A THOUGHT ABOUT TRANSLITERATION

It has been said that "Transliteration hides God's message." "Transliteration" refers to a translation process that simply converts the letters of one language into the letters of another--without actually translating the word itself. Examples of transliteration are "baptize," "hades," and "Amen." Those opposing transliteration probably have noble motives. However, their arguments do not provide an accurate portrayal of the case. They appear to assume there are always established words that convey the fulness of the idea being communicated by the Lord. This, however, is not at all the case.

There are a number of words that simply cannot be fully defined from a dictionary, or other linguistic source. The Holy Spirit took common speech and invested it with unique and spiritual significance. Expressions like "Lamb of God," "body of Christ," "the blood of Christ," and "the old serpent," cannot be satisfactorily explained etymologically. Their explanation is found in the DOCTRINE of Scripture, not a dictionary or lexicon.

When Jesus, for example, spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:54-56), He said something that could neither be contained nor fully explained by word definitions. Limited to the boundaries of lexical meaning, there is no possible way to conclude Jesus referred to anything other than cannibalism. In fact, that is precisely what his hearers thought he meant. Anyone with a modicum of spiritual intelligence, however, knows that our Lord was not speaking of cannibalism. He was referring to partaking of His nature.

Others might conceive of the word "church" as being a mistranslation, even though it is not a transliteration. In such cases, more meaning is in the word than in the dictionary or lexicon. when Jesus spoke of building His "church" (ekklesia--Matt 16:18), the meaning very broad. When he spoke of settling differences by bringing the matter to "the church" (ekklesia--Matt 18:17), it was a more restricted sense. When Paul spoke of a "glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing" (ekklesia--Eph 5:27), he was not speaking of an earthly assembly. When Paul wrote to young Timothy about the "church" being "the pillar and ground of the truth" (ekklesia--1 Tim 3;15), he was not speaking of a visible assembly. Like all key words of Scripture, this word is defined doctrinally.

Also, while "baptism" comes from a word meaning to plunge, dip, or immerse, particularly in washing, that does not at all exhaust the word as used by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit confines the act of burial to a person -- a person who has died with Christ. He also identifies resurrection, or being raised up, as integral to the word. Both death and life are also encompassed in the word (Rom 6:4-6). None of this is in the Greek word. It is something that is brought out by teaching.

The linguistic bed is too short, and the etymological blanket too small to cover the Word of God. They may have a place, but it is not the dominant place. When the Word of God is hidden, it is not hidden by language, but by the wicked one (2 Cor 4:4). Too, it is faith that opens the real significance of the Gospel, not the translation. If there are Bible words that are not properly understood by a given generation, do not place the blame on a translation of Scripture. Rather, take the doctrine of scripture and expound the spiritual significance of the word.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, deliver me from an academic approach to Your Word. Grant me grace to have the mind of Christ as I read and, meditate upon, Your word.

-- MONDAY: ILLUSTRATED IN CHRIST --