Covenanter Witness Vol. 86 - Rparchives.org

2. Phraseology. Hebrews 12:27 sustains precisephrases.3. Words. John 10:34,35 shows specific words areGod-given.4. Number. Galatians 3:16 shows that even asingular (not a plural) was God-breathed.5. Voice. Galatians 4:9 demonstrates that whether averb is active or passive reflects God's revealed will.6. Orthography. Matthew 5:18 demonstrates thateven the "dot on the i" and the corner, hook on the 'd' (inHebrew) were God-given.The Scriptural testimony surely supports thetranslation method whereby the English conforms even tothe smallest but most exact points of the originals.C. Scripture for ParaphraseNehemiah 8:8 is often cited in defense of theparaphrastic method, because it says the priests andLevites orally read God's Word enunciating clearly, and"gave the sense, so that they (the audience) understoodthe reading." Then it is affirmed, a paraphrase doesprecisely that, too.In counter, please note the Brown, Driver, BriggsHebrew Lexicon (the "standard" one today) says that theword sense should be rendered, "set forth the understanding(i.e., the meaning.)" It does not say, "Make upa meaning the paraphraser believes it means." The versesays, "Set forth" what God wrote. Then note too thathistorically the Jews had just returned from Babylon.History shows too that the common people had duringthat time forgotten the then "dead" Hebrew language,being raised on the current Aramaic. Therefore those who"set forth the meaning" were none other than "oraltranslators," transferring the unknown Hebrew Bible intothe common Aramaic language. That verse, consequently,does not necessarily give sufficient sanction for theprinciple of paraphrase. Besides the previous section inthis paper still needs careful consideration.Having examined the fundamental principles oftranslation and paraphrase, the next three parts evaluateKenneth Taylor's Living Bible, the American BibleSociety's Today's English Version, and a modern literaltranslation. The New American Standard Bible.(To be continued)CHRIST'SINTERCESSION"Illustrative of Christ's intercession is the famousstory of Amintas, who appeared as advocate for hisbrother Aeschylus, who was strongly accused and verylikely to lie condemned to die. Now Amintas havingperformed great services, and merited highly of thecommonwealth, in whose service one of his hands was cutoff in the field; he comes into the court in his brother'sbehalf, and said nothing, but only lifted up his arm andshewed them cubitam sine maner, an arm without a hand,*hich so moved them, that without a word speaking, theyfreed his brother immediately."Fla velHomespun VerseSARAH. ABRAHAM'S WIFEMrs. Myra Hart, 620E. Pine, Santa Ana, CaliThe Syrian maiden, SaraiLived in the long agoWhat do we know about her?Only some facts we know.Did she act like modern maidens?Sometimes bold and sometimes shy?Did she some way touch the heart stringsOf the casual passer by?Or was she fair and helpless?Did her man prefer them blonde?Did her faults serve to endear her?Did they but cement the bond?Was she a happy traveler?Did her form attract the eyes?Was her tent a place of romanceWhen pitched 'neath starry skies?Did she keep that girlish figure,And the skin you love to touch?Were her eyes still bright at ninety?I have wondered very much!!!We know: That love of husbandLed her far from native land —That through a long and unknown way,God led with outstretched hand.We know that she was fair of face,And had a fault or two:That her husband called her "sister,"A lie he lived to rue.We know that she was long deniedThe gift of motherhood,That she laughed at the angel messageAs in her tent she stood,That — being a human motherShe was so jealous for her childThat she drove her servant Hagar,And her child into the wild.Oh, we find her very human —(As between the lines we read)This pretty, faulty SarahMother of the Promised Seed.And if she sometimes doubted(Even as vou or I)God must have seen her faith increaseAs the long, long vears went bv.And who for the aged SarahWould speak a word of blame?For she lived to count full ninetv \ears'Ere the blessed babv came.APRIL 7, 19"1 9