David Bentley Hart: Do Translations Distort the New Testament? | The New Testament and Universalism

In this interview, I have the pleasure of sitting down with renowned Christian theologian and author David Bentley Hart. We discuss the question of whether or not the New Testament is beautiful, the theological tradition of universalism, and the art of translating scripture.
If you enjoyed the discussion you can find more of David's work below:
Prisms, Veils: undpress.nd.ed...
All Things Are Full of Gods: yalebooks.yale...

[@Salam99-1]

I'm so glad DBH seems to be doing well post-surgery. Or at least is sat upright and is also able to speak as beautifully as we would expect.

[@hadisyed4666]

As a Muslim, DBH is probably my favorite modern Christian thinker. Not only is he philosophically well read, not only is he updated on the critical literature on the bible, but hes able to deliver all his points in such great prose and rhetoric.

[@hadisyed4666]

Hes also super well read on Islamic philosophy and Mysticism which i appreciate. Hes frequently cites figures I love like Ibn Sina, Mulla Sadra, and Ibn Arabi. He is a great reviver of how our medieval thinkers and traditions understood God, rather than the sad parody of God that most believers hold on today, causing the rise of movements like Atheism. Not only is a great source for philosophy. But also when i find some problem I see in the new testament, I always check with DBH’s translation of the NT. He is a faithful Christian with a nuanced and complex theology, aware of the critical scholarship. His insights are always useful when Im forming my own perspective on such problems.

[@dissatisfiedphilosophy]

He’s not really updated on the critical literature. He’s stuck in the late 90s-early 00s, which is better than most Christians, but it is a weak spot of his in my view.

[@hadisyed4666]

@ thats pretty fair

[@nicbentulan]

Are you 1 of those 'good' Muslims? Lol why does every Muslim apologist on KZbin hate Israel where obviously imam Tawhidi & Khalil Andani don't count? How do you defend Mohammed's marriages to Aisha Safiyya Rayhana and beheading 600-900 Jews at Banu Qurayza including 10yo Jewish children and women?

[@nicbentulan]

​@@dissatisfiedphilosophyWhy do you befriend even 'good' Muslims? Lol why does every Muslim apologist on KZbin hate Israel where obviously imam Tawhidi & Khalil Andani don't count? How don't you condemn Mohammed's marriages to Aisha Safiyya Rayhana and beheading 600-900 Jews at Banu Qurayza including 10yo Jewish children and women?

[@mcosu1]

This was a beautiful interview. I wish it was twice as long

[@JimKanaris]

Good to see DBH virtually out and about doing his valuable thing.

[@jericosha2842]

Thanks for having him on. His books are incredible.

[@s2a1ha1j2a]

Blessings Gabriel! Thank you so much for having DBH on and for your work. I'll be sharing this.

[@sidneysentell2510]

Thank you Drs. Hart and Reynolds.

[@jason666king]

This guy is solid. You should have him back on, Gabriel.

[@harrischoudhary]

Thank you Dr. Reynolds

[@lankstephens6374]

Thanks for your words here, David. I've ordered your new book. (By the way, the audio quality of your voice here is the best I've ever heard it, so please continue with whatever microphone or setup you used here, despite the connection problem momentarily near the end.)

[@andrewx3y8c]

I really like ‘cosmos’ and feel the wider implications… much better than ‘world’ or ‘universe’

[@AdventusQ]

Love DBH's work!

[@jasonegeland1446]

Nice interview. Glad David is doing well. Enjoyed!

[@anthonymccarthy4164]

It's fitting that the New Testament isn't a literary masterpiece, it's a point of departure for a relationship with the glorified Lord. It's only a prelude.

[@davebartholome2924]

Yes, and it's also an urgent message, as a number of scholars have pointed out. Urgent messages are not generally highly polished texts.

[@Roman-Pregolin]

Epic collab

[@christopherconey732]

One reason to be careful with strictly literal interpretations is that the word 'literal' itself is metaphorical.

