Comments on: Falling through the NETS

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:09:08 +0000

FYI: Kevin Edgecomb just posted that the NETS is available online: http://www.bombaxo.com/blog/?p=1365

By: s-p

s-p — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:28:42 +0000

I always fall back on Mark Twain’s comment:
“Its not the parts of the Bible that I don’t understand that give me problems, its the parts I DO understand.” The nuances of textual criticism of the LXX vs. Masoretic OT MIGHT nuance my Christian walk, but in the end, the “red letter” texts of the Gospels are the end game, and there’s not a lot of variants that make much difference in those.

By: jamesthethickheaded

jamesthethickheaded — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:38:39 +0000

I agree with your priest… and keep telling myself this… but my head won’t let go of the possibility that I’m dealing with a wobbly text somehow. I know it’s nuts… but there you are and seems like they’re lots out there that’ll feed this beast. So in practice… I think I’m collecting all the texts you mentioned! LOL! I’ve still got a soft spot for the KJV…’cause it’s the language I know best, grew up with, etc…. but I’m trying to do the Septuagint, and things do pop out you might miss otherwise… and it’s coming along.

And then I have a collection of Psalters.. trying to get one that’s both handy and “does the trick”. I’m finding I tend to go with the Holy Transfiguration Monastery version.

I think your note on getting some separate commentaries is a good one, too. I’ll need a librarian before I’m done!

But you’re right about just going with anything… it’s gonna work than waiting around for something better. I’ve enjoyed your posts on NETS translation… and had corresponded with Kevin Edgecombe on it, too. Put it on the birthday list… but I think folks look at the collection and think: “Another one? He must really be nuts!” and they’re right.

Thanks for stopping by.

By: orrologion

orrologion — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:23:14 +0000

I agree that the search for the best Bible text usually turns into a lack of reading any Bible at all. This is a problem.

My priest said to read any translation as long as it isn’t some weird one. That is, read one of the mainstream ones and not one prepared by some random guy publishing out of his basement.

I don’t think there is anything necessarily wrong for the average lay reader in using the NRSV, though the RSV would be better. The KJV seems to be the most reliable from an Orthodox standpoint, but some really can’t decode the English, so the NKJV seems to be a good update for the average American (Brits seem to find it a particularly ‘American’ update, don’t know why). Even an NIV or an ESV are likely acceptable. Really, any Bible but a weirdo translation is OK.

Of course, if you have questions due to a particular passage, asking your priest and checking other translations is probably in order.

The main thing: read the Bible. Once that habit’s been learned, then, and only then, can bother be had regarding translation.