Pontius Pilate inscription

This Easter season, I was reminded of the Pontius Pilate inscription, important because of Pilate's role in the Gospels in condemning Jesus to be crucified (Matthew 27:24-26, etc.). This inscription was discovered in 1961 at Caesarea Maritima, and Elizabeth and I were able to see the inscription at the Israel Museum when we were in Israel for training as a translation consultant. It provides evidence for at least two things:

1. historical attestation to Pontius Pilate's existence and rule
2. confirmation that Pilate was a prefect (not a procurator, which is an anachronistic title).

my photo of the Pilate inscription, on display in the Israel Museum (note: the ossuary displayed in the museum next to the inscription contains the sole physical evidence of Roman crucifixion, a heel bone has a nail driven through it)

close-up of the Pilate inscription

Logos' reconstruction of the Pilate inscription

Top Ten Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology in 2019

Archaeological discoveries in the Middle East in 2019 “add to the mounting evidence that demonstrates that the Bible is historically reliable. 2019 was a year in which significant discoveries were unearthed" (Windlebry).

Here's Windlebry's list:

1. Biblical Names Discovered on a Seal and Bulla in Jerusalem (April 2019)
2. Horns of an Ancient Altar Discovered at Shiloh, Israel (Aug 2019)
3. El Araj Excavations Unearth First-Century Artifacts and a Byzantine Church (July 2019)
4. Evidence of Babylonian Destruction Unearthed in Jerusalem (Aug 2019)
5. Seal Impression of Royal Steward Discovered in Jerusalem (Sept 2019)
6. Monumental Staircase Unearthed at Hazor (Aug 2019)
7. Inscribed Altar May Reference Biblical Battle (Aug 2019)
8. New DNA Study Suggests Philistines Came from Crete (July 2019)
9. Archaeologists Say Evidence Points to Identification of Emmaus (Sept 2019)
10. Rehoboam's Wall Discovered at Lachish (April 2019)

Read the whole thing here.

Translating Proper Names

Working with a translation team in DRC in both Luke and Genesis, I suggested we consider making the proper names consistent, even though French versions are split between rendering them the same or different in the two testaments. Nicholas Bailey recently posted an article on academia.edu that provides a framework for making such decisions, arguing for rendering them consistently.

Bailey's abstract for "Proper Names in the Bible: translation and transliteration issues Proper Names in the Bible: translation and transliteration issues":

According to one method of counting, there are about 2670 Old Testament Hebrew proper names and 580 New Testament Greek proper names, and out of these names, about 165 are common to both Testaments. Although a translation team may not be thrilled about working through all these names in their translation, there are, to be sure, unmistakable rewards if they handle them in a systematic and appropriate way. Handling them in a systematic way saves time and leads to a more consistent product. And, more importantly, doing the needed research and testing to find out what forms of names are most appropriate for their receptor language can improve the reception of their translation and the joy their readers will have from all those names.

This paper summarizes three topics that can help a team handle names systematically and appropriately: • general issues revolving around proper names, including (a) linguistic and (b) translation issues; • issues pertaining to transliterating Biblical proper names from Hebrew and Greek; • how a translation team can use the computer program NameTrans to automatically transliterate all of the names of the Bible, thereby creating a database that can be used for spellchecking and other functions.

Audio of Tachick Zephaniah Presentation

Sunday School Presentation on Zeph 3
March 10, 2019, I presented on Zephaniah 3:8-20 in my Sunday school class at Bethlehem Baptist Church.

• Click here for the audio recording (the recording intro says it is Jason, but actually I am the speaker!)
• Powerpoint for Zephaniah 3:8-20 presentation
• Text hierarchy of Zephaniah 3:8-20 

Book Publication and Summary
My book was published last year and can be found at Amazon or P&R:

Christopher S. Tachick, "King of Israel" and "Do Not Fear, Daughter of Zion": The Use of Zephaniah 3 in John 12. Reformed Academic Dissertations. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2018.

Scholars commonly indicate that John 12:13-15 cite Psalm 118:25-26 and Zechariah 9:9:

"So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!' And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 'Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt.'"

But Psalm 118 does not have "King of Israel," and Zechariah actually calls his audience to "rejoice" instead of "fear not." I argue that John intentionally alludes to Zephaniah 3:14-15, the only place in the OT that includes both "King of Israel" as Yahweh, and "Fear not" addressed to "daughter of Zion."

Readers and Foreword
My thesis advisor was Jason DeRouchie, Brian Tabb was a reader, and Andreas Köstenberger was my external reader. I follow the methodology laid out for New Testament use of the Old Testament in works like G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Baker, 2007).

Jason graciously agreed to write the foreword which can be found here.

