How My Observation Changed an Active Bible Translation
Cool Translation Moment
Hi, friends! I wanted to share a fascinating experience that happened to me recently. While recording a video yesterday focusing on Romans 12:1 and how different reading-level targets impact various translations, I unexpectedly influenced a translation currently in progress. A friend of mine is working on a brand-new translation, and as I delved deeper into the Greek text, I noticed that higher reading-level editions carefully capture the concept of agency and include the phrase "through the mercies of God."
Since my friend had previously shared a draft with me—and because we share a passion for rigorous translation philosophies—I wanted to cross-reference how his version tackled this specific passage.
Romans 12 Reading Levels
When I reviewed his text, I noticed that phrase was missing. Wondering whether I was missing a textual variant, I reached out out of curiosity rather than critique. His reply completely surprised me! He acknowledged it as an oversight, noting how even ancient scribes occasionally missed lines when copying manuscripts. Modern translators are human, too, and oversight happens easily when working through large sections solo.
He mentioned he would correct the verse right after returning from a speaking engagement. Who knows? Maybe this moment will result in a footnote with my name on it—time will tell!
Why Words Matter
This experience reinforced why precision and careful word choice matter so much in Bible translation. Every word was chosen deliberately, and honoring those nuances across different reading levels is vital to effective discipleship. While I certainly didn't expect to directly impact an active translation project this way, it highlights the real-world value of digging into textual analysis and translation philosophy.
Book and Resources
If you enjoy exploring the mechanics behind how our English texts are put together, check out the links in the description or the end screen. My book, "Why Does My Bible Say?", takes a deep dive into differences across major English translations, examining vocabulary, readability, grammar, syntax, and textual variants.
Right now, I'm wrapping up my next book project and will soon begin laying the groundwork for the next volume, which will focus on the book of Jude.
Live Q&A Invite
I'd love for you to join me for a live Q&A stream this Saturday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 Central Time. Whether you want to talk about Bible translation nuances, cult dynamics, or how biblical principles shape our daily lives, bring your questions! We've also started exploring attachment theory on the channel, so I'm eager to jump into all your questions live.
Looking forward to catching up with everyone online this Saturday!