Governing Imagery and the Translation of the Words philadelphia and anachusis in 1 Peter 1.22 and 4.4

Abstract

One element of the task of translation is the need to consider contextual clues in the source text that help to inform choices between alternative possibilities in the target language. I suggest that greater awareness of such contextual clues for two words in 1 Peter would result in better translations than are currently found in two major English Bible versions (NIV2011 and NRSV). Specifically, the context of 1.3–2.3 would suggest that the familial nuance of the word philadelphia should be retained in translation, because this word is part of a section governed by familial imagery. Also, the context of 3.17–4.6 would suggest that the aquatic nuance of the word anachusis should be retained in translation, because this word is part of a section governed by the imagery of the flood. I look into the semantic-pragmatic possibilities for these words, and propose that NRSV and NIV could be improved by changing their translations of these words. Finally, implications for the translations of these words in other English versions and in other languages are discussed.