Related posts
Book release

Bethsaida: Update on Archaeological Findings

Locating Bethsaida has been a challenge, but new archaeological findings might have made progress in determining its true location as el-Araj.

The two current possibilities for Bethsaida's location are:

1. Et-Tell (previously proposed location of Bethsaida)
The photo below by BiblePlaces.com captures the site of et-Tell in the foreground, which excavators had been proposing as the location of the site of Bethsaida (el-Araj and Sea of Galilee are in the background). However, BiblePlaces.com lists several reasons to argue that et-Tell may not be the location: the distance from Sea of Galilee, elevation, lack of ancient remains, and lack of buildings from NT period. New evidence at el-Araj is shifting scholarly opinion about the location.

2. El-Araj (new archaeological finds since 2017)

A Roman-style bathhouse was found here at el-Araj (the patch of trees on the hill in the foreground; north side of Sea of Galilee). The location is closer to the Sea of Galilee than is et-Tell. And this recent update claims to have just discovered here a church's mosaic floors, perhaps the floor of the Church of the Apostles:

The Church of the Apostles, which is said to have been built over the house of Jesus’ disciples Peter and Andrew, has been discovered near Israel’s Sea of Galilee, according to a team of American and Israeli archaeologists.

BiblePlaces.com documents other evidence, external links, and discussion of the location of Bethsaida as possibly el-Araj, but counsels caution before more evidence is unearthed. That said, finding the mosaic floors at el-Araj is certainly an exciting discovering that seems to provide an additional indicator that it may have been the NT site of Bethsaida.

Book release: King of Israel and "Do Not Fear, Daughter of Zion": The Use of Zephaniah 3 in John 12

The book updates and slightly revises Chris' ThM thesis submitted at Bethlehem College & Seminary. 

From the book cover:This thoroughly researched, groundbreaking examination of John 12:13-15 demonstrates the seminal role that Zephaniah 3:14-15 plays in John's portrayal of Jesus as the King of Israel, the Lord whose return Zephaniah prophesied, the righteous King who brings salvation to Jew and Gentile and whose presence teaches us not to fear.

Recommendations:

• "The study before you by Christopher Tachick helps clarify how the assertions by both the apostle [Acts 3:18, 24; 10:43] and Luther [Zephaniah "the clearest prophecies" concerning the messiah in the book of the 12] are true. It does so by adding to the significant wrestling done over the last five decades on how the New Testament authors cite, allude to, or echo the Old Testament. Tachick’s formal training as a linguist, exegete, and theologian, his grasp of the biblical languages, along with English, French, and German, and his years of service with Wycliffe Bible Translators have supplied him with key skills for this task. But even more, he knows the God of Scripture, and he is convinced of the Bible’s overarching unity and of the way the whole progresses, integrates, and climaxes in Christ. This study is both careful and thoughtful, and engages the best scholarship on both Zephaniah and the Fourth Gospel. Tachick persuasively argues that John’s narrative of Jesus’ triumphal entry alludes at two different points (John 12:13, 15) to Zephaniah 3:14–15, and the study helpfully unpacks the significance of this fact for the message of John’s Gospel." —from the Foreword, Jason S. Derouchie, Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology, Bethlehem College & Seminary; Elder, Bethlehem Baptist Church

• “What a delight it is to watch my former students who continue their education and distinguish themselves as Christian scholars in their own right! This is what Chris Tachick has done with his Th.M. thesis concerning the use of Zephaniah 3 in John’s Gospel. He demonstrates insightful capability in the languages of both Testaments. Therefore, I heartily commend his careful, skillful, and convincing exegetical work that advances our insights and understanding of the apostle John’s uses of the Old Testament by way of verbal links and evocative allusions, imageries, and figures drawn from Holy Scripture as he testifies that Israel’s prophesied Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth.”—Ardel B. Caneday, Professor of New Testament & Greek, University of Northwestern—St. Paul

• “I am delighted to see Christopher Tachick’s thorough and competent study of the use of Zephaniah in the New Testament. This Minor Prophet has been mostly overlooked and deserves the serious attention given it here. Tachick’s methodology is sound, his research is thorough, and his argumentation is careful. He makes a compelling case for his ‘Zephaniah proposal’ and at the same time provides important insights into the study of both Zephaniah and John’s Gospel. I heartily recommend his work.”—E. Ray Clendenon, Senior Editor of Bible and Reference Publishing, B&H Publishing Group

• “Christopher Tachick’s exploration of the evocative use of Zephaniah 3 in the triumphal entry account in John’s Gospel exemplifies best practices in intracanonical, intertextual studies. It is thoroughly researched, cogently argued, and keenly sensitive to the broader literary-theological contexts of both the Old Testament source(s) and the interpretation offered by the inspired New Testament author.”—Dennis E. Johnson, Professor of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary California

