Page 192 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

DYNAMIC EQUIVALENCY

versions loosed themselves from the words and form of Note that the translators of this dynamic equivalency
the original texts, but they have loosed themselves from version in Dutch tested its value by the attitude of
the very meaning as well. Please keep this in mind when young readers toward it. It was aimed at the level of an
you read statements by these translators. They usually eight to twelve year old child and was tested by school
profess to be faithful to the exact meaning of the groups. Nothing is said about whether these young
original text in translation work, but this is not the case. people were saved or whether they had any spiritual
It is impossible to be true to the Word of God while discernment whatsoever. How unreasonable to test the
being faithful to dynamic equivalency. trustworthiness of a Bible version in this way.
Dynamic equivalency aims at the use of simple It might seem wonderful that the 13-year-old boy
language and style throughout. In 1970 the Bible Society could read Genesis through and understand every word
of India (member of the United Bible Societies) began of it, but consider what this means. The Bible is filled
to produce a dynamic equivalency version (otherwise with things that are difficult to understand even for the
known as a “common language version”) of the Punjabi most mature pastor. How then was it possible for a 13-
Bible. This project was completed in 1984. A listing of year-old to understand it perfectly? It was possible only
the main principles which were followed was given in because the Dutch Living Bible has been simplified far
the report issued at the release of the New Punjabi beyond the form and meaning of the original text.
Bible, March 2, 1985. One of those principles was this: Yes, the dynamic equivalency versions are easy to
“From the language point of view, it should not have a read and understand, as easy as the morning newspaper,
very high literary standard. The language used should but how many times repeatedly does an individual read
be within the reach of both the highly educated as well his morning newspaper? How closely does an individual
as the less educated people” (The North India ponder every word of the morning newspaper?
Churchman, The Church of North India, June 1985). Simplicity is wonderful, but this is not the primary goal
The fact that dynamic equivalency aims at linguistic of Bible translation. The goal is faithfulness to God’s
simplicity is admitted by the translator of the Bengali holy, eternal Words. ABWE missionary Lynn Silvernale’s
Common Language Bible: goal of producing a Bible on the language level of the
“Since the literacy rate in Bangladesh was only twenty- barely literate people of Bangladesh sounds like a
one percent when we began the translation, and since wonderful goal. Since we, too, were missionaries in an
that figure included many people who are barely Asian country, among a people even less literate than
literate and many new readers, we felt that our those of Bangladesh, we readily sympathize with
language level would have to be that which is readily Silvernale’s desire to produce a Bible which the average
understood by adults who have studied in grade four reader can understand. The problem is this: The Bible is
or five. This level would be understandable to illiterate God’s Word, written in words chosen by God, in a
people hearing it read as well as to people who are language form chosen by God. By and large the original
able to read but have limited education” (By the Word,
pp. 25-26). words and language form of the Bible simply are not on
A practical look at just how simple dynamic a grade four reading level! For a translator to produce
equivalency versions are in their literary style can be such a Bible necessitates drastically changing God’s
seen in this illustration regarding the Dutch Living Word from its original form. We will say more about
Bible: this.
“We met our Dutch coordinator, Berno Ramaker and Dynamic equivalency aims to make the Bible entirely
his wife Ruth. They are currently testing portions of understandable to non-christians. Again we quote from
our soon-to-be released Dutch Living Bible. School the principles which were used by the Bible Society of
groups are being quizzed on four different Bible India in the New Punjabi Bible: “It should be such that
translations, including the Living Bible, to make sure readers other than Christians also could understand
our edition communicates effectively. … The book of without any difficulty” (The North India Churchman,
Genesis was produced in an attractive format last year June 1985, p. 10).
as a promotion tool for the complete Bible. Acceptance It is often argued that dynamic equivalency or
has been enthusiastic. Even before Genesis was common language versions, though admittedly not
released, the 13-year-old son of a reviewer on the
project found the manuscript on his father’s desk. After suitable for detailed Bible study, are excellent
reading for awhile, he went to his father and said, evangelistic tools. The changes made in these versions
“Hey, Dad, I read this manuscript and for the first time are supposedly justified in order to simplify God’s Word
I can understand a book of the Bible from the first for this aim. Is this so? Consider the following thoughts
verse to the last!” (Thought for Thought, Living Bibles along this line:
International, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1985, p. 3). First, God’s Word is not to be changed for any reason—
not even evangelism.

192 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity