Bible Translation as Contextualization:

The Role of Oral Performance in New Testament and African Contexts

A Précis by James Maxey, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

What are the goals for Bible translation? Evangelism? Church Growth? It seems to methat historically and currently Bible translation cannot be limited to these two goals or paradigmsof Bible translation. As I returned to Academia in America I began to seek for myself analternative paradigm. Although such research was initiated for my own reasons, I soon began tosee how many in America view Bible translation in a limited way. Many individuals, churches,and organizations understand Bible translation activities in Africa, South America, Asia, and theSouth Pacific to be an instrument of evangelization with the goal of conversion to Christianity.Others view Bible translation as a benevolent means to help out churches outside of NorthAmerica and Europe to grow in the Christian faith. Another set of Americans (and Europeans) find Bible translation to be an embarrassing activity left over from an earlier era. My problem was that I was not satisfied with only these views of Bible translation. I needed an alternative; I saw that missiology needed another understanding of Bible translation. This dissertation pursuessuch an alternative paradigm for Bible translation.

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