The Bible is a library of sacred literature from oppressed & marginalized communities.
So why do we translate it to justify more trauma, authoritarianism, and exclusion?
Liberation& InclusionTranslationof the New Testament.Introducing the
HI THERE. I’M BRANDON.
No, I don’t want my daughters near most Bibles, either.
I don’t want it to hurt them like it hurt me.
That’s why I’ve been translating it for them since 2020.
All from a trauma-informed, cringe-mindful, liberationist lens.
One Greek word at a time.
Turns out there’s some really good stuff in there.
Tell me more of this good stuff…
“Salvation” was one of the first words I worked through. I picture floating on clouds, being rescued from hell. The sinner’s prayer, and all that.
That’s not what salvation is about?
Well, to a lot of Christians it is. But that word traps them in the wrong story. Jesus freed the oppressed and cast down the mighty. That sounds less like salvation and more like…
Liberation
Exactly! Did you scroll ahead or something?
I’ve got more questions…
What values guide this effort?
Faithfulness to the Greek, reading with the damned, sidestepping religious jargon, trusting that God is always like Jesus, and more.
Who are you, to translate the Bible?!
Let’s start with the first three words of that question…
What if I’m more of an auditory learner?
I cohost a podcast where we work through the LIT one chapter or big idea at a time. It’s called “Found in Translation,” and I hope you’ll give it a listen.