Please see attachments for reading. This assignment requires a Christian protective. The work is from a Christian College.
WEEK 1 OVERVIEW:
Here is a provocative question: How is the Christian view of our Bible different than the Mormon view of the Book of Mormon or the Islamic view of the Koran? On first glance, each of the world’s major faith traditions adheres to a sacred book. They use terms like inspired, perfect, and the Word of God to describe their holy book. On close look, however, the Christian approach to our sacred text is quite different. These other examples are penned by one author. Their origins are simple and singular. The Bible and its origins are much more complex.
Written in three languages, by dozens of authors, in many cultural contexts, across a thousand years of time, the Bible comes to us as a library from the past. But how were these 66 books selected? Were there other books that did not make the cut? Who decided which books would comprise the Bible? What criteria were these decisions based on? These questions are increasingly common in western societies, so we begin our study with an overview of the origins of the Bible.
WEEK 1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Analyze the history of the Bible from its time of writing until its translation into modern English.
2. Understand the role of textual criticism in the production of the English Bible.
3. Identify the process and decisions that have produced the spectrum of biblical translations.
4. Articulate the difference between formal equivalence vs. dynamic equivalence with regard to biblical translations.
Below is the assignment work to be completed:
Part 1: The Bible Emerges
1. In consultation with chapter 16 in the Witherington reading, Understanding the Bible: Did the Canon Misfire? answer the following:
1. Describe the concept and formation of the Old Testament canon.
2. Chart out the development of the New Testament. What were the key historical markers and criteria that resulted in the selection of its 27 books?
2. How does knowing about the formation of the Bible affect your confidence in its reliability?
Part 2: The Translation Process
1. In consultation with Chapter 2 in: How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, explain the role that each of these terms plays in the translation process.
1. Textual Criticism
2. Formal Equivalence
3. Functional Equivalence
2. What are some challenges to the translation process that Fee outlines?
3. What is your preferred translation and why? How has this week’s reading illuminated your understanding of your preferred translation?
