Francis Turretin handles not a few topics that other systematic theologies might leave out (including the legitimacy of the Septuagint and Vulgate versions of Scripture). I'm intrigued that he relates some thoughts on the nature of Bible translation:
"All versions are the streams; the original text is the fountain whence they flow. The latter is the rule, the former the thing ruled, having only human authority. Nevertheless all authority must not be denied to versions. Here we must carefully distinguish a twofold divine authority: one of things, the other of words. The former relates to the substance of doctrine which constitutes the internal form of the Scriptures. The latter relates to the accident of writing, the external and accidental form. The source has both, being God-inspired (theopneustos) both as to words and things; but versions have only the first, being expressed in human and not in divine words." (Institutes of Elenctic Theology, vol. 1, pp. 125-26)
First, I think Turretin appropriately walks a fine line as to the question of scriptural authenticity. Speaking as someone involved in Greek tutoring, I get concerned both when I sense a student is being flippant about the study of the biblical languages and also when a person who doesn't have the chance to study them says sadly that they've heard about how wide and long and high and deep is the Greek text and how lame our English translations are. To the former I want to say with Turretin, "Study hard 'the fountain whence [the versions] flow!'" To the latter I want to say with Turretin, "[A]ll authority must not be denied to the versions!" (Or, better syntactically, "Not all authority must be denied to the versions!")
Second, what should we make of Bible translation strategies today? If it's impossible fully to capture the "accidental form" of Hebrew and Greek passages (we have no choice if we're going from one language to another), should formal equivalence geeks (including this blogger) lighten up a bit? What do you think?
Showing posts with label Word of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Word of God. Show all posts
Friday, September 4, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Must-Read Book about The Book
For thoughtful Christians, especially those called upon to preach, teach, and theologize with some facility, Timothy Ward's Words of Life: Scripture as the Living and Active Word of God (IVP) is a must-read book. I try not to tout just any book in this way, but Ward's latest on Scripture is a gem. It endeavors to outline God's relationship to the Bible in a biblical, lucid manner and it opens up exciting windows into the nature of Scripture and the ministry of the word of God.
The book unfolds in four major sections. First, Ward embarks on an exegetical quest to uncover what Scripture says about its own relationship to God. Second, he treats the relationship of Scripture to God in systematic-theological mode, mapping out how each person of the Trinity involves himself with the Holy Writ. Third, Ward carefully sketches the traditional attributes of Scripture: necessity, sufficiency, clarity, and authority. Fourth, and finally, he connects the doctrine to the life of the church, not least to the pulpit.
Here are two highlights:
1) Ward proposes that God invests himself in his word, which is therefore a mode of his presence (what he calls God's "semantic presence"). Does this proposal forge a theological path through the Barthian-Carl Henrian fissure by retaining an emphasis on both revelation as God's own presence toward human beings and the Bible as a locus of revelation? See esp. pp. 66-67, 73.
2) Ward judiciously re-presents the doctrine of inerrancy, locating it under the scriptural attribute of authority. He cannot but call it a "natural implication" of verbal inspiration, but he places it within the context of more central themes, not least because it can pertain to just the Bible's propositions, which constitute just one facet of divine covenantal communication in and through Scripture. In addition, he agrees with John Woodbridge and others who deny that the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture was first cooked up at Old Princeton. On the contrary, says Ward, it has been present materially throughout church history, though the terminology was popularized in the 19th century.
There is a taste. Comments welcome!
The book unfolds in four major sections. First, Ward embarks on an exegetical quest to uncover what Scripture says about its own relationship to God. Second, he treats the relationship of Scripture to God in systematic-theological mode, mapping out how each person of the Trinity involves himself with the Holy Writ. Third, Ward carefully sketches the traditional attributes of Scripture: necessity, sufficiency, clarity, and authority. Fourth, and finally, he connects the doctrine to the life of the church, not least to the pulpit.
Here are two highlights:
1) Ward proposes that God invests himself in his word, which is therefore a mode of his presence (what he calls God's "semantic presence"). Does this proposal forge a theological path through the Barthian-Carl Henrian fissure by retaining an emphasis on both revelation as God's own presence toward human beings and the Bible as a locus of revelation? See esp. pp. 66-67, 73.
2) Ward judiciously re-presents the doctrine of inerrancy, locating it under the scriptural attribute of authority. He cannot but call it a "natural implication" of verbal inspiration, but he places it within the context of more central themes, not least because it can pertain to just the Bible's propositions, which constitute just one facet of divine covenantal communication in and through Scripture. In addition, he agrees with John Woodbridge and others who deny that the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture was first cooked up at Old Princeton. On the contrary, says Ward, it has been present materially throughout church history, though the terminology was popularized in the 19th century.
There is a taste. Comments welcome!
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