[@Roman-Pregolin]

Making an uncial handwritten agpeya companion to 'A Psalter for Prayer' based on Hart's NT.

[@bayreuth79]

I’m so pleased, Gabriel, that you interviewed Hart. Thanks, Michael L

[@theguyver4934]

One question you being a christian agree that the trinity is biblically, historically and most important logically is false then you a line with jews & muslims because we also believe that the trinity is false not only that we also don't believe in these post biblical doctrines such as original sin, PSA atonement, hell which we all know by history were never actually taught by the early church Then i would like to know from you that what is the christian faith ( christianity ) all about because as muslims we not only believe in jesus and his apostles we also believe in his ministry and we believe it is successful which is the Gospel his revelation to the jews and humanity part of our faith is to also believe in the books prior the quran which is the bible I always say that if we removed these doctrines such as the trinity, PSA atonement, original sin & hell from christianity which we know from history were never taught by the early church then christianity make more sense and do be doing much better in building bridges

[@robmckay5421]

DBH has provided us with a helpful NT translation.

[@christianuniversalist]

DBH’s NT translation is my go-to.

[@alem8100]

Rare guest

[@RudyCarrera]

DBH looks better these days. His mind is as sharp as ever.

[@frederickanderson1860]

How can you compare the Hebrew with the greek language.

[@kaidoloveboat1591]

He almost looks like Walter White, I hope his health improves

[@LukeTittle]

I thought this was

[@gustingdis]

Yes! It does invert the protestant critique of papal infallibly, or the infalubility of tradition. We protestants have created our own dogma and we don't let the bible get in the way of our dogma.

[@ChipKempston]

Why does DBH lie so much? Reference about 20:00. The Greek for "preach the Gospel" in, for instance, Mark 16, is "kerusate to euangelion." What Jesus does in 1 Peter 3:19 is simply "kerusate" - i.e. proclaim. This is a generic word that does not mean in itself to preach the gospel. So "kerusate" to whom, and what? To the spirits in prison who were disobedient long ago? Who's that referencing? What does it mean by "long ago?" Why not "spirits" that just died last week? It's referencing a specific group of spirits - the fallen angels that were wiped out in Genesis, a story which Peter also references in chapter 3. Jesus went and proclaimed his victory over *these* evil spirits. He did not preach to dead humans, which are not referred to as "spirits."

[@Dushan-o8w]

So Paul's Greek is kinda crude ? When I took koine Greek at University. I was told his Greek was very sophisticated 🤔

[@christianuniversalist]

As in Paul’s sentence structures are crudely written, it has nothing to do with Greek’s depth of meaning

[@christopherconey732]

I wish you well Professor Hart. Most of those with interest in your work probably know you have been very ill so it's great you are back to more or less public speaking.

[@wordscapes5690]

David has lost so much weight! Is he alright?

[@carlsonloggie]

Why is the interviewers sound so boomy?

[@moesypittounikos]

I wonder where the apocalypse of Peter came from? It is a very early text and has a vision of hell and torment.

[@christianuniversalist]

From my own personal research I think it was probably written somewhere between 135-150 AD in Rome. The authors of the Muratorian fragment express some hesitation on the work, saying that some authorities would not have it read in church.

[@ToursPoitiers732]

Thanks for that beautiful interview. I would love to see IP and DBH interarcting.

[@franciscafazzo3460]

he claims orthodoxy?

[@bman5257]

He’s an Eastern Orthodox Christian.

[@阳明子]

He is an Orthodox Christian. Dr. Hart's written work is incredibly influenced by the Church Fathers and the Neoplatonic strand of Christian thought more generally.

[@19battlehill]

How so i know that i should trust this guy??? Who the f is he???

