Explore the nuances of a pivotal verse that has sparked debate among scholars and believers alike. Discover the truth behind the text.
How Should John 8:58 Be Translated?
Why Is the Bible Different From Other Great Books?
It may not take much to convince you of the premise of this chapter. The Bible is, after all, the Bible. But literal translation has no claim to priority unless the individual words of the Bible are very important.
The Basics of the Bible Translation Process
While I cannot address this subject at length, it needs to be addressed, to lay the foundation for you, the reader. My approach here is to assume that you have no knowledge of Bible translation issues, or the process of translating from the Original Languages (OL) of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, into what we call the Receptor Language (RL), such as English. However, this does not mean that we will pass over all the elements of this subject because some of them are essential to the issues of literal translation.
APPENDIX 1 Principles of Bible Translation for the Updated American Standard Version
The Old Testament was originally written in ancient Hebrew and Aramaic, while the New Testament was written in what is known as Koine Greek, namely, common Greek. The Bible has been translated into at least hundreds of other languages, possibly as many as 2,600.
The Book of Malachi
The Book of Malachi, also called The Prophecy of Malachias, the last of 12 books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) that bear the names of the Minor Prophets, grouped together as the Twelve in the Jewish canon. The book of Malachi helps in understanding the unchanging principles and merciful love of God.
The Revelation of John
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament, and consequently is also the final book of the Christian Bible. Its title is derived from the first word of the Koine Greek text: apokalypsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation." John authored this book on the island of Patmos about 96 C.E.
