Dr Paul Allen

Cover of an TNIV NT, 2002 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) As the old Italian proverb goes, “Translation is treason.” The treasonous nature of all translation work consists in the inability to accurately convey the nuance of meaning when moving from the original text to the receptor language. While the translator may be able to convey the bulk of meaning found within a text, he will unlikely communicate every nuance, and may perhaps unintentionally deceive his readers. Thus, translations have their consequences. This is why the historian learns Greek, so that he does not misunderstand Herodotus. In the same way, the New Testament scholar learns Greek, so that he does not misunderstand God. For Christians dependent upon translations for reading God’s Word, the question becomes, “How treasonous is my translation?” Answering this question should lead to the pursuit of Bible translations that accurately represent (as close as possible) the intended meaning of the biblical autographs (the

Christ before Pontius Pilate, Mihály Munkácsy, 1881 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” [Luke 23:4]   Jesus had been tried and found guilty of a capital offense (blasphemy) by the Sanhedrin . Because the Jews did not have the right to put anyone to death, they took him to Pontius Pilate to issue Jesus’ death warrant. They accused Jesus of claiming to be king of the Jews. Pilate asked if this were true, and Jesus affirmed that it was. Pilate, however, was not interested in internal Jewish affairs and told the crowd that Jesus had done nothing worthy of death. The Jews responded by falsely stating that this Galilean had been seditious. Pilate pounced on the fact that Jesus came from Galilee , because that gave him a way out of this thorny situation. As a Galilean Jesus was under the jurisdiction of Herod , who just happened to be in Jerusalem for Passover . Pilate sent him to He

English: "The Judas Kiss", (Mark 14:45) by Gustave Doré. Judas kisses Jesus in order to betray him to the guards. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." ( John 10:10 ) There were four thieves closely involved in the events surrounding the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ . The first of these was one of His own disciples. "| Judas | was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein" ( John 12:6 ). It was Judas, of course, who betrayed Christ , facilitating His arrest and conviction. The second was not only a thief, but also a revolutionary and a murderer. " Barabbas . . . who had committed murder in the insurrection . . . was a robber" ( Mark 15:7 ; John 18:40 ). This convicted criminal, appointed to death, was released and Jesus condemned in his stead. Thus, Barabbas benefited tempora