Ellen White Volume to Be Published by Oxford University Press

from http://www.wallawalla.edu/nc/about-wwu/news/article/view/ellen-white-volume-to-be-published-by-oxford-university-press/

Book Includes Contributions by 20 Authors

In early July Oxford University Press announced that it would publish a new biography of Ellen Gould Harmon White (1827-1915), cofounder of the Seventh-day Adventist church. In 18 chapters prepared by 20 authors Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet examines her ideas and the impact she has made on the Seventh-day Adventist church and American religion generally.

The new book will introduce the Adventist prophet to general readers as well as to history students and teachers. “Scholars have identified Ellen White with Anne Hutchinson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mary Baker Eddy, and Aimee Semple McPherson as one of the most prominent women in American religious history,” said co-editor Terrie Dopp Aamodt, professor of history at Walla Walla University, “yet she is one of the least studied and understood.”

The volume began to take shape at an October 2009 conference in Portland, Maine, the site of Ellen Harmon’s early upbringing.  Chapter authors and respondents sought to examine the breadth of Ellen White’s 70-year public career while avoiding extremes of iconoclasm or hagiography. Two scholars, one familiar with Adventist studies and the other a specialist in an area of the chapter’s historical context, reviewed each chapter in detail. All of the 67 conference participants also read the chapters and applied a rubric to identify gaps and potential biases in the material. “Collaborative research, writing, and editing shaped the book,” said co-editor Gary Land, professor of history emeritus at Andrews University. “This project’s scholarly exchange between Ellen White specialists and students of her broader contexts would take decades to achieve in occasional meetings at professional conferences.”  

The Seventh-day Adventist church is the largest of four innovative denominations founded in the United States in the nineteenth century, along with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; the Church of Christ, Scientist; and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. “Scholars have extensively examined the Mormon and Christian Science faiths,” said Ronald L. Numbers, Hilldale Professor of the History of Science and Medicine Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin, “but the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Adventists are not as well understood. Wider scholarly discussions on Ellen White are long overdue.”

Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet invites further conversation about White’s place in history. “Taken together, these chapters show how White was both a product and a producer of her age,” said Grant Wacker, professor of Christian history at Duke University, in the book’s foreword. “They also show that however one judges the role of supernatural inspiration, White ranked as one of the most gifted and influential religious leaders in American history, male or female. Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet tells her story in a new and remarkably informative way.”

Published July 25, 2013.

CHOOSING A BIBLE TRANSLATION by Michael Zwaagstra

from http://www.adventist.org/spirituality/bible-study/article/go/0/choosing-a-bible-translation/

BETWEEN THE LITERAL AND THE PARAPHRASE

MICHAEL ZWAAGSTRA

When looking at the vast array of Bibles, many Christians wonder how to select the best one for them.

Walk into the average Christian bookstore and you will find many different Bible translations available for purchase. 

Since most of us are unable to read Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek, we are dependent on language scholars to translate the Word of God for us. Knowing this, we are privileged to have a number of different English translations available as they make it possible for us to have more direct access to God’s Word than most Christians in earlier centuries possessed.

However, if Bible translation is just a matter of converting ancient languages into English, why are there so many different versions available? After all, the Canadian government regularly translates documents from French into English and vice versa without much difficulty. Why should translating the Bible be any different? The answer is that, unlike modern-day languages such as French, Spanish, Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, are fundamentally different from the English language. As a result, there is more to Bible translation than simply converting individual words from the original language into our language.

For example, a literal word-for-word translation from Greek into English of John 3:16 reads: “For thus loved God the world, so as the Son the only begotten he gave, that everyone believing in him may not perish but may have life eternal.” As we can see, a simple word-for-word translation is virtually unreadable to most people. In order to achieve a functional translation, the grammatical structure needs substantial modification.

 Types of Translations

At the risk of oversimplification, there are three main categories of Bible translations.

1-Essentially literal: These translations retain much of the form and structure of the original language and provide a word-for-word translation to the greatest degree possible. Translations in this category include King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), English Standard Version (ESV), and the Revised Standard Version (RSV).

2-Dynamic equivalence: These translations employ a “thought-for-thought” approach that conveys the essential meaning of the original authors. Concepts and metaphors less widely known to modern-day readers are frequently rephrased. Translations in this category include New International Version (NIV), Today’s New International Version (TNIV), New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), New Living Translation (NLT), New Century Version (NCV), and the Contemporary English Version (CEV).

3-Free paraphrase: Paraphrases take great liberty with the biblical text and seek to convey the meaning of the author using contemporary phrases and metaphors. The best-known paraphrases are The Clear Word (Clear Word), The Living Bible (TLB), and The Message (Message).

Within each of these categories, there is significant variation. For example, the NIV is generally more literal than other dynamic equivalent translations, while The Message makes bigger departures from the original text than The Living Bible or The Clear Word. Nevertheless, these categories are a useful way for the average Bible reader to differentiate from the plethora of translations available.

Illustrating the different translation approaches when translated strictly word for word, Romans 8:8 reads as follows: “And the [ones] in the flesh being God to please cannot.” Here is how it reads using representative translations from each of the three categories:

Essentially literal:

•   “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (ESV).


•   “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (KJV).
 

Dynamic equivalence

•    “Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God” (NIV).


•   “That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God” (NLT).
 

Free paraphrase:

•    “Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored” (Message).




The essentially literal translations are closest to the original text as they take the actual Greek words and basically rephrase them into grammatically acceptable English. In contrast, the dynamic equivalence translations replace the word “flesh” with “sinful nature” and make explicit that which is only implied in the original, namely that those who do not please God are under the control of the sinful nature.