• “In this thoroughly researched and well-written study, the author makes a very plausible case for the use of Zephaniah 3 in John 12. Tachick clearly articulates and capably defends his thesis, excelling in both in-depth analysis and theological synthesis. I highly recommend this exemplary piece of scholarship.”—Andreas J. Köstenberger, Senior Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Founder, Biblical Foundations (www.biblicalfoundations.org)

• “This is a very detailed analysis of the arguments for reading the entry narrative in John as referencing Zephaniah and the theological consequences of such a reading. The author uses a wide range of data and skills in textual criticism, Hebrew grammar, linguistics, discourse analysis, exegesis, intertestamental literature, and New Testament theology, resulting in an exemplary piece of biblical scholarship. Among all the details, the reality of the King’s coming to take his rightful place shines through. It’s a great encouragement to see the contribution of this author and his writing to both biblical scholarship and Bible translation!”—Andy Warren-Rothlin, Global Translation Advisor, United Bible Societies; former Professor of Hebrew, Theological College of Northern Nigeria

• “This is an exemplary study of the use of the Old Testament in the New that sheds fresh light on Jesus’s triumphal entry in John. Christopher Tachick carefully and persuasively argues that an under-appreciated allusion to Zephaniah 3 informs John’s presentation of Jesus as ‘King of Israel.’ I warmly recommend this book to theological students, scholars, and pastors.”—Brian J. Tabb, Academic Dean, Bethlehem College & Seminary

• “This carefully argued thesis makes important contributions to our understanding the Fourth Gospel’s use of the OT and of the book of Zephaniah alike. The author’s expertise in discourse linguistics lends methodological clarity and nuance to his exegesis, which interacts capably with an impressive range of scholarship. Together with his keen theological eye, this makes it an excellent example of solidly grounded whole-Bible interpretation.”—Daniel C. Timmer, Professor of Biblical Studies, Doctoral Program, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Verbs in Mark 15:19

Recently with a translation team, I asked about the verb tenses used in Mark 15:19. The translation at first read,

And they beat him over his head with reed stick, spat on him and knelt down and bowed down to him. (English Back Translation)

We made two changes in this verse, one regarding the final action of this verse (which is not under discussion here) and the other pertaining to TAM (tense, aspect, mood) (the focus of this post).

The Greek verbs here are all in the imperfect form which lead many scholars to conclude that these actions were not just one blow, spit, and kneel but provided a short "video" of some of the persecution our Lord underwent--whether several different people did these actions in turn or one monolithic group did them over and over again. For example, ESV translates "And they were striking...spitting...kneeling"; NIV and NET add "again and again they struck him..."; and HCSB translates as "They kept hitting..."

Once this was explained to the team, they re-read their verse and discovered that they had translated these actions as happening only once rather than repeatedly. By adding "many times," the team adjusted the TAM to more accurately reflect the repetitive nature of these verbs.

This was a dark hour for our Lord, especially since he bore the wrath of his Father who forsook him. But Jesus endured it "for the joy set before him" (Hebrews 12:2 ESV). And Peter wrote, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24 ESV). O praise Jesus for his suffering and his efficacious death, "so that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18 ESV)!    

Kwame's Testimony

Kwame is from Ghana and is one of our colleagues in Bible translation. Last year, he passionately testified about how God transformed his life through Bible translation, and about how God has mightily used him over the last few years.

Teaser: The son of a witch doctor encounters God and His Word.

To view his powerful testimony, click here. It's short! Only 17:58 min long!

Great Commissioning To Ezekiel

We are excited to work with translators on the book of Ezekiel. And this translation work on the Old Testament joyfully follows Jesus' commission in Matthew 28:19-20; we argue that translation of Ezekiel is one of the implications of the Great Commission. 

Observe the following:

1. Jesus' disciples are to teach all nations to observe His commands (Matt 28:20).
2. "All nations" do not speak one and the same language; there are about 7,000 languages used in the world today (over 500 in Nigeria alone).
3. Teaching is most effective and best understood in one's own language (e.g., when Jesus taught the 12, He did not speak in a language foreign to them!), so to effectively teach the nations, we should translate Jesus' commands!
4. In Luke 24:44-47, Jesus' similar command to call all nations to turn to Him flows from His Christ-centered reading/teaching of the Old Testament; the Christ is written about "in the Law of Moses and the Prophets [this includes Ezekiel!] and the Psalms."

Conclusion:

To effectively disciple the nations to follow Jesus' commands includes the implication that Jesus' disciples should translate the whole Bible (including Ezekiel and the rest of the OT).

