(BTW, what college? I went to St. John's Annapolis and to The Episcopal seminary in Alexandria VA.)(I am NOT a good student. I am, however, enthusiastic.)
I think every translation makes a tertium quid. I'd even suggest that translations of the Bible into English have altered English, affecting diction and rhythms.
"To choose the best word" is no small thing in any event. Hebrews 11:1, to take an extreme example, is tough. Finding the best English word for hypostasis?
Would you say that is philosophical thinking, or just seeking the best word to use?
I guess I can't see picking the best word as unphilosophical.
But thanks for the question. I'll chew on it.
University of Minnesota and Minnesota Bible College. I majored in Biblical History.
I think every translation makes a tertium quid. I'd even suggest that translations of the Bible into English have altered English, affecting diction and rhythms.
"To choose the best word" is no small thing in any event. Hebrews 11:1, to take an extreme example, is tough. Finding the best English word for hypostasis?
I would add that many translations of the Bible have confounded the meanings of many passages, and even the overall harmonizing of the Scriptures. This is why I stick to etymology and exegesis according to established rules of hermeneutics. Hypostasis is not all that hard to define...depending whether you are speaking philosophically or religiously - philosophically, the underlying nature of a thing, or religiously, the underlying nature of the unity of Diety.
***Would you say that is philosophical thinking, or just seeking the best word to use?***
I guess I can't see picking the best word as unphilosophical.
We will have do agree to disagree here. The best word to use in translating from another language, other than via etymology, is its definition in both languages, controlled by exegesis of the context spoken in. Sometimes one word in one language cannot be expressed with one word in another language - it sometimes requires more than one word to express the meaning of the other language. Am I making sense?
Keep chewing on it, but don't get indigestion. :-)
In the meantime I'll do a little chewing on your other post.