[net.religion] My supposed presumptiousness

mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) (09/25/84)

> Do you translate from the Greek and Hebrew yourself Mr. Wingate? If so,
> you manage to give the impression you do not. I have translated the so-
> called "New Testament" for myself and have found quite the opposite of
> what you (and other Christians) claim is there. If you do not translate
> for yourself, how do you presume to recommend among translations? And
> why have you not addressed the questions I posed in my earlier articles?

1)  I do not presume to be able to translate Greek or Hebrew.  Neither do I
    presume to translate the bible in a vacuum.  What I do is read what 
    others who are qualified to translate it and do so professionally have
    to say about the texts.

2)  I presume to recommend different translations because I read what the
    experts have to say, and talk to theologians who make it their business
    to know the problems of the texts and of the translations.  It is not I
    who recommend, but they.

3)  I cannot respond to Yirmiyahu's questions since I don't recall seeing
    them.  Perhaps if he should send me them (without flaming, please) I
    could give him a response.  If he REALLY wants an answer, why doesn't he
    find a friendly chaplain and talk to him, anyway?  A real theologian
    could talk to him more intelligently than an amateur like me.

Charley Wingate