One of the greatest problems confronting the missionary in certain heathen lands is that of translating the word of God into the language of the people for whom he labors. Wherever Seventh-day Adventists work, the desire to study the word of God is always stimulated. This fact was observed a few years ago in the report of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Attention was called to the greatly increased sale of Bibles in Rumania, due in a large measure to the untiring efforts of Seventh-day Adventist ministers, colporteurs, and church members, which efforts, as the report stated, made the Bible known widely in Rumania as "the Adventist Book."
The translator of God's word takes upon himself many responsibilities. A new translation is likely to mold the language of the whole region where it is used. Therefore, all the available scientific and linguistic talent should be secured to help in the task. Then there is the problem of accuracy or precision of translation. Leading Bible Societies, like the American, British, and German, have worked out quite a number of rules for translators, which almost invariably insist that the Greek original (for the New Testament) must be the basis of the translation. This is a wise rule. It protects the translator against the danger of injecting into certain texts his own private or denominational interpretation. The Greek original determines what word is to be used, whether he approves it or not. Many an animated discussion in translating committees has been ended by appealing to the Greek text.
Another important principle is that expressed by Paul when he writes to the Corinthians, "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." One illustration will make this clear: Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed. He chose that particular seed because it was best fitted to illustrate His point, and because its peculiarities were well known to His audience. You cannot explain something your hearers do not fully understand, by using an illustration which they do not at all comprehend. Yet many translators felt they must use the precise word (the "letter") "mustard seed," even in countries where the people had never seen a mustard seed, and when they had no conception of the foreign word that of necessity had to be used by the translator. Had he felt free to make reference to a similar kind of seed with the characteristics of the mustard seed, and well known to the people, he could have done so without violating the sacredness of the Holy Writ. On the contrary, he would have preserved its spirit.
Space does not permit us to speak of many other translating problems.
We are grateful to the Bible Societies which in a true Christian spirit of responsibility foster and finance this work, and with great carefulness guard the purity of God's Book. In spite of this, errors have crept into some versions, and these versions have in turn become so firmly established in the affections of the people that they obviously cannot be eliminated without great difficulty.
One of these erroneous translations is that of "the Lord's day," appearing in Revelation 1:10: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." In many Latin versions "Lord's day" is rendered "Sunday." Last November the General Conference appointed a small committee to study this matter, and the following action, which was prepared by Professor Howell and passed by the General Conference Committee, was sent to the American as well as the British and Foreign Bible Society. It will doubtless be of interest to all our workers:
"Whereas, The translation of the Greek phrase kuriake hemera in Revelation 1:10 is misleading as it appears in the text of most of the Spanish, Italian, and French Bibles distributed by the American Bible Society and the British and Foreign Bible Society; and,
"Whereas, The rendering of this phrase is misleading to the average reader because it employs an ancient word for 'Lord' that is universally used to designate Sunday in the common secular calendar, and is understood by the ordinary reader to mean Sunday rather than Lord; and,
"Whereas, The word 'Lord' is rendered elsewhere in the New Testament by Seitior in the Spanish, Signore in Italian, and Seigneur in the French—terms universally understood in modern times to mean our Lord Jesus Christ; and,
"Whereas, It is always and everywhere desirable to have the translation of the Holy Scriptures adhere as faithfully to the original as the common usages of languages allow, to the end that the common people as they read may obtain the very truth indited by the Holy Spirit; therefore,
"Resolved, That we very respectfully request the British and Foreign Bible Society and the American Bible Society to give attention to an improved translation of the Greek phrase kuriake hemera in Revelation 1:10 by a more modern and accurate rendering, at the earliest time consistent with the policies of the society."
Dr. Eric North, secretary of the American Bible Society, sends the following friendly reply, which gives assurance that when the time for a general revision of said translations has come, our objections will be carefuLy considered. Dr. North writes:
"The spirit and expression of your letter of December 5 and the resolution of the Executive Committee of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists which you inclose, are clear and commendable and much appreciated.
"I shall be happy to report this to our committee, and let you know in due course of their response."
Washington, D. C.
