[CS-FSLUG] OT: Wycliffe Bible Translators Producing Muslim Friendly Bible

[Tim Young]

It does appear that there is a translation that Wycliffe and New 
Tribes are helping out, which is geared towards Muslims. The various 
missions that at least have a role in this translation up are very 
good organizations, using a lot of care as they translate. I have a 
lot of respect for them, and know that even as they translate a 
passage to something like, "I am the tortilla of life", that they do 
so for a reason. A culture that does not have bread, does not 
understand the phrase, "I am the bread of life." The translators 
realized that Jesus was speaking about the primary dietary item that 
was eaten with nearly every meal, flushing that meal out. The 
passages where Jesus is the "good shepherd" has also been translated 
to being herders of other animals which are native to their areas 
(llamas anyone?). The point is not that Jesus chased fluffy white 
animals around the place, but rather that He cares and is willing to 
give His life for them... Using animals that are local to them help 
considerably.

The question I did not see asked, nor see a good explanation for 
would be this: "In this translation, how is the full deity and full 
manhood of Jesus shown? And how is the relationship between Jesus and 
God, which we so richly see relayed to us through the words 
'adoption', 'children of God', etc. portrayed so we see not only 
Jesus' role, but ours as part of His?" These missions are usually 
extremely careful about their translations. I do not think there is 
anything "magical" about the word "father" the same way as there is 
nothing magical about the word "bread" or "sheep". But there is 
something very important about the concepts involved and the theology 
behind it.

I have a brother who did a test once. The organization that my 
parents are with, Global Recordings, has audio materials in over 
6,000 languages and dialects. My brother took a bunch of Muslim 
gospel materials to one section of a city and handed them out, saying 
he was taking a survey about what people thought about them. He got 
his answer. He was yelled at, things were thrown at him, and he was 
chased off a few times. He said the folks that were most helpful were 
the ones that actually threw the casette tape back at him. The tape 
was stopped nearly at the same location every time. He took it to a 
Muslim friend of his and asked him to tell him what that point of the 
tape was talking about. If I remember correctly, it was one of those 
sections where Jesus was saying that he was the Son of God. (I will 
try to ask him if he remembers, but he is a little slow in 
responding, so this thread will probably be over with by the time I 
hear back from him.) His response was to craft a much different set 
of materials that was no less evangelistic, and no less true, but 
that did not shock the listeners immediately by slapping them over 
the head. It rather enticed them into listening, bring up points that 
were thought-provoking, had obvious truth to them, slightly 
argumentative, and finally, blatent. He had much better response to 
this new script.

So the question is this. Does Wycliffe still think it is being true 
to the Gospel, true to the nature of Jesus and God, and still 
containing the power of the scriptures with this translation? Anyone 
who has witnessed knows that the power of the Gospel is not in the 
words spoken. I have misquoted scriptures many times, and still had 
the Spirit of God touch a heart or mind. Our words are not what truly 
changes someone, but it is the Spirit of God working through us that 
does it. It is the same with the words on paper. If someone burns a 
Bible, God does not lose part of himself. God is still as powerful as 
ever; He is never-changing. God is not "contained in the Bible" in 
that He can only work through it's pages. God can use a "faulty 
translation" the same way He can use our pitiful attempts to express 
His love through our human actions.

It is important to stay true to His word, and to do our best. But I 
think only the people involved in the translation will be able to 
speak to the "why" and "how" questions. Until then, I will just have 
to trust that these people, who have put the Bible so faithfully into 
the languages of so many peoples, are doing their best to remain 
faithful even here. We just have a harder time understanding how they 
are doing it.

- Tim Young

On 2/3/2012 12:49 AM, Fred A. Miller wrote:
>
> Linda, I've satisfied myself that it IS true. Follow this lead.
>
> Fred
>
> Fact Check: Biblical Missiology’s Response To Wycliffe’s Comments 
> On “Lost In Translation” | Biblical Missiology
>
> http://biblicalmissiology.org/2012/01/16/fact-check-biblical-missiologys-response-to-wycliffes-comments-on-lost-in-translation/