The science of translation combines the best choices based on external evidence combined with the best evidence based on internal evidence. This combination produces an extraordinary reliable and readable text. We know that the correct path has been taken when recent discoveries unearth older translations and there is no significant difference from what we already have.
If you feel you want more knowledge on the subject of problems of translations, here are a few references:
With all that being said, one point needs to be made. Although textual criticism is considered a science, it is not an exact science. Some of the inexactness is due to the number of human variables encountered.
The definition of an inexact science is something that is not strictly accurate or precise.
Occasionally, especially when the translation is the work of a committee, the translators will themselves be divided as to which variant represents the original text and which is (are) the scribal error(s). Usually at such times the majority choice will be found in the actual translation, while the minority choice will be in the margin. This should emphasize in your mind why it is better to study two or more translation that contains notes.
Sometimes the reason for the uncertainty is either that the best manuscript evidence conflicts with the best explanation of how error(s) came about. Sometimes the manuscript evidence is evenly divided. In these cases humans must make choices. Again these are common problems to all versions of the Bible. The best Bible to own is the ones that explain the problems faced by the translators in the notes to the texts.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|