Rewriting the Bible: Culture, Power, and the Theology of Bible Translation

Bryan D. Bibb, “Rewriting the Bible: Culture, Power, and the Theology of Bible Translation,” Perspectives in Religious Studies 48.2 (2021): 149–62. 

“With regard to the ideology of Bible translation in this paper, I will explore two foundational premises, make one central claim, and draw out the theological implications of that claim. My first foundational assumption is this: Bible translation is a cultural project, and my second follows from it: Bible translation is always in service to particular social, political, and religious needs, purposes, and interests. There are many thesis statements that one might draw from these two assumptions, but the one that this paper will address is this: Bible translation is the rewriting of the Bible, performed by and in service to ‘gatekeepers’ and ‘ambassadors,’ a cultural project that is evident in the shifting role of gender in the politics of Bible publishing. After exploring this thesis through hermeneutical and practical reflections, I will end with a conclusion about how we should approach “the Bible” now and in the future. Bible translation, as an embedded and embodied cultural practice, reflects and participates in the political and religious fragmentation of our world. As the “Bible” and our culture continue to fragment and destabilize, we must be more critical, honest, and hospitable in our practice of and engagement with the Bible. I consider this conclusion to be a tentative contribution to the Theology of Bible translation” (p. 150, emphasis in original).