Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-10

wo or more renderings, be must givethat
which seems to him to be the most correct;
and note, in the margin. as our own trans
Iators have done, the other version or YER
sions.
Having thus, as we believe established
the principle, that translator is bound, as
an honest man, to convey the exact sense
of the original text so far as he can ascer-
tain it, we proceed to consider the ques-
ton, in its practical application to the Bur
man scriptures. The words relating to
baptism are here translatedto immerse.-.I
Waving the question, at present, as to the
accuracy of this version, it is sufficient to
say, that the Baptist translator feels assur-
ed that this is the only correct translation.
With this belief, he must so translate the
words. He cannot, of course, render
them to sprinkle, or pour, because he be-
lieves, that either of these acts would be a
perversion Of the ordinance. He cannot
retain the Greek words, as the Vulgate,
the English, and many other versions,
have done, by merely writing them in Ro-
man letters, with slight changes oftermin-
alton. The Greek word baptizo, has no
meaning in the Burman language The
insertion of the word in Burman letters
would not be translation of the sacred
text 1t would, in fact, be leaving every
passage in which the word should occur
untranslated; and every such passage
might, with equal propriety, be entirely
omitted, or inserted in the orr ginal Greek.
How, then, could Mr. Judson have salts
| fed his conscience, if he had left the words
relating to baptism untranslated? He
had undertaken to convey the meaning of
the word Of God into the Burman Ian
guage, and he could not, without betray-
ing his trust, negl ect to express IN that Ian
guage every idea contained in the origin
al text, which the Burman tongue is capa-
bic of expressing. He entertains no
doubt concerning the meaning of the orig
inal words which relate to baptism. WHY.
then, omit to translate them? Why make
a Greeko -Burman word, a mere barbar-
ism, unintelljgible to the Burman reader?
Is the fact, that some persons think that
the word may mean something else, sur-
fclent reason! In like manner. there is
difference ofopinion respecting the mean
ing Of the word repent. The Catholic
translates it, do pen0nce Others might
render it, reform your life. Why not,
then, leave the Greek word metan0eo in
the obscurity Of the Greek, and translate
the various passages where it occurs, in
some such way as this: Metanoeite We
tor the kingdom Of Heaven is at hand. p
Let US suppose, that Mr. Judson had in
serted the word baptize in Burman letters
and that an inquirer should come to him
Tor information, with a copy of the New
Testament in his hand:
!"q"'TeT-Teacher, will you please to
inform me- what this strange word, tap-
tie, means2
Mr. Ut means, to immerse in water
a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Imqu1Ter.-ls there no Burman word
which will express the meaning, or is the
word too sacred to be translated?
Mr. J.-Your word immerse is exactly
equivalent; but some christians think.
that sprinkling or pouring water is equal
| ly valid, and therefore have left the word
untranslated
Inqulrer.-Do you, teacher, think that
anything but immersion is baptism?
Mr. J-Oh no. l believe every 9TH
er practice is a perversion Of the ordi-
nance.
Inqu'rer.-How, then, shall nv coun-
'rymen know what this word means p
And have you not exposed them to the
danger of perverting the ordinance, by
negIecting to inform them, in the transla-
tlon, what the word signifies?
Mr. Judson would, probably, in such
a case, find it difficult to answer this ques
ton, ina manner which would satisfy his
own conscience.
1t seems too plain for further argument,
that translator cannot, without guilt
omit to convey the precise meaning oftbe
| original text SO far as may be practicable.
without disguise, without the slightest ad
dltlon, diminution or gloss. Some proper
names he must, of course, if it can be done
transfer and some single terms, he must
express by circumlocution; but, 50 far as
the nature Of the language will admit, the
translation must be an exact representa-
ton of the original text If one word NAV
be left in the obscurity of the original, an
other may, and still another; and the
principle, if carried to it's full extent would
sanction the policy of the Catholic church,
IN keeping the Holy Scriptures sealed in
dead language.