Word of God in English

The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation
Leland Ryken, C. John Collins

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Since the Bible is God's holy Word, translators have a heavy responsibility to provide accurate and reliable translations. Leland Ryken asserts that Bible translation should be essentially literal--any translation violating how language is dealt with in everyday life as well as in scholarly pursuits cannot be based on the right theory. Ryken describes the translation principles that make for reliable English Bible translation, looks at common translation fallacies, and offers principles for good translation. He probes the theological, ethical, and hermeneutical issues involved and surveys difficulties with modern translations.

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Contents

Preface 9
Introduction: The Current Debate About Bible Translation 13
Part One. Lessons from Overlooked Sources
1. Lessons from Literature 23
2. Lessons from Ordinary Discourse 35
3. Lessons from the History of Translation 47
Part Two. 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 Three. Theological, Ethical, and Hermeneutical Issues
7. The Theology and Ethics of Bible Translation 123
8. Translation and Hermeneutics 139
Part Four. 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 Five. 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 by C. John Collins 295
Index 328

About the Author

Leland Ryken (Ph.D., University of Oregon) is Professor of English at Wheaton College. He has authored or edited several books, including The Word of God in English, The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, and The Complete Literary Guide to the Bible. He is a frequent speaker at the Evangelical Theological Society and served as literary stylist for The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.