Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 95 No. 2, 2025.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.95.2.11
Translating the Bible as Literature. The Challenge and Opportunity for Remaining Faithful to the Original
Ivan Lovrić
orcid.org/0000-0001-9602-9833
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Abstract
Translating any text is a highly complex endeavor, as it requires transferring an established linguistic structure from one system to another, where analogous yet nonidentical linguistic patterns operate, thereby precluding a purely linear process. This challenge becomes even more pronounced in the case of ancient texts, particularly the Bible, due to the prolonged period of its composition, its multi-authorship, and the considerable temporal, cultural, and communicative distance from the present day. Nevertheless, despite the numerous challenges inherent in the translation process, one fundamental advantage remains: the Bible’s literary nature, which permits an analytical approach comparable to that applied to other great literary works, integrating insights and methodologies from modern literary criticism. While the Bible comprises numerous non-literary texts, the intent of viewing it through a literary lens is not to seek literature within it, but rather to examine the Bible as a cohesive literary whole. Like other major literary works, the Bible employs a variety of genres, forms, and literary devices, which firmly position it within the domain of literature. Moreover, it possesses a distinct marking system, one that does not necessarily correspond to external reality but instead generates its own internal reality. Within this semiotic framework, some of the most critical elements include typology, intertextuality, echoes, and allusions, all of which serve as a heuristic function, guiding the reader’s interpretive process. Through a selection of examples, this study has sought to illustrate the significance of these fundamental literary characteristics of the Bible – an aspect that every translation must conscientiously consider in order to preserve its inherent literary integrity.
Keywords
Bible; literature; motive; symbol; typology; intertextuality; allusions.
Hrčak ID:
334996
URI
Publication date:
5.9.2025.
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