Fidelity: Walking a Tightrope

Introduction to the Septuagint and the Vernaculars, by M. Jinbachian"Bible translation in the early centuries began as literal translation (verbum e verbo), though not slavishly literal, and today we find that it has often changed to becoming a sensus de sensu or meaning-based translation" (Noss, 34).The LXX: In the middle of the 3rd century B.C.E., the Hebrew OT was translated into Greek in Alexandria. On its translation method, Jinbachian writes, "One cannot deny the fact that a literal, but not a slavish, rendering was the characteristic trait of the Septuagint" (Noss, 39).Concluding his section on translations from 532B.C.E to 700 C.E, Jinbachian describes fidelity as walking a tightrope: "I should underline the fact that all Bible translation is of necessity an interpretation of the original...When it comes to the question of fidelity, Bible translation is like walking on a tightrope, trying to be as faithful to the original as possible - not slavishly literal...but to translate sensus de sensu, as Jerome puts it, in an attempt to communicate the message to the target audience" (Noss, 44).Missionary translators need help from pastors and theologians. Even more, missionary translators ought to be training national believers to be translators, pastors, theologians, scholars, and authors of theological books, commentaries, and Bible study helps.