Bible Connection Podcast: The Words of God
Translating the ancient biblical languages—Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek—into language that can be understood by current readers has been the work of scholars for ages. In this episode, Drs. W. Hall Harris and Daniel B. Wallace talk about how and why they started a new translation, the New English Translation (NET) of the Bible in the 1990s. Along the way, they reveal some of the challenges translators have faced as they, like many before, have worked carefully to accurately convey the Word of God.
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The NET Translators
Today’s translators, such as Dallas Theological Seminary scholars Dr. W. Hall Harris and Dr. Daniel B. Wallace, continue this responsibility. But today’s technology has allowed for a new approach used by these scholars in the NET Bible project that provides an unprecedented glimpse into the translation process. Their work gives an even deeper understanding and appreciation not only for this Bible translation, but of the decisions other translators have made, even back to the days of Tyndale.
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Learn More About the NET Bible with This Panel Discussion]
In this episode of Bible Connection, Hall and Dan tell the story about the NET Bible project, and how key decisions were made to allow everyone to virtually look over the shoulder of leading biblical language scholars and understand the Scriptures more clearly.
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, NET Bible Available in Full-Notes Print Editions]
Excerpts from This Podcast
“The beta testing has been one of the things that really set the NET Bible apart, because we were being open with outsiders to see the decisions we were making and getting criticisms and comments. I believe we got about 1 million comments.”
“The issue you’re facing is not just what does the Bible [in the original language] say, but how can we say that in our own language that honestly and faithfully reflects the original text.”
“The NET’s notes give you an unparalleled window back into the world of the text as it was originally written and originally understood by the earliest audiences.”
“One of our goals from the very beginning was to increase the level of biblical literacy.”
“It’s important for Christians today to recognize how serious we should take the Bible because in recent decades, Scripture has become marginalized. I would love to see the NET Bible be used of God to bring people back to the Scriptures so they can magnify Jesus Christ—the real Jesus—the One of the Bible.”
Featured Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NET)
And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.
Episode Links:
Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts
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Recommended Bible Resource: NET Bible
Ever feel lost in translation? With the new NET Bible and translator notes, you don’t need to be. Modern readers can find it challenging to connect with the ancient words and cultural contexts of the biblical writers. The NET offers a completely new solution: pairing a readable, everyday English translation with the largest set of translators’ notes ever created for a Bible. The NET’s 60,000 notes bring complete transparency to every major translation decision and invite you to look over the translators’ shoulders, allowing you to come to your own understanding of the Scriptures. It is an indispensable resource for every Bible reader.
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