What is cultural translation?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible was written thousands of years ago to cultures that were drastically different from today’s . Even within the Bible, the writings within different books were directed to different people groups and cultures. Cultural translation in the context of the Bible is the process of transferring the meaning of Scripture from its original ancient language and cultural context into a new language and cultural setting while preserving the core message and intent.

The Bible supports the idea of making truth accessible to others. The apostle Paul did this several times. In his discussion with the pagan men of Athens, he identifies them as “very religious” to build common ground with them and open the way to telling them about the one true God (Acts 17:22-23). In his first letter to the Corinthians, he overtly communicates his strategy of becoming “all things to all people” to “save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). He circumcises Timothy because Timothy was part Greek (so uncircumcised), and Paul realized that the Jews might reject him because of that (Acts 16:3). Believers should never compromise the truth, but we should communicate it in a way that reaches as many as possible.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament emphasizes the importance of God’s people adhering to the truth He gave them (Deuteronomy 4:2; Joshua 23:6), not diluting it. This should be the main standard for any translation.
• Prophets of the Old Testament who did not faithfully proclaim God’s word were condemned (Jeremiah 23). God’s true prophets were to “speak . . . [His] word faithfully” (Jeremiah 23:28). Any Bible translation adopted to a culture must still adhere to God’s word.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Greek word "adelphos" in James 2:1 literally means brethren or brothers. But the original audience understood the word brothers to mean fellow believers, men and women. However, in a modern culture, the word brothers may seem to exclude women, even though that was not the original intent. Word-for-word translations (NKJV, ESV) tend to use brothers or brethren, while thought-for-thought translations (NLT, NIV) use brothers and sisters. Explanatory notes are often included.
• The concept behind cultural translation is reaching as many people as possible without diluting the truth. The apostle Paul articulates this concept in his first letter to believers in Corinth: “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Communicating the truth is most important; if that truth can be conveyed in a way that reaches its audience more clearly, all the better.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

“You know what I mean!” When we say that, it’s usually true—those we’re talking with often do know what we mean even if we can’t quite put it into words. This may not always be true of Bible reading, though. Some word-for-word translations could leave Bible readers—especially those new to the Bible—scratching their heads—or worse, giving up.

Dynamic equivalence translations, such as the NIV or NLT, try to address that problem by translating the Bible thought-for-thought rather than word-for-word. When choosing words, translators take into account the culture of the biblical audience and how the modern reader will respond to the text.

Study Bibles and resources available today incorporate supplemental notes to help the reader understand and interpret the text. These study notes include contextual background information on historical, cultural, and theological matters, as well as maps and word studies. Features like these help readers overcome cultural differences and take in the richness of God’s word.

UNDERSTAND

• Cultural translation of the Bible attempts to bridge the cultural gap between today’s societies and those in biblical times.
• The Bible supports the idea of communicating the truth in a way that reaches more people, as long as the truth isn’t compromised.
• The New International Version (NIV) and New Living Translation (NLT) communicate the truths of the Bible in a thought-for-thought rather than word-for-word translation.

REFLECT

• Which Bible translation do you prefer and why?
• How do you seek to understand the Bible’s original meaning while applying it in today’s cultural context?
• When reading the Bible, how often do you consider how cultural differences might affect your interpretation?

ENGAGE

• What are some benefits of studying the Bible in both word-for-word and dynamic equivalency translations?
• How can believers faithfully communicate biblical truth to people from vastly different cultural backgrounds without compromising the message?
• How can we ensure that cultural translation of the Bible deepens faith and understanding rather than confuses or misleads?