Imagine Life Without His Words: Why We Translate the Bible

Desiring God invited me to write on the central role Bible translation plays in missions. Here's the first paragraph:

Ten years ago, my wife and I moved from the United States to France (to study French), and then to Cameroon, Central Africa, as recently minted members of Wycliffe Bible Translators. Our hearts had been gripped by Paul’s logic in Romans 10:14–17: sent ones are needed to proclaim the word of Christ, yet many do not even have access to a word of Scripture that can be so proclaimed. And we were deeply impacted to learn that the highest concentration of languages needing Bible translation to begin is in Asia and Africa. We sensed God leading us to relocate to Africa....

[Read the whole thing here]

 

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

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