What Makes a Bible Version a Paraphrase?

[Dave-W]

You're right, of course. Even a word for word will contain bias because no word has one meaning.

Not only that, word meanings in one language can be vastly different in another language.

Example: the word "Forget" in english and "Forget" in hebrew.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I realize that. (By the way, I am the one that started the thread on the other forum).

Yes, I know.

This is the point, The Passion Translation is not a translation and it is not a paraphrase. It is dangerous and deceptive and it should be avoided.

I think we've always been coming at the issue from different angles, but I don't mind you expressing your concerns about that side of it.

Thanks for the peaceable post, and blessings in Christ to you.

 

[Radagast]

This has always been my understanding of the term.

Now here is why I'm concerned. The following was presented to me at another site in reference to The Passion Translation, which after a brief scan on GatewayBible,com is not a word-for-word translation. It is a paraphrase.
BibleGateway - : Jude

Yet they claim it to be a translation on their official webpage:

“There is often some confusion in the Christian community when it comes to various versions of the Bible, particularly the differences between “translation” and “paraphrase.”

The "Passion Translation" is a one-man effort (always a bad sign) and it's actually neither a translation nor a paraphrase. Like the "New World Translation" of the Jehovah's Witnesses, it makes all kinds of changes to the text that are not based on the original at all.

Consider Romans 1:1-8. Here is the ESV:

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

And here is "The Passion Translation." Notice that verse 7 has been moved, and other verses altered radically:

1 Paul, a loving and loyal servant of the Anointed One, Jesus. He called me to be his apostle and set me apart with a mission to reveal God’s wonderful gospel. (7) I write this letter to all his beloved chosen ones in Rome, for you have been divinely summoned to be holy in his eyes. May his joyous grace and total well-being, flowing from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, rest upon you.

2 My commission is to preach the good news. Yet it is not entirely new, but the fulfillment of the hope promised to us through the many prophecies found in the sacred Scriptures. 3 For the gospel is all about God’s Son. As a man he descended from David’s royal lineage, 4 but as the mighty Son of God he was raised from the dead and miraculously set apart with a display of triumphant power supplied by the Spirit of Holiness. And now Jesus is our Lord and our Messiah. 5 Through him a joy-producing grace cascaded into us, empowering us with the gift of apostleship, so that we can win people from every nation into a faithful commitment to Jesus, to bring honor to his name. 6 And you are among the chosen ones who received the call to belong to Jesus, the Anointed One. 8 I give thanks to God for all of you, because it’s through your conversion to Jesus Christ, that the testimony of your strong, persistent faith is spreading throughout the world.

The famous "The Message" (another one-man job) is actually much closer to the Greek:

1 I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God’s words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God’s friends.

2-7 The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God’s Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.

8-12 I thank God through Jesus for every one of you. That’s first. People everywhere keep telling me about your lives of faith, and every time I hear them, I thank him.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Not only that, word meanings in one language can be vastly different in another language.

Example: the word "Forget" in english and "Forget" in hebrew.

Agreed. And even words that have survived can now have different meanings. The Greek word "blaspheme" now simply means "defame" in most non-religious contexts. But at least word-for-word equivalence is maintained either way. Many KJV words are now baldly outdated and no longer in common use, but as an exacting student of the word I still prefer reading the KJV to a modern paraphrase any day of the week (no offense intended to the KJV only crowd).

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Yes. Most standard translators either are unaware or dismiss block logic altogether. But every book (including the NT) are written from that mindset and world view.

Another thing that is ignored: the various levels of meaning for the same text.

Here is interesting Hebrew and Greek word.........Plagues vs Stripes

John 2:15 cracking the whip/scourge/stripes/buying and selling
John 2:15 cracking the whip/scourge/stripes/buying and selling

Exo 11:1
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'One plague /נֶגַע (nega`)<5061> more I do bring in on Pharaoh, and on Egypt,
afterwards he doth send you away from this; when he is sending you away, he surely casteth you out altogether from this place;

5061 nega` neh'-gah from 5060; a blow (figuratively, infliction); also (by implication) a spot (concretely, a leprous person or dress):--plague, sore, stricken, stripe, stroke, wound.

Rev 18:8
Therefore shall her plagues G4127 /πληγή (plēgē)<4127> come in one day,
death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

4127. plege play-gay' from 4141; a stroke; by implication, a wound; figuratively, a calamity:--plague, stripe, wound(-ed).

 

[Radagast]

But at least word-for-word equivalence is maintained either way. Many KJV words are now baldly outdated and no longer in common use, but as an exacting student of the word I still prefer reading the KJV to a modern paraphrase any day of the week (no offense intended to the KJV only crowd).

