*“If one translates a verse literally, he is a liar; if he adds thereto, he is a blasphemer, and a slanderer!” * - Rabbi Judah
When you hear the word "church,"
what's the first thing that comes to mind? What do you visualize?
Welcome to "The Curmudgeon's Bible."
Today, I'm going to highlight the annoying and misleading translation of one significant word from the bible.
This is a Church?
Photo courtesy of Ferdinand Stöhr and http://unsplash.com
My target today is the word "church."
While I admit that translators have a tough job, some of their failings seem inexcusable. I know enough Hebrew and Greek to be a dangerous curmudgeon.
In my not-so-humble opinion,
the word "church" does not belong in the bible.
How can I say this?
If you are like most, when I asked what picture the word "church" invokes, you thought of a building. Perhaps a fancy one with a steeple, or a cross on top?
The sad truth is that the words most translations convert to the English word "church" have nothing to do with a building.
I suppose it started with the 1599 Geneva Bible and the Wycliffe Bible translations, both of which use the word "church," a word with Germanic roots.
Both versions translate the Hebrew word קָהָל as "church," while more modern translations typically render it "congregation." Probably for theological reasons, the same more modern translations don't carry that reasonable approach forward into the New Testament.
In Greek, the New Testament word principally translated "church" is the Greek word εκκλησία. The word as defined in the Strongs Concordance means "a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation." Virtually all modern translations render the word into English as "church."
This is just plain wrong.
Why is it wrong? The modern English speaker is given the distinct impression that the bible is talking about a building, when in reality it is talking about a gathering of people. It is also wrong because there are several quite serviceable English words that could be used instead. The words assembly, congregation, and gathering come to mind. Even group or convocation would be better.
Are there any translations that have gotten it right?
Once again, there are some clear winners.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT) avoids the word "church." So does the Jubilee Bible 2000. Neither translation contains the word "church." Not even once!
This is a Gathering...
Photo courtesy of Benny Jackson and http://unsplash.com
Today's conclusion?
If you're going to claim to be a "translation" of the bible, then translate! Use a word or words that preserve as much as possible of the original meaning of the word that you are translating.
In today's example, "church" has little or nothing to do with the original meaning of the biblical words. It misleads and gives the wrong impression. It is not a translation. Rather, it perpetuates a tradition, and does not belong in any contemporary English version of the bible.
More from the Curmudgeon:
Jesus and Nicodemus
Second Thessalonians Chapter 1
The Word "Church"
The Word "Angel"
FIN
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