Comments on: Christ-Hymns and Poetry

By: Idiomatic English: poems vs hymns : He is Sufficient

Idiomatic English: poems vs hymns : He is Sufficient — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:03:43 +0000

[...] at ΚΑΤΑΓΡΑΦΑΙΣ posted last week on the ISV’s use of rhythmic poetry in the New Testament, citing the examples of the [...]

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:53:29 +0000

Excellent points El-

Now that you mentioned the meter that you read it as, I went back through and did the same thing and I totally see your point.

By: ElShaddai Edwards

ElShaddai Edwards — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:12:06 +0000

I like the concept, but what’s distracting is the actual poetic rhythm. I’m reading it as mostly iambic tetrameter and it feels very childish, like a kids’ book, rather than something that was or could be sung. I applaud the effort to use an idiomatic English form, but wonder if a more complex verse structure rather than the simple AAB would lend itself more as an English hymn?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:57:20 +0000

James-

Absolutely. I agree.

By: James Gregory

James Gregory — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:31:22 +0000

I think for preaching purposes it could certainly be helpful, for example, when closing the sermon and leaving the people with something that will ring in their ears throughout the rest of the afternoon.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:13:51 +0000

James,

That’s certainly a valid point. It is a bit misleading in the sense that ancient poetry did not have (necessarily, and in this case definitely) rhyme or meter. Certainly, if I was preaching this text, if I used this translation it would be as an example of the use of a hymn and not the main passage to teach from, explaining that very issue.

Nathan,

To be honest , I’m a bit surprised at your hesitation. Well not your hesitation per se, but that it’s a bit stronger of a hesitation than I would have thought, because of your fondness for both literary translation and for idiomatic translation that captures the true meaning of the original text.

By: Nathan Stitt

Nathan Stitt — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:03:40 +0000

I’m not sure how I feel about it. It’s interesting, but I’ll reserve judgment until I have a chance to read it more in full.

By: James Gregory

James Gregory — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:44:03 +0000

The ISV is a neat translation. For now, my only problem with it is its use of rhyme. The Greek text doesn’t rhyme, but the ISV could lead some to think that the passage is a poem in the modern idea of that literary art form. In other words, it is somewhat misleading.