Journal: Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal
Volume: DBSJ 11:1 (Fall 2006)
Article: Verbal-Plenary Inspiration and Translation
Author: Rodney J. Decker

DBSJ 11 (2006) p. 25

Verbal-Plenary Inspiration
and Translation

Rodney J. Decker1

Introduction

Multiple English translations of the Bible line the shelves of religious bookstores. Although a multiplicity of translations is nothing new in history, modern production and distribution technology as well as modern marketing systems in an affluent society have resulted in greater awareness of such diversity. How are we to assess such a situation? Is this boon or bane? Curse or blessing? Christian leaders have taken very diverse positions on such a query. Some decry the situation as unhealthy and are critical of all new translations. The more vociferous of such claims go so far as to attribute the new translations to diabolic influence. Others take a different tack and freely “mix-n-match” versions (to say nothing of paraphrases), as it seems to fit their fancy (or preferred interpretation) with little discernment of what is used. Neither approach is helpful. But somewhere in between those two poles there is still plenty of room for diversity of opinion.

As various translations have been evaluated, one item that is often assumed to be relevant has been the doctrine of inspiration. What is the relationship between one’s view of inspiration and one’s view of translation? Several related questions arise. Can a translation be described as “inspired” in any sense? Is it possible to translate a document in which the specific words of the original are inspired? If we believe in verbal plenary inspiration, then does that prescribe a specific method of translation, that is, one which reproduces each and every word of the original, donor text in the receptor language? Such questions are the subject of this article’s analysis.2 I shall begin with a summary of

DBSJ 11 (2006) p. 26

bibliology since a proper understanding of this doctrine is crucial to building any sort of argument from it to the questions of translation.

Defining the Terms
Terminology Related to Inspiration

The following terms are presented in the form of summaries and definitions; there is no attempt here to provide an exhaustive defense of each in the present paper.3

Revelation

We begin with the doctrine of revelation. We believe that God has chosen to give us (i.e., human beings) information that we could not know on our own recourse. That revelation comes in several different forms. It includes what we know about God from the created order—that there is an eternal, powerful Creator. It also includes the spoken message proclaime...