Ring of Truth a Translator's Testimony

¶ … Translator's Testimony, Phillips discusses the many discoveries he made when translating the New Testament. His discussion of his journey is both inspiring and promising. The knowledge that even a well-worn clergy can discover new things when actually studying the New Testament inspires us to attempt to learn more about the New Testament, and God's teachings. Through his translations, Phillips discovers a wealth of knowledge and new ideas about Jesus and the apostles. These new ideas and challenges influenced Phillips in many ways.

First, his discovery that there is a ring of truth to all portions of the New Testament impacted him in that he began to understand why so many people are changed forever by the words of the New Testament (Phillips, 2004). This new knowledge assisted Phillips and inspired him. By finally understanding why so many are touched forever by the words, Phillips was able to become a better clergyman. Additionally, Phillips notes his discovery that Jesus was, in all areas, more human than superhuman.

He discusses his belief that it is the spiritual nature of Jesus that allows him to perform miracles. It is not a "fairytale" or "supernatural," but the simple act of being a spiritual being that allowed Jesus to perform miracles (Phillips, 2004). By this knowledge, I think Phillips is better able to discuss Jesus in a way that less spiritual individuals can comprehend. Phillips also notes that this human part of Jesus is responsible for the many uncharacteristic actions reported in the Bible.

Phillips began to understand, through his translating, that it was precisely these human inconsistencies that were most noted throughout the Bible, again showing those letters of the New testament to be true. If Jesus had been a man-made superhero, as some project, these inconsistencies would not exist, and the letters of those who knew Jesus at the time would not focus on those inconsistencies (Phillips, 2004). Through this knowledge, Phillips was better able to explain the anger, fear, and sorrow felt by Jesus throughout his trials.

Simply by understanding Jesus to be human, Phillips is able to alter the feeling of the New Testament from fantasy to a historical account of a glorious Son of God. Phillips also realizes that the Bible is not always meant to be literal, which I believe to be one of his most poignant discoveries. He discusses the account of Jesus' crucifixion by Luke, and mentions the use of the word "eclipse." Phillips notes that Luke may not have been talking of an eclipse as we know today.

The wording in the New Testament is that of the wording two thousand years ago. It is not necessarily to be taken without a modern translation of meaning. Phillips notes that this does not mean we should alter those base truths, but rather, can assume that some phrases in the works mean something different than they do today (Phillips, 2004). Phillips' discoveries through his translations have also helped me in my study of the new Testament.

The idea of Jesus as a man helps me to understand how Jesus can be both angry at the moneychangers, yet save Mary. When thinking of Jesus as a spiritual man, rather than a Son of God, one is better able to see the miracles of Jesus as the acts of someone who truly believes his calling. In Matthew 8:3, Jesus heals a man with leprosy. Phillips' discoveries help me to see this act not as a superhuman hero, but the act of a spiritual being.

Phillips has also helped me to be able to understand some of the phrasing in the New Testament. As in Phillips' discussion of the "eclipse" in Luke's testimony, I often wondered at how such things could be known at the time (Luke 23:44). Phillips helped me to understand that it is the truths in the Bible that are important,.