VALUE OF NT IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE

The Value of Knowing the New Testament in the Original

English speaking people must read a translation of the New Testament. And accessible to them is the well-known and now three hundred years old Authorized Version of King James, and the Revised Version which is some fifty years old, together with many other productions published within the last sixty years. And though other translations will continue to be made, probably no translation will supersede the Authorized Version for popularity, and none will supersede the Revised Version for accuracy. But still, English speaking people in general will be obliged to read a translation of the Scriptures, rather than the original, if they desire to read the Bible at all.

And indeed, it is a rare privilege to read a translation of the Scriptures into English. For only those who know something of the painstaking effort and unusual acumen necessary to render one language into another can fully appreciate how ably the New Testament has been translated into the English language. In the English translation are infinite possibilities for growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore, this privilege should not be held lightly nor despised. Yet, it must be repeated again, the reader will be studying a translation and not the original. Now this assertion drives one to ask why so much stress is laid upon the original and why no translation can possibly make unnecessary some of the original text. In answer to this question the following is suggested as a partial explanation.

I. TRANSLATION

Someone has said with emphasis that there is no such thing as a translation. But the truth of this statement can scarcely be appreciated until one has had personal experience in that which is called translation work. The force of this statement is based upon the fact that the word translation means to carry out of one language its meaning and transfer it into another language. This demands that there be equivalents of expression in one language for those in another. But there are no such things. If there were, translation work would largely be solved. It is not until one engages in this work and begins to struggle for expression in another language that he begins to comprehend in part how serious and far-reaching the judgment of God was at Babel. And not until we get to glory will we fully understand how much of human despair and disturbance may be traced to the confusion of tongues.

This further statement is in order, then, that a translation at best transfers only part of the meaning of the original into the language into which one is translating. Since it is impossible to use equivalents of expression, then one must resort to approximate values in rendering the New Testament into English. And it is almost unbelievable how well in the Common Version this has been done. But there is bound to be slight shades of meaning that are obscured, diminished, or even lost. The precise shade of meaning in a word disappears, or the exact emphasis is lost because the order of the words must be changed, or the pungency (wit) of a word is lost because its meaning must be stretched out over three or four words, or the force of a verb is sacrificed because there is no proper way to render it into English.

If this were all, there would still be room for great rejoicing. But there is also the undeniable fact that a translation is secondhand. Oh, we could wish that everyone could read the original just for his own sake. But God has decreed that middle-men should enter in the capacity of translators. And the remarkable thing is how God has been ever able to keep them in the background and His precious word in the forefront. Still, it is only too evident as one reads the translation in the light of the original, where systems of theology have disposed the translator to render in such a way, or where the inclinations peculiar to him have conspired to bring forth such a rendering, or where just the limitations of humanity have caused one to see but one thing where there were many. Were it possible for each one to read the original, the Spirit of God might bring to his attention the very things he needs, and such things which might otherwise be lost in the translation.

II. PRESERVATION

One of the factors bearing directly upon the understanding of God's word is the manner and completeness with which it has been preserved. God's hand has certainly been apparent in the way His word has been kept for men. And were it not for His hand, it is very possible that the forces of sin would have long since obliterated every one of those precious words. But in the long years through which the Bible has been existing, God has allowed the New Testament to suffer the vicissitudes (variations) of literature. The original manuscripts from the hands of the New Testament writers have deteriorated and perished, and their records have gone through almost numberless copying’s. With the copying errors crept in, some of them intentional, and many of them unintentional.

The unintentional errors form a class all their own and were due to human weakness. These came through constant copying of the manuscripts in order to replace the copies that were wearing out. In this class were the errors of eye in misreading the text, errors of the ear in mishearing the text, errors of the memory in remembering the text, errors of judgment in misreading abbreviations, errors of the pen in transcribing the text, and errors of speech when the scribe allowed his own habits to control him unconsciously. Surprisingly few are such errors when one compares the number with the possible number of mistakes that could have been made.

The other class of errors, termed intentional, constitute by far the greater number and are by far the most important. One must not conclude that because this is properly called "intentional" that these were not prompted by the best of motives. These found their way into the text because the scribe or corrector wanted to see the text rhetorically correct, historically accurate, properly harmonized with other portions, doctrinally correct, and liturgically usable. And he never dreamed that what he was doing was more of a hindrance than a help. But in spite of all these the text remained remarkably pure.

However, with the multiplication of manuscripts and the development of archeology and textual criticism, it has been possible for the Greek scholar to ascertain the original text to such extent that but one one-thousandth of the text is now in question, and this deals with matters of very little concern, so that no great doctrine of the New Testament is in jeopardy. To the one who knows Greek, it is possible for him to examine those portions where the correct reading of the text is still in question and under the guidance of the Spirit choose what seems to be the proper reading.

III. INSPIRATION

We believe that just as the scripture teaches, the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God in the original manuscripts. Since this is true, every word in the original with its precise shade of meaning is important, because it conveys to us exactly what God revealed to us. Now translations are inspired insofar as they accurately convey to the reader precisely what God said. But insofar as they may lack any item of information which God intended that we should receive, to that extent they are not inspired.

Therefore, it becomes perfectly evident why every preacher of the Word, insofar as he is able, ought to have a knowledge of the original language. The burden of responsibility which is laid upon him is that of protecting, preserving and propagating the blessed message of the Book. And if he is able to read and work with the language in which this message was given, he is better able to protect the message from the savage onslaughts of unbelief, to preserve the message for future generations, and to propagate the message to the generation in which he lives.

"Knowledge puffeth up," said the Spirit of God through Paul. And this is true of mere knowledge of the language in which the New Testament was written. "But love edifieth" (R. V.), added the Spirit of God in the next breath. And this is true also in the exercise of knowledge concerning the original language. And knowledge that is lit with the flame of love for the blessed Son of God will bring forth an unending stream of fruit to the glory of God.