A Brief Book Notice from Books At a Glance
Our friends at Fontes Press, who do great work on all things Greek NT, have recently released a new book by veteran Bible translator David Clark. The essays in this collection were written under the conviction that a clear understanding of the biblical text is dependent on a grasp of its structure. He analyzes the discourse structure of many New Testament writings from the Gospels and epistles. He further discusses the discourse function of displaced vocatives and discourse markers in the speeches of Jesus. In the remaining essays, he wrestles with how Bible translators should handle significant phrases in the Gospels. Throughout the volume, Clark applies his linguistic expertise to the New Testament in order to provide practical assistance to students of the Bible, especially Bible translators.
An excellent contribution to a right understanding of the New Testament for translators and exegetes.
About the Book:
In this collection of essays, retired UBS translation consultant David J. Clark analyzes the discourse structure of many New Testament writings from the Gospels and epistles. He further discusses the discourse function of displaced vocatives and discourse markers in the speeches of Jesus. In the remaining essays, he wrestles with how Bible translators should handle significant phrases in the Gospels. Throughout the volume, Clark applies his linguistic expertise to the New Testament in order to provide practical assistance to students of the Bible, especially Bible translators.
Endorsements:
Ernst R. Wendland (PhD), Retired UBS Translation Consultant, Extraordinary Professor of Ancient Studies, Stellenbosch University
I can enthusiastically recommend this interesting, insightful, and informative collection of studies in the New Testament to pastors, professors, Bible teachers, translators and their trainers, and all serious lay students of Scripture. David Clark displays an extremely lucid, ever-captivating style of writing that makes it easy for readers to follow even some of the more technical or complicated issues that he is discussing. From individual words in the text to the discourse structures of complete New Testament books, he makes it abundantly clear that paying attention to these finer, at times more challenging matters of interpretation is vitally important, not only for better understanding, but also for applying that knowledge to a more effective communication of the intended messages of the biblical authors, whether in one’s own mother-tongue or in some foreign language. As readers find themselves eagerly making their way through the essays of this book, they will frequently remark to themselves, “Well, I never knew that before, and it’s good that now I do!” This is a masterful collection of articles on a diversity of topics that will surely enrich all those who embark upon the exciting journey of NT scholarship and Bible translation that David invites us to embark upon with him—who is, in my opinion, a most experienced and reliable guide.
Stephen Pattemore (PhD), Bible Society New Zealand Translations Director and Executive Editor of The Bible Translator
David Clark was for many years a Translation Consultant with the United Bible Societies and more recently with the Institute for Bible Translation. David has directly supported Bible translation projects in Papua New Guinea, in the Pacific, in Thailand and nearby countries, and in Eastern and Northern Europe. Indirectly, through his scholarship, writing, and teaching, he has influenced Bible translation around the entire world for a generation or more. David combines scholarship and attention to detail with a practical and personal faith in the importance of Scripture to the lives of ordinary Christians. His discourse studies on many parts of the Bible have opened up the text in ways that both stimulate understanding and application and foster accurate translation. He has been one of the most prolific contributors to The Bible Translator in the history of the journal. David’s gift of personal friendship and encouragement has always ensured that his professional and scholarly approach was never remote or disconnected from life.
Table of Contents
1 Our Father in Heaven
2 After Three Days
3 Discourse Structure in Matthew’s Gospel (with Jan de Waard)
4 Vocative Displacement in the Gospels: Lexico-Syntactic and Sociolinguistic Influences
5 The Sermon on the Plain: Structure and Theme in Luke 6.20–49
6 Vocative Displacement in Acts and Revelation
7 Discourse Structure in Titus
8 Discourse Structure in Jude
9 A Discourse Marker in the Synoptic Gospels: ἀμην λέγω ὑμῖν/σοι
10 Discourse Structure in 3 John
11 Vocatives in the Epistles
12 Structural Similarities in 1 and 2 Thessalonians: Comparative Discourse Anatomy
13 Discourse Structure in Ephesians, with Some Implications for Translators
14 Α Discourse Marker in John: ἀμην ἀμην λέγω ὑμῖν/σοι