Genesis 6:6 is a good example of the problem many readers of the Old Testament experience. It eliminates the disparity
between the theology (how they believe God is supposed to be / ‘high’
view of God) of many believers and how God is actually portrayed by the text.
The idea of an
unchanging and omniscient God, for example, does not agree with a God who “regrets” and who is “grieved” (Gen 6:6). Translating the
Hebrew terms for regret (וַיִּנָּחֶם) and grieved (וַיִּתְעַצֵּב) have been a contentious issue for both theologians and
translators for centuries. This verse already caused problems for translators
of the Old Testament in the 3rd century BC. When the Jews translated
the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) into Greek, it was theological impossible for
them to translate the above terms with their Greek equivalent. To overcome this
problem, they ‘harmonised’ the narrator’s intention with their theology and rendered it with the Greek terms meaning, “and he
thought about it deeply” (Septuagint Gen 6:6).
Before frowning upon
the Jews, we should acknowledge that it is a normal tendency. Van Selms (1984:106) is correct when he states, “Vertalingen
trachen altijd de levende God in overeenstemming met hun godsbeeld te brengen”
(Translations always try to bring the living God in alignment with
their view of God [my translation]).
Without
underestimating the difficulties faced by translators, this is a clear example
where the meaning of the text, or the narrator's intend, became subject to the
theology of the time. I also do not want to play down the importance of good
theology. Without good theology, it is too easy to go about God’s word
superficially. As my Theology lecturer once stated, “The task of Theology is to
make the preaching of the Word of God as difficult as necessary”.
Theology helps us
think deeper, clearer, and more nuanced about Scripture. When faced with these
issues, the question is, however, which should get the higher priority – my 'high' view of God (theology)
or Scripture?
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