The Signs of the Times, vol. 13
September 29, 1887
“‘So Difficult’!” The Signs of the Times 13, 38, p. 599.
DOCTOR JUDSON, the great missionary, translated the Bible into the Burmese language. It seems that he translated it too, that is, he put into the Burmese language the meaning of the Greek and Hebrew of the original; he used Burmese words instead of Greek or Hebrew in conveying to the Burmese the meaning of the Greek or Hebrew of the Scriptures. In doing so, he honestly translated instead of transferred, into Burmese the Greek word baptize. In causing the word of God to speak to the Burmese, he used a Burmese word instead of a Greek word, and had the word of God to speak to them in Burmese instead of in Greek. It is self-evident, that this is the only thing he could have done, if the Scriptures were to be caused to speak to the people in a tongue that they could understand. SITI September 29, 1887, page 599.1
This Burmese Bible is owned and published by the American Baptist Missionary Union, and it is the only Burmese translation of the Scriptures that there is in existence. Now other religious bodies contemplate sending missionaries to Burmah, but as they do not baptize, they cannot use the Burmese translation of the Scriptures because their practice does not correspond to the word of God which they profess to teach. But instead of coming into conformity with the word of God, and preaching to the Burmese the word of God in their own tongue, the Bishop of Rangoon, through the British and Foreign Bible Society, asks the American Baptist Missionary Union to “sanction the publishing of an edition of the Burmese New Testament owned by them,” and allow the use “either of a Greek word, or some neutral word in those few passages which make it so difficult for us to use this excellent translation.” SITI September 29, 1887, page 599.2
That is, these people ask the American Baptist Missionary Union to sanction a translation that is not a translation, or else a translation that is unfaithful to the word of God. In other words, they want to make the Lord speak to the Burmese in Greek, or else speak to them in Burmese with an uncertain sound, so that His word will either be to them meaningless or else “yea and nay” instead of “yea and amen.” For there is no question raised as to the correctness of Doctor Judson’s translation. There is no complaint that the translation is not faithful to the original. There is no charge that the Greek word baptize does not mean “immerse,” as Doctor Judson has translated it into the Burmese language. They themselves pronounce it “an excellent translation.” The only trouble is that it is “so difficult for us to use this excellent translation,” while it speaks to the Burmese in the Burmese language instead of in Greek or in some word that is neither Greek nor Burmese. And what makes it “so difficult” for those “missionaries” to use “this excellent translation?” Oh, their practice is contrary to the precept that is all. And so, they want to fix it so that they can lead the Burmese people to conform to their practice instead of to the precept of Christ. And then they want the American Baptist Missionary Union, not only to “sanction” their disobedience, but also their treacherous dealing with the Burmese! The Union does well to tell them, “No.” Let them obey the precept of Christ, and then they will not find it “so difficult” to use “this excellent translation.” SITI September 29, 1887, page 599.3
J.