This year at the Biblical Missiology Consultation in Dearborn, Michigan, Adam Simnowitz and others explored problematic approaches and practices in the fields of missiology and Bible translation. As errant translation theories have been embraced by large and well-funded missions and translation agencies, the resulting Bibles have compromised the gospel, misled scores of new believers, and drained precious resources from well-meaning churches and individual Christians.

The murky and deceptive history of the Dynamic Equivalence movement, as well as the dubious assumptions it is founded upon, are largely unknown to the Christians who often wind up supporting it. This translational approach—which argues for non-literal translation of key biblical concepts such as “Father” and “Son” in relation to God and Jesus—seeks on the surface to improve conceptual understanding and avoid offense in target audiences. However, its use is fraught with myriad confusions, dissembling, and conflict, as Western missions and translation agencies increasingly put the theory to practice, while simultaneously hiding this fact from their partners and supporters.

In Life is Dynamic, Adam Simnowitz traces dynamic equivalence theory to its roots in the theories of Eugine Nida, and his efforts to create the illusion of a worldwide movement toward non-literal translation. Also discussed are the actual translation practices that have resulted from it, specific corruptions of language in Muslim Idiom Translations, the reactions of national churches to such translations, and the contradictions between the internal practices and expressed beliefs of Western agencies who embrace contextual translation.

Biblical Missiology opposes any attempt to hide or distort the truth of the gospel. In this video you will find out why.