One can sensibly abandon word-for-word and go for phrase-for-phrase, but "The Passion Translation" is way past even that.

 

[Radagast]

nm

 

[Hidden In Him]

2 My commission is to preach the good news. Yet it is not entirely new, but the fulfillment of the hope promised to us through the many prophecies found in the sacred Scriptures. 3 For the gospel is all about God’s Son. As a man he descended from David’s royal lineage, 4 but as the mighty Son of God he was raised from the dead and miraculously set apart with a display of triumphant power supplied by the Spirit of Holiness. And now Jesus is our Lord and our Messiah. 5 Through him a joy-producing grace cascaded into us, empowering us with the gift of apostleship, so that we can win people from every nation into a faithful commitment to Jesus, to bring honor to his name. 6 And you are among the chosen ones who received the call to belong to Jesus, the Anointed One. 8 I give thanks to God for all of you, because it’s through your conversion to Jesus Christ, that the testimony of your strong, persistent faith is spreading throughout the world.

My problem with paraphrases (and apparently we disagree that this is one), is that I can't recognize what scripture we're in. I remember sitting in a service one time, back when the Purpose Driven Life was all the rage. Without necessarily addressing that, I just remember them putting transparencies up on a screen of the various verses being quoted in the book. For the life of me I couldn't figure out where in the New Testament those passages were coming from. They didn't correlate to anything I could recognize. When I got home and started checking interlinears I found out why.

 

[Dave-W]

The "Passion Translation" is a one-man effort (always a bad sign) and it's actually neither a translation nor a paraphrase. Like the "New World Translation" of the Jehovah's Witnesses, it makes all kinds of changes to the text that are not based on the original at all.

Sounds more like a targum.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

n m

 

[Radagast]

My problem with paraphrases

I'd be happy to call it a bad paraphrase.

 

[Radagast]

Sounds more like a targum.

People have indeed said that.

 

[Dave-W]

nd even words that have survived can now have different meanings.

An interesting one on that is "sin."

Both the Greek and Hebrew words that are translated "sin" are archery terms meaning to aim at a target but miss the mark (bulls eye). I understand that in 1611 that was what "sin" in english meant as well. But then it took on a theological meaning and the original sense was entirely lost.

 

[Hidden In Him]

One can sensibly abandon word-for-word and go for phrase-for-phrase, but "The Passion Translation" is way past even that.

On occasion, yes, but I think it should be kept within limits, and only used when absolutely necessary. Freewheeling it with every other verse is, as you say, way past what should be called translation in any genuine sense of the word.

I never did an etymology on "Translate," but it is the past participle of transferre (trans "across, beyond" + lātus "borne, carried"). If you are carrying far more across than was there to begin with, it becomes transmutation and/ or transformation, not translation.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Both the Greek and Hebrew words that are translated "sin" are archery terms

That's interesting. I had heard the definition of "miss the mark" before several times, but had not seen it tied to Greek usage like that.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

An interesting one on that is "sin."

Both the Greek and Hebrew words that are translated "sin" are archery terms meaning to aim at a target but miss the mark (bulls eye). I understand that in 1611 that was what "sin" in english meant as well. But then it took on a theological meaning and the original sense was entirely lost.

That's interesting. I had heard the definition of "miss the mark" before several times, but had not seen it tied to Greek usage like that.

Interesting:

Sin - Wikipedia

The English Biblical terms translated as "sin" or "syn" from the Biblical Greek and Jewish terms sometimes originate from words in the latter languages denoting the act or state of missing the mark; the original sense of New Testament Greek ἁμαρτία hamartia "sin", is failure, being in error, missing the mark, ...

Christianity

In the Old Testament, some sins were punishable by death in different forms, while most sins are forgiven by burnt offerings. Christians consider the Old Covenant to be fulfilled by the Gospel.

In the New Testament the forgiveness of sin is effected through faith and repentance (Mark 1:15).[7] Sin is forgiven when the sinner acknowledges, confesses, and repents for their sin as a part of believing in Jesus Christ.[8] The sinner is expected to confess his sins to God as a part of an ongoing relationship, which also includes giving thanks to God. The sinful person has never before been in a favorable relationship with God.
When, as a part of the process of salvation, a person is forgiven, they enter into a union with God which abides forever.[9] In the Epistle to the Romans 6:23, it is mentioned that "the wages of sin is death", which is commonly interpreted as, if one repents for his sins, such person will inherit salvation.[10]

In Jewish Christianity, sin is believed to alienate the sinner from God even though He has extreme love for mankind. It has damaged and completely severed the relationship of humanity to God. That relationship can only be restored through acceptance of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross as a satisfactory sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Humanity was destined for life with God when Adam disobeyed God. The Bible in John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting."


