By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-07-29T18:05:05-04:00July 29th, 2026|Tags: Ancient Writings, Translation Issues|
When we think about early Christian monks and nuns, we often imagine illiterate men and women whose lives are devoted to prayer, solitude, and spiritual discipline. But how did these communities learn? An interview with Dr. Lillian Larsen
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-07-07T04:10:47-04:00May 19th, 2026|Tags: Demons, Hebrew Bible, Old Testament, Translation Issues|
This discussion will focus on Lilith, who is arguably the most feared demon in the history of Judaism. We give some basic overview of her key features, such as the long-held view that she attacks pregnant women and their children, and also examine her appearance in the biblical tradition. Oddly for a demon who is so important in Judaism, she only appears once in the Hebrew Bible—Isaiah 34:14. An interview with Dr. Matthew Goff
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2025-03-25T04:58:26-04:00December 17th, 2024|Tags: Ancient Writings, Apocrypha, Early Christian Texts, Extracanonical Texts, Nag Hammadi, Noncanonical Texts, Translation Issues|
When people begin to realize the treasures of the Nag Hammadi Library, the Gospel of Mary, and other extracanonical writings, they'll be happy to find more English translations to read on two excellent websites. An interview with Mark M. Mattison and Rachel Bousfield.
By Dr. Erin K. Vearncombe|2024-06-07T03:48:06-04:00October 25th, 2023|Tags: Early Jesus Followers, Gospel of Thomas, New Testament, Translation Issues|
'Disciple' takes Jesus, his teachings and his followers out of their social context and into a much later realm of church, of doctrine, and of Christianity. Jesus’s followers were pupils, learners, those who sought the acquisition of knowledge.
By Shirley Paulson, PhD|2026-03-24T01:12:09-04:00August 2nd, 2023|Tags: Ancient Writings, Gospel of Matthew, Gospels, Translation Issues|
This is a piece of parchment, animal skin, that was re-written not just once, but twice, with later texts. The first layer, the underlayer that is Matthew is written in Syriac, which is a form of Aramaic. An Interview with Dr. Jeremiah Coogan
By Dr. B. Brandon Scott|2024-12-30T07:12:36-05:00April 26th, 2023|Tags: Bible, Genesis, Hebrew Bible, Old Testament, Translation Issues|
The Hebrew Bible as originally created "was meant to be heard, not read silently. By reading it aloud you will discover, even feel, its rhythm. This text demands performance."
By Dr. B. Brandon Scott|2023-03-12T00:56:55-05:00March 13th, 2023|Tags: Bible, Hebrew Bible, Translation Issues|
Whatever translation you’re using, switch to another. You will gain a new point of view on your favorite scriptures. A switch will remind you that translations are not THE BIBLE, but versions of the Bible.
By Dr. B. Brandon Scott|2022-12-28T09:06:33-05:00December 28th, 2022|Tags: Biblical Violence, Gospel of Matthew, Magic, Nativity Story, Translation Issues|
This story [of the magi] encapsulates major themes of Matthew’s gospel. It prepares a reader for the story’s ending in the tragedy of Jesus’ execution. Sacred geography has been reordered.
By Dr. B. Brandon Scott|2022-11-30T07:28:16-05:00November 30th, 2022|Tags: Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Thomas, Translation Issues|
“The (Father’s) empire is inside you and outside you.” The various performances of the right answer suggest the oral tradition had a hard time finding the gist for the correct answer.
By Dr. B. Brandon Scott|2026-03-24T01:05:25-04:00July 20th, 2022|Tags: Gospel of Mark, New Testament, Translation Issues|
Looking over my shoulder as I translate gives you some idea of the many decisions that must be made to reach a good translation.
By Dr. B. Brandon Scott|2022-06-12T16:10:30-04:00June 15th, 2022|Tags: Bible, Fundamentalism, Translation Issues|
A translation can become fixed, immutable, and sacred. … All too often a translation becomes an idol. Bible translations tend to become THE BIBLE for a community and substitute for the original languages.
By Dr. B. Brandon Scott|2022-05-06T09:22:39-04:00May 11th, 2022|Tags: Gospel of Luke, Parables, Thecla, Translation Issues|
The elder is not simply a son; he is the father’s child, … In the terms of first century cultural expectations, the observant reader will notice that this father is playing the role of a mother.
