{"id":929,"date":"2021-06-10T21:42:17","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T21:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=929"},"modified":"2024-01-17T01:17:27","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T01:17:27","slug":"why-it-makes-sense-to-examine-a-plurality-of-english-translations-romans-228-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/?p=929","title":{"rendered":"Why It Makes Sense to Examine a Plurality of English Translations – Romans 2:28-29"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve known folks who will defend to their death that an English translation per se<\/em> is the inspired Word of God.  Well, I\u2019ve got news for those folks.  An English translation is merely that, a translation.  A translation is not an autograph.  Let\u2019s face it, English translations differ, and sometimes those differences have consequences.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at one example by Dr. Bill Mounce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ROMANS 2:28-29 \u2013 DR. MOUNCE\u2019S OBSERVATIONS ABOUT JEWS AND CIRCUMCISION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an article entitled \u201c\u2019 Real\u2019 Circumcision (Rom 2:28-19 (sic<\/em>: 29)\u201d [link: \u201cReal\u201d Circumcision (Rom 2:28\u201319) | billmounce.com<\/a>], Dr. Mounce observes that sometimes translations add some significant words that are absent from the Greek text.  As we will see, these words have ramifications.  Referring to Romans 2:28-29[i]<\/a>, he writes (boldfacing added):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There is no Greek word behind \u201creal\u201d or \u201ctrue,\u201d neither as an actual word or one implied by the grammar. It just isn\u2019t there.<\/em> I\u2019m not sure why the RSV inserted them into their translation. Perhaps it was out of deference to Jewish readers. Perhaps they felt a conflict between what Paul was saying and the reality that there are physical descendants of Abraham called \u201cJews\u201d and there is a physical act called \u201ccircumcision.\u201d But Paul didn\u2019t feel the conflict; he was radically re-defining what \u201cJew\u201d and \u201ccircumcision\u201d mean.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

To gain a better understanding of the issue, I looked at a Greek-English interlinear Bible.[ii]<\/a>  A PDF of the interlinear Bible is at the link https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Romans-2-28-29-Scan-Interlinear-Bible-283.pdf<\/a> .  A careful look at the text does not reveal any words that justify adding the words \u201creal\u201d and \u201ctrue\u201d consistent with Dr. Mounce\u2019s comments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the sake of completeness, the first English translation referred to by Dr. Mounce was the Revised Standard Version (RSV), and it reads (italics and boldface added):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Romans 2:28-29 (RSV) – 28<\/sup> For he is not a real<\/em> <\/strong>Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true<\/em><\/strong> circumcision something external and physical. 29<\/sup> He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real<\/em><\/strong> circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but from God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

You will notice that \u201creal\u201d modifies the first occurrence of \u201cJew\u201d and the second occurrence of \u201ccircumcision.\u201d  The word \u201creal\u201d modifies the first occurrence of the word \u201ccircumcision.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Mounce\u2019s conclusion establishes that adding words can make a difference (boldface added):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Paul is radically redefining what circumcision is, and most of the translations, most of the time, soften what he says. Paul knows there are physical descendants of Abraham, and he knows there is a physical act called \u201ccircumcision,\u201d but he is not concerned with that. He wants to make the point as clearly as possible that being a \u201cJew\u201d and being \u201ccircumcised\u201d are issues of faith.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

As Paul clearly states elsewhere, I (Bill Mounce, a Gentile) am as much a child of Abraham and an inheritor of God\u2019s promises as is anyone, regardless of their ethnic heritage.<\/strong> As Paul told the Galatians, \u201cUnderstand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham…. So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.\u201d (Gal 3:7, 9).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

ROMANS 2:28-29 \u2013 DIGGING JUST A LITTLE DEEPER ON MY OWN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I dug a little bit deeper by looking at the NASB95, THE ESV, and THE HCSB translations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NASB95 Translation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Dr. Mounce points out, the NASB95 presents a more accurate translation because it does not insert any words in these verses.  Romans 2:28\u201329 (NASB95) reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

28<\/sup> For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29<\/sup> But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The ESV Translation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I often use the English Standard Version (ESV) translation.  The ESV imports \u201cmerely\u201d into v. 28, and it reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Romans 2:28\u201329 (ESV) [emphasis added] – 28<\/sup> For no one is a Jew who is merely<\/em><\/strong> one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29<\/sup> But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

With the interlinear in mind, there does not appear to be a compelling reason to import \u201cmerely.\u201d  But, it does not change the message in Dr. Mounce\u2019s words that Steve is \u201cas much a child of Abraham and an inheritor of God\u2019s promises as is anyone, regardless of their ethnic heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HCSB Translation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The HCSB translation of Romans 2:28\u201329 reads [emphasis added]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

