The Moving Target of Biblical Translation
- davidwperk
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Devotional Reflection, Thursday, May 21, 2026
The week of the seventh Sunday in Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s epistle reading:
21For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. 22You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
You will find the full text of today’s epistle reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 965)
AM Psalm 105:1-22; PM Psalm 105:23-45
Zech. 4:1-14; Eph.4:17-32; Matt. 9:1-8
Today we celebrate the Feast of John Eliot. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Anglican theologian Alister McGrath wrote an outstanding history of the King James Translation of the Bible. In that work he said of translation: “"Translation involves aiming at a moving target, which has accelerated over the centuries. English is developing more quickly today than at any time in its previous history. Some words have ceased to be used; others have changed their meanings. When a translation itself requires translation, it has ceased to serve its original purpose." *
Today’s Epistle exhibits rather starkly the problems of translation and of changing language. In verses 22 and 24, the writer refers to the “old man” and the “new man.” A literal translation of the Greek would require this rendering. Yet, our concern about inclusive language, language that does not put women at a disadvantage, has made archaic the use of “man” as a reference to all humanity.
Forced by the inclusive language concern away from “old man/new man,” the translators of the New Revised Standard Version opted for “old self” and “new self” as translations. However, that rendering at the same time represents an interpretation of what the writer meant. This particular translation treats “old man” and “new man” as references to the individual Christian believer, to the old individual sinful self and the new self in Christ.
However, one could see these terms as corporate, that is referring to existence outside Christ and in Christ. Human beings in their totality outside Christ would be the “old humanity.” Existence in community in faith in Christ would be the “new humanity.” Jesus himself affords the best example of the quality of life in the new humanity. Being a Christian brings us into a new realm, a new sphere of existence, a new creation. We become part of the “one new man/humanity” and the values and pursuits of the Kingdom of God become our first concern. We are called upon not to conform to the values, beliefs, and pursuits of the old humanity of which we were a part before faith in Christ.
Aiming at the moving target of inclusive language led the translators toward a rendering that I find inadequate as an expression of the complex corporate thought of the New Testament writers. They begin at the corporate level and move to the individual level. Our cultural context tends toward the opposite, privileging the individual level. This translation plays into that individuality perspective at the expense of the corporate level of Christian experience.
Being part of Christ’s new humanity brings us into direct interpersonal experience with a profound love that forgives, liberates, and transforms, the love of our fellow believers in the community of faith. We now live in a spiritual realm where kindness, tender heartedness, acceptance, and forgiveness bind us to one another. The public moment of passing from the old humanity (Adam) to the new humanity (Christ) comes in baptism. The faith community, in its best rendition, prefigures the new humanity God will bring into existence when this present evil age ends.
Ralph P. Martin put it very well in his comments on this text. “Being a Christian means transferring allegiance from the old order. That order is being in “Adam” . . . . The new order is in “Christ” who typifies the re-created society as a microcosm of renewed humanity.”+
*Alister McGrath, In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture (New York: Anchor, 2001), p. 309.
+ Ralph P. Martin, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. (Atlanta: John Knox, 1991), p. 58.
Collect of the Day, Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (BCP, 226)
Today we celebrate the Feast of John Eliot, missionary to native Americans (died 21 May 1690 CE).
Collect of the Feast of John Eliot Almighty God, by the proclamation of your Word all nations are drawn to you: Make us desire, like John Eliot, to share your Good News with those whom we encounter, so that all people may come to a saving knowledge of you; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Guidance
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP 100)
A GAELIC PRAYER
As the rain hides the stars,
As the Autumn mist hides the hills,
As the clouds veil the blue of the sky,
So the dark happenings of my lot
Hide the shining of thy face from me.
Yet, if I may hold thy hand in the darkness,
It is enough.
Since I know, that though I may stumble in my going
Thou dost not fall.
(Theme prayer for the congregation of the Saxon Church of Escomb, England
Church constructed in 670-690 CE and still the site of worship for the parish. The visitor's handbook attributes some of the architectural features to Irish Celtic influence. Source: The Saxon Church: Escomb: A Guide for Pilgrims. The Saxon Church. Escomb, Durham County, England.)
A Prayer for Light
Lighten our darkness, we beseech you, O Lord; and by your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, Jesus Christ, Amen. (BCP, 111)
A Collect for Mission
Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 816-817)
Daily Office Epistle, Ephesians 4:17-32
17 Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. 19They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20That is not the way you learned Christ! 21For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. 22You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not make room for the devil. 28Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labour and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up,* as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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