Theological Bias in Translation - 2
An emailer shot a comment to me over Theological Bias in Translation and asked some pretty good questions. First, he cited many modern translations that say “from” for John 12:32 and asked for any translation that cited “from” as “out of.” I found three which actually happen to be my favorite English translations. (I didn’t look at these prior to my post).
Rotherham: “And I if I be lifted up out of the earth …”
Weymouth: “And I - if I am lifted up from the earth …” The footnote to the verse says, “More literal - out of.”
The Revised Version which is the only authorized revision of the King James notes “out of” in its margin.
One way to emphasize my point more clearly is to look to A.T. Robertson. Mr. Robertson is known as the granddaddy of all Greek Grammarians and I refer to his work frequently. In his book, The Minister and His Greek New Testament, he writes, “The word ek means “out of” as opposed to “from” or “away from. (apo).” In his book he refers to John 2:15 where Jesus “poured out” the changers’ money to demonstrate the nature of the preposition. In his Word Pictures of the New Testament, however, he chides Westcott for translating “ek” as out of and referring to the resurrection instead of “from” emphasizing the crucifixion. One must ask, why?
As Robertson says in The Minister, “one cannot afford to slur over the prepositions in a sentence if he wishes to understand the Greek New Testament.” I whole-heartedly agree.