28<\/sup> For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true <\/em><\/strong>circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29<\/sup> On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart\u2014by the Spirit, not the letter. That man\u2019s praise is not from men but from God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The HCSB adds the word \u201ctrue\u201d before the Greek noun peritom\u0113 <\/em>[circumcision] even though there is no corresponding word in Greek.  The HCSB does not employ any words that modify the second occurrence of the word \u201ccircumcision.\u201d  Like with the ESV, including the word \u201ctrue\u201d does not seem to change the message that Steve is \u201cas much a child of Abraham and an inheritor of God\u2019s promises as is anyone, regardless of their ethnic heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Input from Commentaries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One commentator[iii]<\/a> appears to support the position that :real\u201d and \u201ctrue\u201d are not necessary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

2:28\u201329 In the last paragraph of chap. 2 Paul summarized what it meant to be a real Jew and what kind of circumcision was considered authentic. People were not Jews if their Jewishness was no more than outward appearance. Going through the ceremonial activities of Judaism did not make a person a Jew. And real circumcision was not that which was merely external and physical. A person was a Jew only if he or she was one inwardly. The circumcision that counted was a circumcision of the heart (cf. Deut 30:6). Real circumcision was the work of the Spirit. It did not come through the mechanical observance of the written code. Authentic Jewishness was inward and spiritual. Authentic circumcision was the cutting away of the old sinful nature. It could be accomplished only by the sanctifying Spirit of God. Those who had experienced it received their praise from God, not from others.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another commentator[iv]<\/a> presents the following translation of vv. 28-29:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Translation. For, not he who is so in outward fashion is a Jew, nor even that which is in an outward fashion in flesh is circumcision. But he who is so in the sphere of the inner man is a Jew, and circumcision is of the heart in the sphere of the spirit, not in the sphere of the letter, concerning whom the praise is not from man but from God.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Nothing in this translation justifies the importation of \u201creal\u201d and \u201crue\u201d into Romans 2:28-29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CONCLUSION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The translation you read and study can make a difference.  Therefore, in New Testament study, it is beneficial to look behind the English to the Greek. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the way, like me, you don\u2019t have to know Greek to try to examine the original language because there are so many Greek language helps available.  But, one huge caution is unless you know koine <\/em>Greek, please be aware that you really do not know koine<\/em> Greek and so make certain to verify any of your findings with resources by experts (like Dr. Mounce) who know the language.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, unless God intervenes, your eternal destination is hell.  But, your destiny can change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today can be the day of your salvation!  Please see my blog (https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/2020\/04\/20\/for-god-so-loves-you-2\/<\/a>) for a description of how you can be saved.  You can also go to another article at my blog (https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/2020\/10\/20\/there-is-hope-even-when-there-seems-to-be-no-hope-2\/<\/a> ). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please send me any comments to steve@stevebelsheim.com<\/a> or use the comments feature of the blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS – I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best not to violate any copyright rights other authors and publishers possess in their works.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or \u201cfair use\u201d is available and to secure direct permission for specific works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  The quotations from news sources are fair use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible\u00ae, Used by Permission HCSB \u00a91999,2000,2002,2003,2009 Holman Bible Publishers. Holman Christian Standard Bible\u00ae, Holman CSB\u00ae, and HCSB\u00ae are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked \u201cRSV\u201d or \u201cNRSV\u201d are from Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright \u00a9 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNCV\u201d is taken from the New Century Version. Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scriptures marked \u201cNET\u201d are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae  http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cGW\u201d is taken from the God\u2019s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

[i]<\/a> After pointing out the RSV, Dr. Mounce then refers to the revised RSV (NRSV), which imports words when it reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Romans 2:28\u201329 (NRSV) – 28<\/sup> For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true <\/em><\/strong>circumcision something external and physical. 29<\/sup> Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real<\/em><\/strong> circumcision is a matter of the heart\u2014it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Mounce congratulates the NASB95, KVJ and NET translations for an accurate translation.  As an example, Romans 2:28\u201329 (NASB95) reads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28<\/sup> For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29<\/sup> But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[ii]<\/a> Harris, W. H., III. (2010). The Lexham Greek-English Interlinear New Testament: SBL Edition<\/em><\/a> (Ro 2:28\u201329). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[iii]<\/a> Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, pp. 102\u2013103). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[iv]<\/a> Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest\u2019s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader<\/em><\/a> (Vol. 2, p. 51). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve known folks who will defend to their death that an English translation per se is the inspired Word of God.  Well, I\u2019ve got news for those folks.  An English translation is merely that, a translation.  A translation is not an autograph.  Let\u2019s face it, English translations differ, and sometimes those differences have consequences.    […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[321],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-study"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=929"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/929\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2115,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/929\/revisions\/2115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}