One of the interesting aspects of translating the New Testament is when you come across passages that are quite poetic in nature. Two of the most well-known passages that fit this description are the “Christ-hymns,” so-called because they appear to be an ancient hymn that was sung by the Church, even predating Paul’s own writings. These hymns appear at Colossians 1:15-20 (see my translation here), and Philippians 2:5-11. One of the questions that will creep into the minds of translators is essentially, “Ok, so how do we handle this?”  In other words, do we attempt the capture the poetical nature of the passage? Do we translate it as is, but set it apart with indentions to show that it was a hymn? Of course, there’s no right way to do this, and it comes down to a matter of preference. Personally, I enjoy both, for differing reasons.

The ISV (International Standard Version, NT finished, OT almost finished) has decided to translate these (and other) passages according to literary genre.  This means that not only is the text indented to show that it is poetry- it is translated as poetry itself.  In order to give some of you who might have read such a translation before a chance to see it, I will quote the passage from the ISV (note the triplet structure), a basic translation, and from the Greek for those who like to compare.

ISV Translation Greek
Have the same attitude among yourselves that was also in the Messiah Jesus:

6In God’s own form existed he,
..and shared with God equality,
…deemed nothing needed grasping.
7Instead, poured out in emptiness,
..a servant’s form did he possess,
…a mortal man becoming.
In human form he chose to be,
..8and lived in all humility,
….death on a cross obeying.
9Now lifted up by God to heaven,
..a name above all others given,
…this matchless name possessing.
10And so, when Jesus’ name is called,
..the knees of everyone should fall
…wherever they’re residing.
11Then every tongue in one accord,
..will say that Jesus the Messiah is Lord,
…while God the Father praising.

 Have this frame of mind among you which also was in Christ Jesus, 6who-

while existing in the form of God,
..did not consider it an advantage to be equal with God,
…7but he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant,
….coming in the likeness of men;
and being found in the human form like a man,
..8he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
…that is, death on the cross!
9For this reason, God also exalted Him,
…and graciously gave him the Name
…that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus,
…every knee might bow-
…in heaven, on earth, and under the earth-
11and every tongue might confess
…that Jesus Christ is Lord,
…to the glory of God the Father.

 τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ


6ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων
οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο
τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ
7ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν
μορφὴν δούλου λαβών
ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος
καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος
8ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν γενόμενος
ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου
θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ
9διὸ καὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν
καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνομα
τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα
10ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ
πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ
ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ
καταχθονίων
11καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται
ὅτι κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς
εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός

So what do you guys think? As far as literary style and form goes, I love the ISV’s rendering. The only problem I have with it is that the ISV went with the traditional rendering of ἁρπαγμὸν (harpagmon), “grasped,” which doesn’t really convey the meaning of the word well to modern ears. As I show in my translation, it is actually along the lines of having an advantage over. It’s understandable, of course. I wouldn’t want to have to try and fit that into meter.

If you like this article, please share:
  • Twitter
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • email
  • Netvibes
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • Print
  • StumbleUpon