Johannine Comma in the Smith-Van Dyck Arabic Bible: Affirming the Trinity in the Middle East

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the translation of 1 John 5:6–8 in the Smith-Van Dyck Arabic Bible published in 1865. The analysis of the translation results aims to capture theological discourse, especially in the doctrine of the Trinity, that appears in the translation in relation to the theological understanding of the Middle Eastern church. To that end, the researcher uses analysis of translation results from four aspects of the text, namely vocabulary, syntax (grammar), cohesion and text structure. After analysing the text, the researcher will present the interpretation of the text through a combination of what is in the text and what is in the interpreter based on the sources he has, which are called members’ resources by Norman Fairclough. The results of this study indicate that Smith-Van Dyck Arabic Bible (SVD) translators have a clear position and purpose in this Bible translation process. Firstly, SVD translators prioritise formal equivalence in translation and prioritise literal translation techniques. In Bible translation, this translation model shows the translator’s orientation that focuses on the source language so that as much as possible its form and content are maintained in the target language. Secondly, the translation orientation that focuses on the source language is also intended to maintain the theological meaning contained in the verses as contained in the source language so that it can be understood by Arabic-speaking Bible readers with the same theological understanding.
Contribution: This research adds to post-colonial discourse by demonstrating how Arabic Bible translations are not neutral, but rather become arenas for negotiations of power and identity. Through these findings, the research enriches discussions on how Arabic biblical texts bear colonial traces while simultaneously providing space for the formation of independent theological identities in the post-colonial Arab world.