The basic meaning is preserved although some key words are added and deleted. The Message takes what it considers to be the main idea, namely that anyone absorbed in self is displeasing to God, and amplifies this point while omitting any direct reference to the flesh or sinful nature.

What Should We Use?

Clearly, there are substantial differences between the different translations. The old saying that one Bible is as good as another simply does not hold true. With this in mind, it is my belief that Christians are best off using an essentially literal translation, particularly for in-depth study and public reading. Since all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16), we should seek to read translations that reflect the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek words to the greatest degree possible. Jesus Himself said, “not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law” (Matt. 5:18, ESV), and we should be cautious about translations that alter the inspired Word of God.

Another reason for concern is that, in cases where there is more than one possible meaning of a biblical text, Christians reading dynamic equivalent translations or free paraphrases are frequently given only the translators’ interpretation. Here’s an example from Mark 9:24:

“Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!” (ESV).

“Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief’” (NASB).

These essentially literal translations preserve the father’s somewhat confusing statement basically as he said it. When the father said, “I believe; help my unbelief,” did he mean that he wanted Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief or was he affirming that he already believed and wanted even more faith? We don’t know for sure, but it’s something we need to grapple with when we read the text. However, notice how dynamic equivalent translations and free paraphrases deal with this verse.

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (NIV).

“Right away the boy’s father shouted, ‘I do have faith! Please help me to have even more’” (CEV).

“The father cried out, ‘Teacher, I do believe, but please help me overcome my unbelief! Please give me the kind of faith I need!’” (Clear Word).

The wording provided by these translations is so different because they present varying interpretations of what the father really meant to say. When the translator does the hard work of interpreting challenging passages, individual Christians are deprived of the opportunity to think for themselves. The reality is that Christians should expect to wrestle with difficult Bible passages since this is an important part of spiritual growth.

The Transforming Word

All Christians and church congregations need to give careful consideration to which translation(s) they wish to use for personal and public reading. It is my conviction that we have become too dependent on Bible translators to do our interpreting for us. For those of us unable to read Hebrew and Greek, essentially literal translations are the closest thing we have to the original text of Scripture. Let’s use them more regularly in our personal study and public readings, without going to the extreme to think that God spoke to Jeremiah in King James Version English. He spoke—and the prophet did not only hear and jot it down in Hebrew. His life was never again the same, because God’s Word is not only inspired, but also meant to convict, correct, and transform you and me—literally, dynamically, and freely.

This article originally appeared in Adventist Review, 2010.

1. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. 3Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 4Texts credited to Message are from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 5Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. 6Scripture quotations identified CEV are from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright © American Bible Society 1991, 1995. Used by permission. 7Texts credited to Clear Word are from The Clear Word, copyright © 1994, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006 by Review and Herald Publishing Association. All rights reserved.

Update on SDA base packages release on Logos

Good news!!!


The Base packages are to be shipped on May 27, 2014


A few more days to wait


-. https://www.logos.com/product/38779/sda-starter 


-. https://www.logos.com/product/38781/sda-bronze

-. https://www.logos.com/product/38780/sda-silver

If you are interested with other Seventh-day Adventist books, see here

Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey by Vanhoozer, Kevin J. • Baker Academic, SPCK 2008 for free in Logos until May 23, 2014

Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey 

by Vanhoozer, Kevin J.  • Baker Academic, SPCK 2008 

Get this title for free!

Join the Baker email list to receive the coupon code. Offer ends May 23.

Overview

This convenient text utilizes material from the award-winning Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible (DTIB) to introduce you to the Bible and theological interpretation through a comprehensive book-by-book survey of the New Testament. The articles, authored by respected scholars, make unique contributions to the study of theological interpretation of Scripture.

Theological Interpretation of the New Testament provides a history of interpretation and covers major theological ideas for each book of the New Testament. It will serve as an excellent supplementary text in New Testament or Bible survey courses and be appreciated by all students of the New Testament.

In the Logos edition, this valuable volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Powerful searches help you to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study

Praise for the Print Edition

The quality of the individual essays is high, the New Testament scholarship is exemplary. . . . The book might function very well in an introductory class at the first professional level of seminary education interested in acquainting students with the theological texture of the books of the New Testament.

—Erik Heen, Review of Biblical Literature

A welcome addition to the literature devoted to the academic study of the New Testament. . . . The book succeeds in offering a concern for the critical and historical agenda of modern biblical studies coupled with a positive affirmation of post-modern scepticism concerning dispassionate objectivity. This book and its Old Testament twin are valuable additions to the broader field of biblical studies.

—Andrew Cheatle, Theological Book Review

[Theological Interpretation of the New Testament (TINT)] is a helpful resource for anyone seeking a better understanding of the New Testament writings. Along with supplying a concise summary of the dominant theological themes, TINT provides beneficial overviews of the history of interpretation that assist in identifying the most crucial interpretive issues related to each book.

—Michael L. Bryant, Southwestern Journal of Theology

This book conveniently collects the articles on each NT book, as written for the Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. After Vanhoozer’s useful brief introduction to theological interpretation, the collection proceeds in canonical order with an excellent set of contributors. . . . Everything in here is worth reading. It is a very useful book to have on the shelf.

—Peter Oakes, Journal for the Study of the New Testament

Product Details

•   Title: Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey

•   General Editor: Kevin J. Vanhoozer

•   Publisher: Baker

•   Publication Date: 2008

Pages: 272