Bible Translation

Since a doctorate in biblical studies involves extensive research into the biblical languages, a natural career path would be in Bible translation. Most likely, this would involve consulting with projects in a variety of languages to give expert guidance on how to understand the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. Being able to play a role in helping people across the world read the Bible in their heart language would be very rewarding. However, these positions are usually based on raising support.

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Dr. Bryan Harmelink

Translation Consultant

Director for Collaboration, Wycliffe Global Alliance

As a translation consultant, it has been my privilege to come alongside translation teams in various stages of their work from the early stages of beginning translation to the later stages of publishing and making the completed translation available for use in the community. It has been an honor to not only work with but become friends with amazing people the Lord has called to help build His Church through Bible translation.

A translation consultant typically serves as a resource person for translation teams as they seek to find solutions for the translation issues they face. It might seem obvious that the skills and knowledge gained through PhD programs in biblical studies, biblical languages, or other related disciplines would equip someone to make a great contribution to the translation of the Bible into other languages. This may be true, but from my experience, I would say the main value added from my doctoral studies at Westminster in Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation is not how much I learned, but how those studies showed me how little I know. The greatest value added from my studies, then, is summed up in the phrase hermeneutical humility.

How does this relate to my work as a consultant? When I work with translators and others in the global Bible translation movement, I hope I’m there as someone on a journey of learning and not as someone who has shown up with all the answers. This is one dimension of hermeneutical humility—the realization that I don’t have all the answers. This is not a denial of the things I have learned and can bring to my work as a translation consultant, but a respectful realization that I am only one person in conversation with others who bring their gifts, knowledge, and abilities to their work in translation. A consultant’s role is to come alongside translation teams to help them discover solutions to their questions.

In the Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation program I studied many things that are truly relevant to working in translation, especially when translation is understood as a hermeneutical and theological practice. My work as a translation consultant in the global Church today gives me many unique opportunities to draw on multiple disciplines from my studies: biblical theology, church history, hermeneutics, textual criticism, awareness of global theologies, knowledge of biblical languages and exegesis, etc.

If you’re thinking of pursuing a PhD in biblical studies, biblical languages, or related disciplines, I encourage you to explore how you might be able to serve the Church in the global Bible translation movement.