Blog | frasergo.orghttps://www.frasergo.org/blog/2015-04-24T12:07:18+00:00BlogJohn 1: Memorizing Scripture and Poetic Devices2015-04-24T12:07:18+00:00david/blog/author/david/https://www.frasergo.org/blog/2015/04/john-1-memorizing-scripture-and-poetic-devices/<p>For a believer in Christ, memorizing Scripture is a powerful and helpful aid to our faith. Poetic devices such as rhythm, rhyme, alliteration and structure are aids to memorization. Is it possible to produce Scripture translations that use these devices, <em>while remaining accurate translations</em>? These would have other benefits as well (children's illustrated Bibles, audio tapes that flow well, etc), but since memorization is clearly most helpful when as close to the original as possible, there would be challenges. Yet these challenges are similar to any translation effort; the switch of mode of expression is similar to a language switch.</p>
<p><img src="/static/media/uploads/papyrus66.jpg" style="float: right;" title="An early Papyrus - the first page of John's gospel" height="337" width="300" alt="The first page of Papyrus 66, showing the first verses of John's gospel">I've experimented with the first half of John 1. Interestingly, I found that this mode of translation can actually lend itself to a more literal translation in places; for example using the same English word for the same Greek word in the same passage can both be more transparent to the original, and function poetically. (<em>NB: I'm not a Greek scholar, nor am I proposing that this has sufficient academic rigour behind it; but as an experiment.</em>)</p>
<p>So here's my stab at the first half of John 1, drawing on other English translations, with some free verse, and some almost-limericks. In places it's a fairly close translation, in others I've thrown in repetitions or words for the sake of meter. Some lines flow significantly less well than others :)</p>
<p style="margin-left: 5em;">In the beginning was the Word<br>And the Word was with God<br>And the Word was God<br>He was with God<br>In the beginning</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">All things were made through him<br>Nothing that was made was made without him<br>In him was life<br>And that life was the light<br>The light of all mankind</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">The light shines<br>It shines in the darkness<br>The darkness has not overcome it</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">There came a young man sent from God<br>The name he was given was John<br>As a witness he came<br>Witnessing of the light<br>So that through him all might believe</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">He himself was not the light<br>But he came to bear witness to it<br>The true light that gives<br>Light to all people<br>Was coming right into the world</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">He was actually here in the world<br>The world came into being through him<br>But the world didn't know him<br>Though he came to his own<br>His own people did not receive him</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">But to those who received him<br>Who believed in his name<br>He has given the right to become<br>Children of God<br>Who were born not of blood<br>Nor the will of the flesh<br>Nor the will of a man, but of God</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">The Word became flesh<br>Came and dwelt among us<br>And we have seen his glory<br>The glory as of the only Son from the Father<br>Full of grace and truth</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">John witnessed about him<br>He cried out and spoke:<br>"This is the one that I said:<br>'He's coming after me<br>But he was before me<br>And so he ranks first above me'"</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">For from his fullness<br>We have all received<br>And grace upon grace now is ours</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">Through Moses was given the law<br>Through Jesus Christ grace and truth came</p>
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<p style="margin-left: 5em;">Though no-one has even seen God<br>The only One (himself God)<br>- so close to the Father<br>That One has made Him known.</p>