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Tswana New Testament

Discussion in 'Evangelism, Missions & Witnessing' started by Ernie Brazee, Apr 9, 2003.

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  1. Ernie Brazee

    Ernie Brazee <img src ="/ernie.JPG">

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    #1 Ernie Brazee, Apr 9, 2003
  2. Haruo

    Haruo New Member

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    Is this a new translation, or just a new printing of an existing translation? If the former, from what mss., if the latter which one?

    Haruo
     
    #2 Haruo, Apr 9, 2003
  3. Ernie Brazee

    Ernie Brazee <img src ="/ernie.JPG">

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    At the present time the Tswana people have a New testament in their language but wanted a New Testament that was closer to the KJV.

    A missionary found a bible translated by Robert Moffat tha was translated by Moffat into the Old Tswana language. Some of the members of the church he is working in were very excited that the old NT read like the KJV so the process began.


    This is what they used:

    It was then that Moffat realized he must concentrate on translating the New Testament into the language of the people if they were to learn God's Word and live God's way! And, customarily, he not only translated the text, he procured a press and printed it.

    (More web sites concerning Robert Moffat


    http://home.spg.co.za/kmmt/Moffat.html

    http://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biomoffat.html


    The Tswana people began translating the Moffat NT into modern Tswana.

    The missionary is amember of our church and asked us to print the NT. How the Lord provided the printing equipment is a story in itself.

    To clarify the New Testament being printed. It is not a translation from the KJV, rather it is a transaltion of the New Testament Robert Moffat translated from the same manusscripts used for the KJV.
     
    #3 Ernie Brazee, Apr 10, 2003
  4. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    I suppose this is the best that can be done for the time being. I look forward to hearing news of a translation from the original languages. But, that no doubt will have to wait until (a) native Tswana speaker(s) acquires the necessary skills to properly do the job.
     
    #4 Squire Robertsson, Apr 11, 2003
  5. Ernie Brazee

    Ernie Brazee <img src ="/ernie.JPG">

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    Not sure what point you are trying to make.

    Native Tswana speak more languages than most Americans. One Tswana pastor speaks four languages fluently which is 4 more than most Americans can speak correctly.

    As for translating from the original languages that is a ridiculous barb, as we all know they don't exist. As born again children, the Tswana people, not the missionary determined the translation they were using was inferior to the KJV and the Moffat Bible is far superior to what they have. They recognize a lack of power in their present version, power that is present in the KJV.

    If you want to ridicule someone catch a plane to South Africa and talk to the translators.

    Go ahead Squire and ridicule all you want, but I would love to be in the presence of these people in the next few weeks when they receive a copy of a real New Testament.
     
    #5 Ernie Brazee, Apr 11, 2003
  6. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    Brother Ernie,
    a: please pull in your horns. I meant what I wrote no more no less. I may have been a little terse but I did not mean to ridicule anybody.
    b: this is the missions forum not the translation forum.
    c: in my opinion (and in many others) the sources for tabla rasa translations do exists.
    d: letter c may not be your opinion but that's your prerogative and I have no problem with you holding it.
    e: I only wanted for the Tswanas to benefit from the same level of translation as I do in the AV 1611 and the Bengalis (and other Indian language groups) do, thanks to Wm. Carey.
    f: acknowledgeing that we have to settle for the good does not mean we cannot wish for the better. I can speak with some knowledge of these matters as I have to deal with the way the Russian Synodical reads in contrast to my AV 1611.
    g: skill in modern languages is not the same necessarily as skill in Biblical languages. Just ask your average Belgian, Swiss citizen, or Dane: the three nationalities listed all speak at least one language besides their mother tounge. None of these average citizens would say they were up to with any authority dealing with Biblical Hebrew/Aramaic or Koine Greek.
     
    #6 Squire Robertsson, Apr 11, 2003
  7. Ernie Brazee

    Ernie Brazee <img src ="/ernie.JPG">

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    Squire you took a jab and I counter punched.

    I posted here rejoicing because a group of people are receiving something they have never had. You have turned into a language

    You may want to talk these "average" citizens about having "authority." They were led of the Holy Spirit that the New Testament they are receiving is superior in poer to what they have.

    What do Swiss, Belgians or Danes have to do with anything?

    Are you suggesting that because these people are South Africans they lack the ability to discern truth from error?
     
    #7 Ernie Brazee, Apr 12, 2003
  8. Ernie Brazee

    Ernie Brazee <img src ="/ernie.JPG">

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    Last post concerning translation debate.

    I apologize for allowing Squire to draw me into a debate.

    This is a mission forum and I posted here to report a mission endeavor, Squire then took a jab at our effort.

    This is not an American translation; we are dong the printing; the transltion work was done by Tswana people from their old language into the modern Tswana.

    The first 250 new testaments have been shipped and the second 250 have been collated. The binding will start Tuesday .

    Praise the Lord that we can have a small part in providing the Word of God in another part of the World! [​IMG]
     
    #8 Ernie Brazee, Apr 13, 2003
  9. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    Again, my Brother, I must repeat: I did not intend to take a "jab" at anyone. I apologize, if I was perceived as doing such a thing.

    I simply see the Tswana as going through the same process as occured in English. To draw the parallel, I'd say they were at the Coverdale stage of development. As to where did the Swiss, Danes, and Belgians come from? The citizens of these countries are at least bi-, if not tri-lingual. Thus they are a parallel to someone who speaks Tswana, English, Afrikaans, and (the next is just a guess, but it is a major SA language) Xhosa.

    Further, I was not questioning their discernment.
     
    #9 Squire Robertsson, Apr 14, 2003
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