The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation

by Leland Ryken, C. John Collins (Contribution by)

Overview

Ryken describes the translation principles that make for reliable English Bible translation, looks at common translation fallacies, and offers principles for good translation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781581344646
Publisher:	Crossway
Publication date:	11/12/2002
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	973,195
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

Leland Ryken (PhD, University of Oregon) served as professor of English at Wheaton College for nearly fifty years. He served as literary stylist for the English Standard Version Bible and has authored or edited over sixty books, including The Word of God in English and A Complete Handbook of Literary Forms in the Bible.

C. John Collins (PhD, University of Liverpool) is professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He has been a research engineer, church-planter, and teacher. He was the Old Testament Chairman for the English Standard Version Bible and is author of The God of Miracles, Science and Faith: Friends or Foes?, and Genesis 1–4: A Linguistic, Literary, and Theological Commentary. He and his wife have two grown children.

Table of Contents

	Preface	9
	Introduction: The Current Debate About Bible Translation	13
Part 1	Lessons from Overlooked Sources
1	Lessons from Literature	23
2	Lessons from Ordinary Discourse	35
3	Lessons from the History of Translation	47
Part 2	Common Fallacies of Translation
4	Five Fallacies About the Bible	67
5	Seven Fallacies About Translation	79
6	Eight Fallacies About Bible Readers	103
Part 3	Theological, Ethical, and Hermeneutical Issues
7	The Theology and Ethics of Bible Translation	123
8	Translation and Hermeneutics	139
Part 4	Modern Translations: Problems and Their Solution
9	Ignoring the Literary Qualities of the Bible	157
10	Obscuring the World of the Original Text	173
11	Destabilization of the Biblical Text	187
12	Reductionism	199
Part 5	Criteria for Excellence in an English Bible
13	Fidelity to the Words of the Original	217
14	Effective Diction: Clarity, Vividness, Connotation, Ambiguity	229
15	Respect for the Principles of Poetry	243
16	Effective Rhythm	257
17	Exaltation and Beauty	269
	Conclusion: What Makes the Best Bible Translation?	287
Appendix	Without Form, You Lose Meaning	295
	Index	328