A Tasteless Bible Study - Lost in Translation

The original New Testament and Septuagint (LXX, Greek translation of Tanakh) were written in Greek.  On the other hand, the original Old Testament (Tanakh ) was written in Hebrew. However, when we read an English translation bible, we cannot fully encounter the original text’s meaning in its translated letters. It is because some original nuances are inevitably lost in translation.

For example, in an English translation New Testament, the word, “love”, cannot adequately convey the original Greek text’s unique nuances. For example, in the original Greek language New Testament, there is “agape”( ἀγάπη), and there is “philia” (φιλία). These are not the same words and not necessarily synonyms, either. However, both of these Greek words were simply translated as “love” in English.

In John 21:15, Jesus asks Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" In response, Peter said to Jesus, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." Then, Jesus said to Peter, "Tend my lambs."  In this dialogue between Jesus and Peter, when Jesus asks Peter if he loves him, Jesus was referring to “agape”, using its derivative form, “ἀγαπᾷς”(agapas), while Peter answers with a derivative of “phileo” (philia’s verb form) , φιλῶ (philio).   

While “agape” demands self-sacrifice, “phila” is a friendly and caring affection.  It is rather close to “storge” (στοργή), which is a caring relationship that holds families and friends together. Though “phila” shows genuine care, it is does not suffice the kind of love Jesus wants from Peter. So, in John 21:16, Jesus asks Peter, again, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" To this, Peter answers, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Then, Jesus said to Peter, "Shepherd my sheep." Again, Jesus asks if Peter is ready to love him with the level of “agape” by using its derivative word, ἀγαπᾷς (agapas). But, once again, Peter’s answer remains to be the level of “philia”, as using its derivative word, φιλῶ (philo). So, Jesus asks Peter on more time, in John 21:17, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"  This time, Jesus changed the word, from “agape”’s delivative, ἀγαπᾷς (agapes), to “phileo”’s delivative, Φιλεῖς (phileis). To this, Peter answered, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you”, once again, using “phiia”’s delivative, “φιλῶ”(philio).

In reading John 21:15-17, many people often ask, “Why did Jesus have to ask Peter ‘do you love me’ three times?”, thinking that Jesus repeated the same question three times to Peter. But, whether he actually wrote his Gospel in Greek or another language, such as Aramaic, it is obvious that John shows that Jesus did not repeat the same question three times to Peter. 

This may affect the way we interpret the text, because some people comment that Jesus had to ask Peter, “Do you love me?”, three times to get even with him, because he betrayed Jesus three times.  Knowing that Jesus actually did not repeat the same question three times, based on the original Greek text, we know that such an interpretation does not seem credible. 

Because of a “lost-in-translation” facto, reading an English translated bible for your bible study without making appropriate reference to the text’s corresponding Greek or Hebrew words and phrases, may misguide you in interpreting and leave you out with interesting insights. 

A good bible study or scripture study program must make references to the corresponding original Greek or Hebrew texts to retain the differential nuances of certain original words.

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The original Greek New Testament, Septuagint (LXX, Greek translation of the Old Testament (Tanakh)) and Hebrew Tanakh (Torah =Teaching, Pentateuch,  Nevi'im = Prophetic books, and Ketuvim = Other writings) are  like raw sugar cane juice, while an English translated biblical texts iare like white sugar water.

A sugar solution water does not have a flavor and no nutritional value at all, except for calories, while sugar cane juice is rich with flavors, vitamins and minerals. When raw sugar cane juice is refined to white sugar, all these flavors, minerals, and vitamin are lost in the process. 

Losing unique nuances that differentiate “agape” and “phila”….”pneuma” and “parakletos” in translating the original Greek New Testament into English, for example,  is like how sugarcane juice’s flavors, minerals, and vitamins are lost in the refinement process to make white sugar. 

Is your bible study as tasteless as white sugar water, or as rich in flavor, taste, and nutrients, as raw sugar cane juice? It depends on whether your bible study program makes reference to original Greek and Hebrew texts, as necessary, when you explore and interpret the texts.