In Catholic Christianity sins are classified into grave sins called mortal sins and less serious sins called venial sin. Mortal sins cause one to lose salvation unless the sinner repents and venial sins require some sort of penance either on Earth or in Purgatory.[13]

Judaism
Main articles: Jewish views on sin and Golden mean (philosophy) § Judaism
Mainstream Judaism regards the violation of any of the 613 commandments of the Mosaic law for Jews, or the seven Noahide laws for Gentiles as a sin.[16] Judaism teaches that all humans are inclined to sin from birth.[17] Sin has many classifications and degrees. Some sins are punishable with death by the court, others with death by heaven, others with lashes, and others without such punishment, but no sins with willful intent go without consequence. Unwillful violations of the mitzvot (without negligence) do not count as sins. "Sins by error" are considered as less severe sins. When the Temple yet stood in Jerusalem, people would offer sacrifices for their misdeeds. The atoning aspect of korbanot is carefully circumscribed. For the most part, korbanot only expiate such "sins by error", that is, sins committed because a person forgot or did not know that this thing was a sin. In some circumstances, lack of knowledge is considered close to deliberate intent. No atonement is needed for violations committed under duress, and for the most part, korbanot cannot atone for a deliberate sin. In addition, korbanot have no expiating effect unless the person making the offering sincerely repents his or her actions before making the offering, and makes restitution to any person who suffered harm through the violation.[18][19]

 

[Ken Rank]

Not only that, word meanings in one language can be vastly different in another language.

Example: the word "Forget" in english and "Forget" in hebrew.

I appreciate your example but we have a better one that really drives your point home. The word "b'rit" is translated as covenant in the Tanach (OT) and Testament (???) in the NT.... but it's meaning is an agreement cut in blood. A covenant does not require blood and so we have an incomplete picture when using that word... yet that is the closest word we have for b'rit.

Shema is another.... it is always "hear" but you know it is "hear and act" or "hear and guard" or "hear and obey."

So we can have a bias entering a translation AND we can have the fact that sometimes certain words just can't hold the meaning to get to context across.

 

[Ken Rank]

That's interesting. I had heard the definition of "miss the mark" before several times, but had not seen it tied to Greek usage like that.

It is a great picture to get the point across. Sin in Hebrew is chata'ah and it is purely unintentional. The idea is best seen in an archer who's ONLY DESIRE is to aim at the proper target (in this case, the righteousness of God) and he simply misses from time to time because we are still in a fallen state. So the intent and attempt is there... but the effort fell short.... unintentional sin. The opposite is pesha... which is rebellion. Same archer and same target, the archer KNOWS what the proper target is and decided to aim at something instead. That is intentional sin or rebellion.

 

[Hidden In Him]

It is a great picture to get the point across. Sin in Hebrew is chata'ah and it is purely unintentional. The idea is best seen in an archer who's ONLY DESIRE is to aim at the proper target (in this case, the righteousness of God) and he simply misses from time to time because we are still in a fallen state. So the intent and attempt is there... but the effort fell short.... unintentional sin. The opposite is pesha... which is rebellion. Same archer and same target, the archer KNOWS what the proper target is and decided to aim at something instead. That is intentional sin or rebellion.

This is excellent, Ken. I have never seen that comparison of the two Hebrew words before.

It brings to mind something I just saw posted at another Forum just a second ago from a newly born again believer. His exact wording was:

"I feel that I no longer want to think or do things that are sinful in nature or things that have a sinful content - for example, action-killer-games on computer. I can even think of a person that I´ve hated, and feel an unconditional forgiveness towards that person. It´s amazing to walk in God´s grace, after having accepted the gift of salvation. Ok, this is just the start - I have just accepted the gift for an hour ago, and now when I think of things that I have had problem with before, I now instead feel unconditional forgiveness towards it. I feel I have changed a bit at a fundamental level."

When the Spirit of God comes within, we no longer have desires to sin anymore, i.e. to miss God. Our spirit cries "Abba Father," and the Spirit of God bears with our spirit that we are children of God. A true child never seeks to rebel but will nevertheless still miss it from time to time.

Thanks for the post.

 

[Dave-W]

This is excellent, Ken. I have never seen that comparison of the two Hebrew words before.

There is a third word that needs to be mentioned as well: עָוֹן `avon. It is commonly translated as iniquity. The literal meaning of the word is to be bent or twisted, like a tree distorted by weather conditions. If you do a word search, it is almost ALWAYS accompanied by a generational statement. Which means it is the state of being morally and spiritually warped by the sins and intentional transgressions of previous generations.

Exo 20:5
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;​