Donald Lowe's full article in Muslim Conversions to Christ: A Critique of Insider Movements in Islamic Contexts. The report on Divine Familial Terms from the WEA. The Divine Familial Terms Procedures Guide from the WEA. The Executive Summary of the Divine Familial Terms Translation Procedures from the WEA. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline

As we continue to learn about the story of the Bible in Arabic, we need to look at what the particular contemporary challenges are to translating the Bible in Muslim contexts, as well as understand missiological trends that affect the way people might translate. These are not always easy things to grasp with nuance and wisdom, which perhaps is why some organizations have banned their members from any public discussion of the issues. So we’re going to do our best to patiently explore these things and see what we can learn–and hopefully proceed with humility and fairness by God’s grace. Article referenced: Challenges Facing Bible Translation in the Islamic Context of the Middle East by Issa Diab published in "The Bible Translator" journal. Article by Rebecca Lewis Video from Biblical Missiology  John Piper interview  my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline

As we saw in the last episode, God raised up some amazing men to produce the most influential Bible translation in Arabic. I want to continue exploring a little more about this translation and see what its legacy has been over more than a century. No Bible translation is perfect, and languages undergo significant changes over the course of a hundred years, leading to a need for updated translations that contemporary readers can understand. Cultures and religions have also shifted in the Arab world, which raises new challenges for Bible translation. So let’s explore these things and more together. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline

In the last episode we got a brief view of what some of the Arab world was like in the 1800s, and what protestant missionaries were facing as they endeavored to produce a translation of the Bible that could become a standard text for their mission work and church-planting. In this episode we want to look at the detailed first-hand account of what went on behind the scenes of this translation, which is widely known today as the Van Dyck translation. Who were the people involved and what tools did they use for this work? You may never have heard of this translation, but it became the best-selling book in Syria and Egypt, and later attained the equivalent status of the KJV amongst Arabic-speaking Christians. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline

Christian history is full of unsung heroes, and the world of Bible translation is no exception. Even though books have been written to record amazing things God has done through different missionaries, we often forget about them because they were written so long ago. One such book is Fifty Three Years in Syria, a two volume work that describes much of the missionary work done in the 1800s and early 1900s in the middle east, including the most influential complete translation of the Bible into Arabic, which is still used as a standard text today. When I first set out to do this series I imagined that I would focus exclusively on BT into Arabic, but the more I read about the events, culture, and people surrounding the history of Arabic BT, the more I wanted to share it with you. It’s absolutely fascinating and many times stranger than fiction. At times it may feel like we’re jumping around a lot, but I think through these various vignettes we’ll gain a more fully-orbed idea of what the world was like in this part of the middle east during the birth of the most influential Bible in Arabic. my books | twitter | music | Hebrew | academic articles | facebook | contact | download all episodes for offline