Islam and the Bible: Questioning Muslim Idiom Translations
A significant, scholarly work is about to appear: Islam and the Bible: Questioning Muslim Idiom Translations, eds. Ayman Ibrahim and Ant Greenham.
This work significantly advances the scholarly investigation of the Insider Movement and Muslim Idiom Translations. This collection of articles focuses more in depth on translation issues, especially noting that this approach to translation is growing in number and influence. While gaining ground as an acceptable approach among Bible translation organizations, the question remains as to whether this approach is leading to greater quality in translation.
In anticipation of this work, I recently wrote 10 Unanswered Questions about Muslim Idiom Translations.
Thank you to the members of this group who contributed chapters to this volume!
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CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Investing in Error: Muslim Idiom, Bible Translation, and Theological Method—Matthew Bennett 11
Chapter 2 The Integral Foundation of the “Father-Son” Revelation to the Perfection and Activity of the Divine Attributes —Imad N. Shehadeh 41
Chapter 3 The Son of God—Thomas R. Schreiner 75
Thank you for your comment, Waseem. And congratulations on your publication. If I understand you correctly, you would like to translate the Bible in such a way that Muslim readers will both understand and appreciate it. I would love to make such a translation myself, but would God understand and appreciate changing "my beloved Son" to something that doesn't cause misunderstanding, like "my beloved One"? Some translators believe that God won't mind us improving on his words for the sake of a greater impact on others, but have they addressed how altering the work of the Holy Spirit is going to increase the work of the Holy Spirit? Do they have a special agreement with the Holy Spirit? Or do they step boldly forward with their own authority?
Hi Waseem. Yes, I would love to see your paper. When I teach, I want my students to understand. I want them to appreciate what I am teaching. But I can't change historical facts to make it more appreciated. And if some don't understand, I have done my best. When it comes to translating God's Word, I am not ultimately responsible for the reader coming to faith in Jesus Christ. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. If someone doesn't understand or appreciate, I am free to teach from the translation. But I shouldn't change the translation so that it teaches better. I think the Muslim Idiom Translation strategy views translation as more than communication. It's translation as impactful communication. But I can not promise an impact. From the times of Moses until today, the Scriptures were given to a community of faith for the purpose of repeated reading, teaching, and preaching. The translation is to be understood in context, not in isolation. Yes, we are both free to express our views. I'm thankful for that. But there are consequences of following certain strategies. And, ultimately, we want to honor and please Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He was willing to offend and be misunderstood, for the glory of the Father.