The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Literal vrs. Dynamic

Part of the reason, IMHO, is that the doctrine of Total Depravity is diminished, disregarded or denied, either intellectually and/or practically; even among those who hold to the Reformed Faith. The dependence upon the work of the Holy Spirit is given lip-service, to one degree or another but in practice the burden upon communicating is taken up by the translators instead.

As I briefly commented in another reply here, the Holy Spirit, sent by Christ to build His church gave gifts to men for the edification of the saints and the proclaiming of the Gospel. They are to teach, i.e., "make disciples" of all nations. The translator is to faithfully adhere to the inspired text in the process of translating the Scriptures into the various languages. They have no warrant to interpret the text with the intent to make it "easier to read", as if this will make it possible for the reader to become converted in and of itself or facilitate a conversion. The real issue is not in the inability of a reader to comprehend the language of Scripture but in embracing it with the mind and heart. Men reject the Gospel message simply because they hate God and truth. That rejection is of that which they DO understand about God and truth.

In His Grace,