Jesus is Back in Jude

Posted by Dr. Bill Mounce for lovers of Bible translation, textual criticism, and the Bible:

I just got back from the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. One of the things I wanted to see is the new release of the standard Greek text of the New Testament, the NA28. I ran into a grinning Wayne Grudem, and he told me about Jude 5.

This is the only place I recall that the ESV diverged from the NA27 Greek text. The ESV reads, “Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus (᾽Ιηοῦς), who save a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” The NET and NLT also have “Jesus.”

NA27 reads κύριος, which is followed by most translations. The RSV left it an indefinite “he,” which was changed to “Lord” in the NRSV.

It actually is a fascinating example of text critical issues. Many different readings, and which one is the more difficult, most likely to explain the others?

What caught my eye initially was Metzger’s comment in his textual commentary. I don’t have access to it right now (and if you do, would you post it in a comment to this blog), but it read almost as a dissenting position, and the primary reason given was theological. The committee did not think that Jude would talk about Jesus being active in the Exodus.

But it seemed to us that the external evidence was stronger for ᾽Ιηοῦς, and we had no theological problem with this reading.

And so it was much to Wayne’s and my delight that we saw that NA28 now reads, ᾽Ιηοῦς. Jesus is back!

The New NA28 (Greek NT)

Announcement
Maybe it is news to you, like it was to me, that the new NA28 is available.

The long-awaited 28th edition of the Novum Testamentum Graece has now been published. Once again the editors thoroughly examined the critical apparatus and they introduced more than 30 textual changes in the Catholic Letters, reflecting recent comprehensive collations. With the intent to make this book more user-friendly, the editors also revised the introductions and provided more explanations in English. This concise edition of the Greek New Testament, which has now grown to 1,000 pages, will continue to play a leading role in academic teaching and scholarly exegesis.

What's new in the 28th edition?
1. Revision and Correction of the Whole Edition

• Newly discovered Papyri listed
• Distinction between consistently cited witnesses of the first and second order abandoned
• Apparatus notes systematically checked
• Imprecise notes abandoned
• Previously concatenated notes now cited separately
• Inserted Latin texts reduced and translated
• References thoroughly revised
• View details

2. Revision of the Catholic Letters

• New reconstruction of the text
• Defining the Consistently Cited Witnesses for the Catholic Letters
• View details

For example, the NA28 says that the text differs from NA27 altogether in 34 places.

2 NT Books Checked

4 Weeks of Checking 2 Books
For the last 4 weeks, CABTAL invited a translation consultant to check the work of 2 translation teams, the Ngomba and the Ngombale.  Two weeks time were devoted to each team, which proved sufficient time to do the work. The Ngomba had checked the Gospel of John, and then the Ngombale the Gospel of Mark.

While I was able to take part in the checking of the Ngomba's John, I was not able to for the Ngombale. Nevertheless, we had the opportunity to get to know each other and discuss translation during breaks and prayer times, etc.

A few observations, of these checking sessions of John:

1. Technology Congruency
Updated and congruent technology is important to configure from the outset, between the consultant and the language team. At the outset, two different versions of Paratext were being used at first (and there are significant upgrades made in the recent version!), and this could have caused mayhem! Computer problems can wreak havoc on any translation.

2. Complete Text
Work through the text - the entire biblical text - in order, as well as the chapter headings (if present), and then the book summary at the end (if present).  I can see where spot checks simply do not cut it in this important ministry of checking the accuracy of the translation.

3. Know the Language
Request/find information on basic discourse, orthographic, grammatical and linguistic features of the language before meeting with the team. For example, how many and what kind of verb tenses are used for the future? And do they have inclusive/exclusive pronouns? How do they introduce new characters in a narrative? Etc.

4. Pace Varies
Remember that the pace of checking will vary. The first day of checking always goes slower, as the team and consultant become familiar with each other (if this is the first book/work they are checking together).  Additionally in most books, important translation decisions must be made early (e.g. John's 18 verse prologue) and that requires extra time.

5. Consistent Key Words
There are several constraints on working with key words, but one of them is that they can be translated differently in every place they surface. This gets to be quite challenging, but with the search technology on computers, this task is made easier (though not necessarily automatic!).

6. Prayer and Dependence on God
Start sessions not just with token prayer, but with earnest pleading that the Lord show up. Some consultants like to start the session with biblical meditation, which serves to orient the hearts and minds of people on the reason we are doing this linguistic work: glorifying God by enjoying Him and communing with Him over His Word.

7. Good Back Translation
Having both a good, written back translation before the consultant as well as a skilled, non-translation language group member to give a back translation on-the-spot are preferable. This helps to keep the translation honest, while also afford the consultant the opportunity to ask comprehension questions by virtue of how the back translation was given.