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Monday, January 23, 2023

Just stop

In my opinion there are three things that, if we would just stop, could improve the clarity of discussion of Bible versions – and maybe extract a little heat. 

Just stop:

  • Saying this or that word is a mistranslation
  • Saying that some thousand year old word is a transliteration
  • Saying that this or that word has changed meaning (transmutation)

These charges can make one seem intelligent. They allow one to impress his or her peers. At least when their peers do not know any better. Sometimes they make us look silly.

Instead of adding more fuel for more fires, let us just stop saying those things. Or, at least, improve the clarity of and context in which we are saying these things. Over the course of the next three days, I will expand on this theme, and try to explain what I mean – with individual posts on translation, transliteration, and transmutation (in reverse of that order).

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