Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Analyzing Six Bible Translations: Part 22-"Signs" in the Gospel of John

“Signs” in John’s Gospel

John 2:11
ESV  This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
NIV84  This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.
NIV  What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
HCSB  Jesus performed this first sign in Cana of Galilee. He displayed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
NASB  This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.
NET  Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee. In this way he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

John 2:23
ESV  Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.
NIV84  Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.
NIV  Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.
HCSB  While He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many trusted in His name when they saw the signs He was doing.
NASB  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.
NET  Now while Jesus was in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, many people believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs he was doing.

Check a: “signs” versus “miraculous signs”
The Greek word sēmeia is the focus of these verses. Two translations (NIV84  and NET) translate it as “miraculous signs” consistently (but not necessarily entirely). Kostenberger’s article “The Seventh Johannine Sign” (1995) argues convincingly that there are three characteristics to signs in the Gospel of John: (1) they are done in public; (2) they are identified as a sign; and (3) they point to God’s glory displayed in Jesus, thus pointing to Jesus as God’s authentic representative. Signs, as defined by the Gospel of John, are not necessarily miraculous, though they can be. Translating it as “miraculous signs” will cause at least one sign to not be identified (clearing of the temple).


Part 2 running totals:

ESV
NIV84
NIV
HCSB
NASB
NET
Josh 15:18
1
1
1
1
-1
1
2 Sam 20:20
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Isa 6:5
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Isa 7:14
1
1
-1
1
1
-1
Ezek 21:7
1
1
1
1
1
-1
Mal 2:16
1
-1
1
1
-1
0
Telling Time
0
1
1
1
0
1
Negative Particles
0
1
1
1
1
1
Textual Variants
1
1
0
-1
0
1
Matt 6:13
-1
1
1
1
-1
1
“the Jews” in FG
-1
0
1
0
-1
1
“signs” in FG
1
-1
1
1
1
-1
TOTALS
6
7
9
9
2
1


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