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Shlama Akhay,
It went great, thanks for asking. I spent 2 hours with His Grace Mar Awa, along with two other bishops (the newly ordained bishop for Chicago/Eastern US, His Grace Mar Paulus, and also His Grace Mar Narsai of Tehran, Iran.) We spoke at length about the project and the next steps. In the short term, we are interviewing people with various abilities who would like to participate in some capacity.
There will be three main teams: (a) the collators/proofreaders of the primary Aramaic text, (b) the translators and © the English editors.
Longer term, after the teams are set, we will be producing an English-only translation with study notes and CoE-specific patristics for reference. We may include the Aramaic or an Interlinear as an addendum or a different volume perhaps.
His Grace Mar Awa's goal is to provide the English reader with a study bible akin to the Orthodox Study Bible, but of course drawn from the Aramaic sources rather than the Greek.
While our initial goal is to translate the New Testament, we will in the future also work on the Old Testament from the important Peshitta translation.
We hope to use the existing interlinear on this site as a basis for the ongoing work. That means there will likely be revisions and/or corrections to this interlinear as they are discovered or suggested.
Please let me know if you or anyone you know would like to be involved in this historic project.
Bless, oh my Lord (Barikh Mar),
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Shlama Akhi Paul,
Thank you for sharing these good news!
Paul Younan Wrote:Shlama Akhay,
There will be three main teams: (a) the collators/proofreaders of the primary Aramaic text[...]
So, can we eventually expect for a new critical edition for the Peshitta? That would be really great!
Shlama
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The format for Jay P. Green's Interlinear Bible was really good, but it resulted in small print and one huge Bible. In Green's translation, the Interlinear translation in the middle with Strong's numbers over every word (except words like the Greek kai) and a more "plain English" translation is in the side columns. The printing wasn't that great, but the translation is real useful. I'm hoping they update it soon.
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Paul Younan Wrote:There will be three main teams: (a) the collators/proofreaders of the primary Aramaic text, (b) the translators and © the English editors.
The idea is to support the Aramaic Primacy too? Do the people in the Church of the East involved in the project believe that the Aramaic was the original language of the New Testament or just a translation from the Greek as many other scholars do? Maybe you can invite some scholars to give an introduction of the Aramaic New Testament. I talk with a lot of people about the Peshitta and they don't even care about. It is sad that it is not a big interest in the scholars circles too.
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I think it has been God's will that many have kept their hands off the Aramaic Scriptures. Just look at what some of recent times have done to muddy it's clear waters, in some English translations made from it's text.
It seems to now be God's will that an accurate English translation, without doctrinal bias and wrong interpretations, be brought forth.
Now that the Church of the East is going forth in English speaking lands and having it's services held in English more and more, they will need a right translation in English of the text God has entrusted to it, to proclaim the Gospel of Christ in and for the people to study.
Shlama,
Chuck
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Hi Carlos.
The purpose of the translation will be to provide an accurate English study bible for the faithful who cannot read or understand the Aramaic. While its focus will not be Aramaic primacy, the fact that it is being translated from the Peshitta is important. The members of this team will primarily be Aramaic primacists, although this will not be a requirement.
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Just my two bits, one if their is going to be an Aramaic Text as an appendix or as an Interlinear in another volume think about putting Janet Magiera's numberings beside, above, or below each Aramaic word as this will help make use of a dictionary and not just one possible word in an Interlinear. Second, as much as I have been praying for a plain English translation true to the Eastern PeshittA I also think it is good to have an Interlinear with numbering collated to a dictionary.
I know this is a big undertaking that normally would take years even a decade or so for one person to do. But I was wondering if y'all have any idea of how fast it can be done with a team (while still doing it justice). Could a plain English translation be done in a year?
YHWH/Mar YaH speed!
PeshittA rules <!-- s:onfire: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/onfire.gif" alt=":onfire:" title="On Fire" /><!-- s:onfire: -->
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That doesn't seem like a bad idea at all, Texas RAT. I still would like to get some of Magiera's Peshitta translations at some point. I don't like her Interlinear format at all!
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Hi Paul, here's a handful:
1.Will the Western Five be absent? (I do doubt 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation.)
2. Since this will involve CoE people, will this try to translate the Aramaic text without CoE bias?
3. Regarding the "My God, my God, why have you spared me?" verses -- Since the correct English translation seems ambiguous, can that be footnoted with alternate renderings of the verse?
4. Will Hebrews 2:9 and Acts 20:28 be footnoted because of their uncertain status?
5. Does the CoE have the money and resources to make the translation into printed form?
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DrawCloser Wrote:Hi Paul, here's a handful:
1.Will the Western Five be absent? (I do doubt 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation.)
2. Since this will involve CoE people, will this try to translate the Aramaic text without CoE bias?
3. Regarding the "My God, my God, why have you spared me?" verses -- Since the correct English translation seems ambiguous, can that be footnoted with alternate renderings of the verse?
4. Will Hebrews 2:9 and Acts 20:28 be footnoted because of their uncertain status?
5. Does the CoE have the money and resources to make the translation into printed form?
Hi DrawCloser,
1.Will the Western Five be absent? (I do doubt 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation.)
We will include the Western Five, but with a note that they are not part of the Peshitta and that they were taken from Greek sources. This is for the benefit of the faithful who are accustomed to the canon of the majority of Christians. But it will be clearly noted that these books are not for liturgical use.
