Improving Bible Translations: The Example of Sickness and Healing

Every scholar and teacher has a list of infelicitous translations which misrepresent or distort the meaning intended by biblical authors. The time has come to prepare new translations that are more respectful to the ancient author, what the author intended to say, and actually said. Such a translation should also respectfully report what the original audience understood. Ideally, this translation should also make sense to the modern reader in another culture. In the matter of sickness and healing, medical anthropology has provided an excellent set of terms and definitions that fulfill all these hopes.