RE: Translation, Anglophiles and Ancient Texts

Peter Phillips (p.m.phillips@cliff.shef.ac.uk)
Mon, 13 Oct 1997 08:12:08 +0100

Ah, but the problem is that the vast majority of Christians do not know
Greek. If we are to provide correct exegesis and communicate this exegesis
to the masses then we need to have the right language to do it in. As I
say to my students, if only you knew Greek. But they don't. No text can
be interpreted until it is intelligible - hence the need for precise
translation. A denial of this is simply to wrap ourselves up in the false
security of the Academy.

Pete Phillips
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From: Clayton Bartholomew [SMTP:c.s.bartholomew@worldnet.att.net]
Sent: 12 October 1997 21:50
To: b-greek
Subject: Translation, Anglophiles and Ancient Texts

There seems to be an endless preoccupation on this list
with questions of how to render this or that Greek word or
phrase into English. Does this type of question really merit
the kind of attention it receives? Do we really get any
closer to the meaning of the ancient text by constantly
fussing about which is the preferable English gloss for a
particular Greek word?

Is translation into ones mother tongue an essential part of
exegesis? I am beginning to have strong doubts about this.
I have a growing suspicion that translation into English
teaches you more about English than it does about the
ancient text.

Clay Bartholomew
Three Tree Point