importance. They have been thought to have universal meaning. For example, I don’t know if you are used to saying JOHN 3:16 the same way I am,
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Traditional biblical translations are important, and we shouldn’t ignore them; they are important for our Christian community. But songwriters need to remember that whosoever isn’t a common word in English today. Neither is begotten. And neither is perish. In fact, this verse in its traditional language requires a working knowledge of senior high English. Which is okay if you’re educated and know what the words mean. However, its poetic beauty can also be a barrier to understanding. Missionaries of the previous generations did everything they could to remove the barriers to understanding and make the Bible plain and clear. For example, John Wycliffe translated the Vulgate in 1382 into common English. Also, William Tyndale was executed in 1536—but not before igniting a commitment to a vernacular English translation of the Word. In response, fortytwo scholars successfully launched the King James Version of the Bible in 1611, written in “Middle English” with sponsorship of the King. The same version that was so revolutionary for the sixteen hundreds has been re-translated back into common English today in innumerable versions. As we enter a new decade, there is a tension to be held in reviving both the creativity of the previous generations and
Translation isn’t just about making the complicated simple…It’s about making sure the receiver understands what’s being said. their faithfulness to the Word. There is a call to become God’s translators. New languages, new cultures and subcultures are emerging. Many of them have little or no biblical literacy. Yes, even (and especially) in the Western world. Let’s not ignite old debates over musical structure and syntax (or hymn versus the chorus!), but let’s think again about how to communicate the “Gospel Truth of old” to the people that haven’t yet heard the message. Translation isn’t just about making the complicated simple. Complexity can be conveyed via communication. It’s about making sure the receiver understands what’s being said. There have never been more resources than what we have at our fingertips right now in our smartphone to do it, either.
BY
TA N YA R I C H E S
SENIOR LECTURER, MASTERS PROGRAM COORDINATOR AT HILLSONG COLLEGE
Tanya co-leads the research pillar at The Centre for Disability Studies, an affiliate of the University of Sydney.
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