2. Since this will involve CoE people, will this try to translate the Aramaic text without CoE bias?
Bias of any sort won't be a factor, and we will stay true to the plain meaning of the text. However, where there is ambiguity in meaning it may be necessary to draw on the rich patrimony available to us from the history of our church, within the accepted tradition our our faith, as the Apostles have instructed us. The continuity of our faith, including the correct interpretation of scripture, is important.
That may mean that corrections need to be applied to my current translation. The charter of the committee will be to arrive at the correct meaning, where questions arise, within the framework of existing and established orthodox teaching.
3. Regarding the "My God, my God, why have you spared me?" verses -- Since the correct English translation seems ambiguous, can that be footnoted with alternate renderings of the verse?
The footnotes will be a primary feature and will be rich with church history and patristic sources, much like the Orthodox Study Bible for those in the Greek faith.
4. Will Hebrews 2:9 and Acts 20:28 be footnoted because of their uncertain status?
It's unlikely that we will note the occasional variants found in the texts of the Jacobite branch. I may be overruled on that, but I think our primary purpose will be to present the eastern tradition where possible. Also, these are highly-charged Christological variants and it's unlikely that the CoE wants to address that issue within the context of a study bible.
5. Does the CoE have the money and resources to make the translation into printed form?
We do have the resources, yes. We have dedicated resources like Mar Narsai Press in the Diocese of India, which supplies much of our Aramaic liturgical texts in printed form.
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Thanks Paul, but some more questions if you're okay with that...
For number 1, there is no hope for change?
Like, could CoE publish an alternate version of just 22 books? (Perhaps that could get people's attention to the Aramaic text and it also would be nice for those who only accept 22 books) ...and if there would be an alternate version, then you guys would end up releasing a English 'Peshitto' and English 'Peshitta'. <!-- s  --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/wink1.gif" alt=" " title="Wink" /><!-- s -->
Forgive me if this is a foolish question, what text will be used for Western five? Crawford Aramaic? or Alexandrian text?
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DrawCloser Wrote:Thanks Paul, but some more questions if you're okay with that...
For number 1, there is no hope for change?
Like, could CoE publish an alternate version of just 22 books? (Perhaps that could get people's attention to the Aramaic text and it also would be nice for those who only accept 22 books) ...and if there would be an alternate version, then you guys would end up releasing a English 'Peshitto' and English 'Peshitta'. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/wink1.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s -->
Forgive me if this is a foolish question, what text will be used for Western five? Crawford Aramaic? or Alexandrian text?
Hi Draw.
You know my opinion on the canon question, however I was continually reminded that the 22 books don't form a definitive canon, as no official canon has ever been defined. That 22 book collection is what is used for liturgical purposes ( the appointed readings during service ). It's not necessarily an appropriate limitation for a study bible. I was reminded of this fact in a strong manner.
Presumably, for the Western Five we will use the Aramaic text of the 1891 Mosul Text, as published by the Chaldean Catholic Church. The text origin is unfamiliar to me, but I've been told they are attributed to the Maronite tradition vis-a-vis the Monophysite tradition.
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Two more sense of mine and I'll be broke.
1) It would be nice if any commentaries were in another book binding and not within the Scripture Textural binding. A simple plain English translation with textural footnotes only would do fine - as long as they stick to variant readings as to the Eastern PeshittA only, with exceptions as to textural notes pertaining to the Western Five Books of course.
2) And it would be really nice if MarYah was transliterated instead of trying to translate it. Same way with Alaha, as these provide a FLAVOR unsurpassed by any attempt to translate them. Neither of these Aramaic pronunciations would present a learning curve of any kind as they are well know to all English speaking people seeking to study the Aramaic Texts of the RC/NT Scriptures.
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Thanks TexasRat.
The textual notes from the patristic sources are going to be an integral part of the page layout. The format will be very close to the Orthodox Study Bible. The purpose of the Study Bible is to present the scriptures within the tradition of the Church of the East, for the benefit of the faithful and for students who are studying that tradition.
With regards to names and places, so far the consensus is that for an English Study Bible, that we should use plain English wherever possible. Footnotes can be used for examples like MarYah, or perhaps more of a paragraph in the introduction.
Remember that the purpose of this translation won't necessarily reflect my (our) passion and life work here. The interlinear here will continue alongside, and in fact be improved, by this project. We are still focused on Aramaic primacy here, and we are still focused on being neutral in regard to tradition here. But the Church of the East Study Bible is, well, for the Church of the East (or those studying it.). I'm going to be doing the work as my superiors direct, and will give my input where appropriate and where beneficial.
Our work here, however, remains in parallel and in complement.
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Considering the stance that this translation will take, it's going to be very exciting to get more input and the official COE stamp on ways in which some passages can be translated as well which breaks with Greek tradition. Things like,
-Gowra in Matthew 1:16
-Rope/camel in Matthew 19:23
-The leper/potter issue in Matthew 26:6
-The famous words of Matthew 27:46 (spare or forsake?)
-Slave/debt in John 8:33
-Faithful one/eunuch in Acts 8:27
etc.
And then, just because I'm a nerd for stuff like this, to see it all bound nicely just the way the Word of God should be. Speaking of the Orthodox Study Bible, the red genuine leather one was very beautiful and since it's been out of print, in very high demand from what I hear. Anyway, that's another story.
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