‘Comics guy’ sets his sights on scholarly translation of the Bible

Freeware Bible Blog ^ | February 2, 2009 | Jeff Diamant

[Alex Murphy]

Photos by Matt Rainey/The Star-Ledger

Meeting in the Princeton office of Bill Jemas’ 360 Intellectual Equity, are, from left, Jemas; Sarah Miller, business manager; Farrah Gross, creative director; and Michael Martucci, web developer. Jemas, below, is writing a new translation of the Book of Genesis.

[a fool in paradise]

“This is really about a vision of divinity that is what I’ve been thinking about for most of my adult life,” said Jemas, who sent samples of his work to 200 scholars of religion. “People who want to believe that the only possible view of God is as a male human sitting up in heaven, it throws them. I’ve gotten a dozen angry letters.”

He did a reboot on comic book characters and now intends to the do the same for the Bible.

[Natural Law]

The biggest hurdle one faces in any biblical translation is trying to determine word meaning and original intent. One has to differentiate between what a word originally meant and what it came to mean. This is particularly difficult with works that begin as oral traditions.

[dixiebelle]

I’m sorry, but as someone who has studied Hebrew at a very basic level as well as the history of the Bible in its various translations, I find this, for lack of a better word...comical.

[a fool in paradise]

Genesis in the King James Version starts out, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth,” whereas Jemas’s translation begins, “In principles the powers that be the universe conceive …”

To Jemas, choosing the word “principles” instead of “beginning” is significant, and lends itself to the ideas that principles are essential before moving ahead with anything, and the bottom-up idea, which he said he believes, that “God is the contribution of all of us.”

Sounds like President Obama would like this Bible, Obama defines sin as that which is "out of alignment with my values".

[fishtank]

Enough already.

Instead of buying the latest English translation, English-speaking Christians should consider using that money for mission groups that are translating into languages that don’t have a Bible yet.

P.S. As well intentioned as they may be, I think the ESV and others are just the latest in marketing and publishing business one-upmanship.

[techcor]

let alone a man like himself without any formal theological training

It won't be any trouble at all. First start with what is commonly believed and then change it to the what liberals want it to be. Good start with the "powers that be" . That changes it to the liberal pagan version of many gods so that any thing can be worshiped. He'll continue with "homosexuality is great" and conclude with "Gods are all for abortion and socialism". Oooh, big mystery as to what this guy is doing. /s

[TexasRepublic]

His abomination will be worse than Westcott-Hort’s.

[Liberty1970]

Genesis in the King James Version starts out, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth,” whereas Jemas’s translation begins, “In principles the powers that be the universe conceive …”

And he thinks this will be readable and useful to anyone??? I think he is badly in over his head. I think he will end up doing more to confuse people then help shed light on the ambiguities of translation.

[a fool in paradise]

Comic Book Guy (typing): "Thou shall be fruitful and multiply with portly men with lots of comic books!"

[GreyFriar]

interesting

[a fool in paradise]

“In principles the powers that be the universe conceive …”

I ran it through the Tower of Babblefish on Altavista a couple of times, and here are some of the permutations:

"In Portuguese in principles power - of - is l' Universe plans" (It is profound but I think I am still unsure of what this means ,ps the words In Portuguese appear in the translation, unlike all others! Maybe the Portugese are really God's chosen people)

"The higher stratum of society section which principle outer space imagines..."

"In the beginnings the forces - that - you are the world it arrests"

"In the principles of force - which - the universe understand"

[Tax-chick]

"The higher stratum of society section which principle outer space imagines..."

See, the Undead Thread *is* reality. Everything else is just our projection ;-).

[a fool in paradise]

I think I was quoting a line from Acid Mother’s Temple.

[Tax-chick]

We projected that, too ;-).

[OneVike]

Genesis in the King James Version starts out, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth,” whereas Jemas’s translation begins, “In principles the powers that be the universe conceive …”

It seems to be another attempt at heresy by another unenlightened individual.

The Lords brother, James wrote in his letter.
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.James 3:1

Mr Jemas is putting himself into a precarious position with God, and I for one would not want to be in his skin when he meets Him.

Remember Joseph Smith and other false prophets and false teachers will have a greater condemnation for their sins then Hitler, Stalin, or any other evil man who can only destroy the body. However, destroy ones soul and it will be worse for you then for those of Sodom and Gomorrah.

[NicknamedBob]

"See, the Undead Thread *is* reality. Everything else is just our projection ;-)."

Quote: He already has completed the first chapter, available online and in his book “Genesis Rejuvenated.”

Uh-oh! The Klingons are not going to be in favor of this.

[Doomonyou]

he’s put the materials together in such a way that a beginning reader can see the Book of Genesis as being filled with possibilities of meaning, and not just limited to a single meaning.

Smooth move there, Exlax.

[Monkey Face]

Didn’t you do this in “Reaction!?”

[NicknamedBob]

Didn’t you do this in “Reaction!?”

You found Biblical parallels in my book?

Must have been an epic fail on my part, then.