4 ms·

Best of both worlds is a modern translation with footnotes/introduction. Even without these, it's amazing how well you can glean the necessary context in most c

by xamuel 7y ago

Best of both worlds is a modern translation with footnotes/introduction. Even without these, it's amazing how well you can glean the necessary context in most cases.

dorchadas 7y ago
I don't know if I agree with that, especially certain classes of texts that assume you understand the background knowledge and what it was written for. The Bible is a good example of this. So much of the context in which the books were written is lost, and not really gleaned by a lay-person reading it. Reading academic commentaries and introductions to the various books has very much widened my view and made me understand the author's point more, rather than interpreting it through my 21st-century lens. I think there's definitely more of that needed, across all ancient philosophical texts.
- xamuel 7y ago
  The Bible works on many levels. Advanced knowledge of the context will unlock certain levels, but isn't required for many of those levels (including, I think, the deepest levels). Jesus himself explicitly addresses this, saying: "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight." (Matthew 11:25-26) And there are places where Jesus seems to explicitly speak to the reader (Matthew 24:15, "Let the reader understand", spoken orally to a presumably baffled group of disciples with no stenographers present), and even to readers of a far more distant future time than today (Matthew 16:28, "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.") See also Deuteronomy 31:21, "And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants". God revealed to Moses that even in the far-flung future when people have strayed far from God, the required context will still be printed on every man's heart.
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
- lonelappde 7y ago
  You say you disagree but then to explain at length how you agree?

by xamuel 7y ago

Best of both worlds is a modern translation with footnotes/introduction. Even without these, it's amazing how well you can glean the necessary context in most cases.

dorchadas 7y ago

I don't know if I agree with that, especially certain classes of texts that assume you understand the background knowledge and what it was written for. The Bible is a good example of this. So much of the context in which the books were written is lost, and not really gleaned by a lay-person reading it. Reading academic commentaries and introductions to the various books has very much widened my view and made me understand the author's point more, rather than interpreting it through my 21st-century lens. I think there's definitely more of that needed, across all ancient philosophical texts.

xamuel 7y ago
The Bible works on many levels. Advanced knowledge of the context will unlock certain levels, but isn't required for many of those levels (including, I think, the deepest levels). Jesus himself explicitly addresses this, saying: "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight." (Matthew 11:25-26) And there are places where Jesus seems to explicitly speak to the reader (Matthew 24:15, "Let the reader understand", spoken orally to a presumably baffled group of disciples with no stenographers present), and even to readers of a far more distant future time than today (Matthew 16:28, "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.") See also Deuteronomy 31:21, "And when many troubles and afflictions have come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten from the lips of their descendants". God revealed to Moses that even in the far-flung future when people have strayed far from God, the required context will still be printed on every man's heart.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
lonelappde 7y ago
You say you disagree but then to explain at length how you agree?