[@omarDSD4]

Paul presented his own gospel not the gospel of Jesus. Paul and Jesus they contradict many times. Paul is the true founder of Christianity we have today. If you go to a public university today and you choose to study New Testament history they give you a course in Plato and Greek philosophy. The gospel of John for example and the idea of Logos is pure Greek thought. Philo of Alexandria a greek-jew had a very high influence on the writers of the gospel of John and on the making of Orhodox Christianity as well. You have no idea that the church in Rome murdered and killed all those who did not follow his version of Christianity. The churches in Greece in 2nd century were all Marcionites and not proto-orthodox and they were invaded by letters from Rome threatening them that if they don't convert to the "right" and "official" Christianity they would suffer with their own lives. Many "Christian" groups rejected Paul's teachings and authority and indeed only Paul calls himself "apostle". Why? Because he wanted the authority to shape the narrative of Christianity. He distorted the teachings of Jesus and made a religion on his own. If you read the NT is full of Greek Philosophy. Examples: "Evil communications corrupt good manners" 1Cor 15:33 quoted from Thais a work written by Menader a greek writer from 3rd BC Paul in Acts 17 in his defense in the aereopagus quoted a lot Seneca,Aratus,Aristole and so forth. Paul knew a lot of Greek philosophy. I am convicted that he knew a lot of Mithraism dogmas too since he was from Tarsus the most important city of Mithras. He incorporated some of those dogmas into his version of Christianity. Constantine finished his work. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?" 1 Cor 9:24 a quotation from Plato. "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Rom. 7:22-23 another quote from Plato "For necessity is laid upon me ; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” 1Cor. 9:16 another Plato's quote. There are thousand more I just gave some examples Christianity is based in pure Greek philosophy. The Christians is so far indoctrinated that they can't see the truth.They so afraid to use there brains to think for themselves.

[@mattschneider78]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4SVp6unhNJ2bNksi=Yn2mnuTEy-qEWabU

[@1otterclan]

And?

[@1otterclan]

What’s the problem with this?

[@MuyiwaMonehin]

If this were the case, I wonder why Greek philosophy and modern philosophy are sometimes antithetical to Christianity, especially on the Resurrection (which was a sticking point in Acts 17). By the way, you seem to have missed where Paul critiqued Greek philosophical and wider religious traditions, especially in Acts 17, which you referenced. Nearly a decade ago, I said this to a friend. He didn't get it then; don't think he gets it yet. I hope you can get it: The mere use of a term, already well used in one tradition, doesn't mean you subscribe to all the ideologies of that tradition. We can't always invent new words to say what we mean to say. Unlike what you try to do here, Paul believed there are wisdom nuggets to be found and affirmed in other traditions, but all to be taken captive for Christ. Paul clearly was not proto-Marcionite, evinced by his numerous quotations from the Hebrew Scriptures and that he believed Israel's God [is the One who] fulfilled his promises in Christ Jesus. Seems you are the one presenting your [mis]understanding of Paul.

[@ethanmulvihill7177]

Gospel of John is not pure greek thought. The Logos becoming a man would be heresy to a greek

[@ConsideringPhlebas]

Wait, so, he thinks the resurrection of the dead is "silly" but is also a Christian?

[@bman5257]

Where does he say the resurrection of the dead is silly?

[@bman5257]

If you’re referring to 23:45 I’m afraid you were not listening well enough, he was critiquing Thomist eschatology on the will and desire not the resurrection.

[@chanting_germ.]

Pls listen more carefully. It's very hard to misunderstand as much as you have, but you somehow did it.

[@omarDSD4]

Christians bow to the word of Paul, they treat his word above the word of God, You either listen to God or a man-made religion ..chose wisely.

[@Alekhandro21]

It's boring to discuss the Bible. Please focus on the Quran. It is an interesting book and very rich in new subjects.

[@stls800]

The bible is literally a much more interesting book. Qur'an is badly written, repetitive and primitive

[@swamiswaprakashananda2117]

Lol. The Quran is completely uninteresting and conflict oriented.

[@Alekhandro21]

Ya, right. As we know in the > Ezekiel 4:12-15: "And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight. And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth. Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow's dung for man's dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.". This is the trivial book. But u have some dark layers above ur eyes.