Principles and Practices of Bible Translation

Abstract

John F. Brug presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating and producing Bible translations, emphasizing faithfulness to the original text’s meaning, style, and emotional impact. He outlines eighteen principles guiding translators, including doctrinal accuracy, consistency in terminology, sensitivity to literary style, and appropriate use of euphemism. Brug critiques both overly literal and overly dynamic approaches, advocating for a balanced method that respects biblical idioms and theological nuance. He illustrates these principles with extensive comparisons of modern translations, highlighting how doctrinal biases, gender language, and cultural assumptions can distort meaning. The study guide expands on the presentation with detailed examples and discussion questions, making it a valuable resource for translators, pastors, and lay readers. Brug concludes that no translation is perfect, but careful adherence to scriptural principles and linguistic integrity can produce versions that faithfully serve the church’s mission. Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4).