Translating the Word
::Warning: The Book of Eli spoiler::
With The Book of Eli offering us a post-apocalyptic, hollywood spin on the idea of Biblical translation I thought I would share a parable from The Orthodox Heretic that explores a similar theme.
In The Book of Eli we are presented with a man of singular vision who has been entrusted by God to ensure that the sacred scriptures get to a printing press in order to be translated and distributed among the survivors. His task is so important that he often avoids stepping into situations that would divert him from his path.
In the parable below (adapted from a Buddhist story) we witness a slightly different approach,
It has been said that many years ago there lived a young and gifted woman called Sophia who received a vision in which God spoke to her as a dear friend. In this conversation God asked that Sophia dedicate her life to the task of translating and distributing the Word of God throughout her country. Now, at this time the printing press had only recently been invented, and the only Bibles to be found were written in Latin and kept under lock and key within churches. Sophia was from a poor farming village on the outskirts of the city, so the task seemed impossible. She would have to raise a vast sum of money to purchase the necessary printing equipment, rent a building to house it, and hire scholars with the ability to translate the Latin verses into the country’s common tongue.
However, the impossibility of the task did not sway her in the least. After having received her vision, Sophia sold the few items she possessed and left the village to live on the streets of the city, begging for the money that was required and dedicating herself to any work that was available in order to help with the funds.
Raising the money proved to be a long and difficult task, for while there were a few who gave generously, most only gave little, if anything at all. In addition to this, living on the streets involved great personal suffering. But gradually, over the next fifteen years, the money began to accumulate.
Shortly before the plans for the printing press could be set in motion, a dreadful flood devastated a nearby town, destroying many people’s homes and livelihood. When the news reached Sophia she gathered up what she had raised and spent it on food for the hungry, material to help rebuild lost homes, and basic provisions for the dispossessed.
Eventually the town began to recover from the natural disaster that had befallen it and so Sophia left and returned to the city in order to start over again, all the while remembering the vision that God had planted deep in her heart.
Many more years passed slowly, extracting their heavy toll on the beautiful Sophia. But there were now many who had been touched by her love and dedication, so although people were poor, the money began to accumulate once again. However, after nine more years, disaster struck again. This time a plague descended upon the city, stealing the lives of thousands and leaving many children without family or support.
By now Sophia was tired and very ill, yet without hesitation she used the money that had been collected to buy medicines for the sick, homes for the orphaned, and land where the dead could be buried safely.
Never once did she forget the vision that God had imparted to her, but the severity of the plague required that she set this sacred call to one side in order to help with the emergency. Only when the shadow of the plague had lifted did she once again take to the streets, driven by her desire to translate the Word of God and distribute it among the people.
Finally, shortly before her death, Sophia was able to gather together the money required for the printing press, the building, and the translators. Although she was, by this time, close to death, Sophia lived long enough to see the first Bibles printed and distributed.
It is said to this day that Sophia had actually accomplished her task of translating and distributing the Word of God three times during her life rather than simply once—the first two being more beautiful and radiant than the last.
January 27th, 2010 at 9:50 am
This is one of my favorite parables from Orthodox Heretic.
A question to ponder: I
In the “Book of Eli,” excluding the reasoning behind cinematic marketing and demographics, does a “mission from God” warrant killing and violence to reach your destination or goal?
January 27th, 2010 at 10:00 am
great question. in Rollins’s parable the woman acts differently from the surrounding world in order to translate the scriptures. in the book of Eli, he acts virtually the same as the rest of the world, he just has a different goal.
is that what people think of Christianity? the same way of life toward a different goal?
January 27th, 2010 at 11:39 am
I always thought this was one of your best parables.
January 27th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
This entire parable takes on a whole new meaning if you replace the instances of flood and plaque with “acts of God.”
January 27th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Pete – it does take on a new meaning but I’m not sure if it is positive or negative. Prima facie it feels horrible as if God is intentionally destroying life, but in creeps a beautiful idea that God caused this damage in order to actually prevent the Word from being translated so that the first two “translations” transpire through Sophia…but, then again, isn’t there a different way to communicate such a message rather than divine destruction?
Maybe your interpretation of the inclusion of “acts of God” is a bit different than mine. Comments?
January 28th, 2010 at 1:30 am
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January 28th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Spencer, I bring it up because of that tension you mention (no I’m not a poet! : )
As I have drifted away from Christianity (once very much fundamentalist) and towards agnosticism I notice these paradoxes much more now. Take for instance the recent earthquake in Haiti. I wonder about how many Christians have a Machiavellian view of evil and suffering (the ends justify the means) and how they are able to accept that in their life. I am not willing to take such a view. Strangely I don’t blame people like Pat Robertson for blaming the Haitian people for bringing such destruction because logically it makes sense! If you are holding to the position that God is good and ultimately in control of the universe then he must have some type of reason for committing such an act (be it passively or actively) of atrocity on so many people. Is it because the end result is an outcome of good that cannot be avoided without allowing such a horrific event? I don’t know if that justify’s the means though…..
These are the things I struggle with as I continue the journey…..
January 30th, 2010 at 9:44 am
I don’t think one needs to hold to a Machiavellian perspective to quantify suffering. I tend to lean towards the way of thinking that believes God grants us free will, completely devoid of paternalism, and since shalom has been disrupted, we have natural disasters such as this. I don’t think God wills them at all, even if some good arises from the situation.
January 30th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Pete – hmmm. i “feel” what you are saying when you suggest that Pat Robertson isn’t the war-mongering-criminal that some people claim he is; deep down there is a part of me that could see where those, who adhere to such a view, are coming from. It does make sense, however awful it is. For me the awfulness of such an “act” is so strong that God’s intention is canceled out. I could try and construct working definitions of themes such as “sovereignty,” “providence,” “causality,” “will,” etc., in order to explain how disaster could occur without any connection to God (e.g., process theology), but for me it is simpler to just say God’s love for people is stronger than God’s anger (if he even gets angry:)
Either way, I struggle with the same things…especially as I read through Old Testament narrative…geez!
Theodicy: God is good, God is all-powerful, and evil is in the world…is one of the great phenomenons that might never be answered the way we expected.
February 1st, 2010 at 11:11 am
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February 2nd, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Hey. Just to clarify that the ‘Pete’ is not me. Only saying because some people thought it was. Great conversation.