New Translation of Calvin’s Institutes (estimated 2025)

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inkling

inkling

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This dates back to 2019 and has been discussed before but I found this document of the project that was originally proposed by Richard Muller labeled, Why the 21st Century Needs a New Translation of Calvin’s Institutes, Crossway, 2025. It is interesting because it includes a discussion of the rationale for the project including the Latin text as the basis and Lexica consulted, as well as a few translated chapters. Three documents are attached due to file size: project overview document, sample pages, and the original "Project Summary" which looks like a rough draft of the translation plan.
 

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I have a 1559 Beveridge edition at the moment. I just finished the first book. So far, I have found it very readable and understandable. I wonder if this will be like another English translation of the Bible? In any case though, I am always a sucker for new shiny editions of books, so I may be tempted anyway.
 
According to the end of the Project Summary, Crossway is short $750K. That's a lot of cheddar.
 
I agree with their observations about the strengths and weaknesses of the various existing translations. To be honest, though, I don't find the sample readings to be especially compelling in terms of literary style. Just personal preference, of course.
 
NaphtaliPress said:
With all the things that need translating into English for the "first time" this would be heartening if one knew folks were funding other projects instead.
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Even if they want to "redo" something from Calvin, I think his Commentaries stand in greater need of tightening-up and updating than the Institutes.
 
I suppose I'm a bit jaded about copyrights and publishers and these sorts of shenanigans. But to be honest, I didn't realize that some publishing giant like Crossway needed to raise money for this sort of stuff. If they're going to reap (read: profit) 100%, I think they ought to sow (read: sponsor/support) 100%. I also agree with what others have written in this thread about priority of translational work, Calvin's commentaries, etc.
 
I would think $750k is not that big of a deal for Crossway given their connections and geographic location (Wheaton, IL) where there is some serious money, especially for a project of this historical significance.
 
Charles Johnson said:
$750,000? That's crazy money.
I could do a volume of Polanus for 3 or 4,000.
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Why not just do it for free in your spare time? Follow the Steve Dilday model. Translate bit by bit until you have completed the entire thing; this way you can have the right to charge much or charge little or nothing for your efforts. Sometimes the thing with Christianity is, if you see a need, and have the skills, just do it. Jesus will be more than happy to pay you for it upon arrival in our future abode, if not here as well.
 
davejonescue said:
Why not just do it for free in your spare time? Follow the Steve Dilday model. Translate bit by bit until you have completed the entire thing; this way you can have the right to charge much or charge little or nothing for your efforts. Sometimes the thing with Christianity is, if you see a need, and have the skills, just do it. Jesus will be more than happy to pay you for it upon arrival in our future abode, if not here as well.
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The answer to your question is that it would get done a lot faster if I were receiving funding, because I have a family to support, and I can't take off from my day job to translate Latin books, which takes a lot of time. Perhaps more than people realize.
Or, to put it as the Apostle did, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
 
Charles Johnson said:
The answer to your question is that it would get done a lot faster if I were receiving funding, because I have a family to support, and I can't take off from my day job to translate Latin books, which takes a lot of time. Perhaps more than people realize.
Or, to put it as the Apostle did, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
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To each their own, but I like the sound of Mark 10:30. Admittedly, translational work of this nature isn’t necessarily for the Lord’s sake or the gospel’s, but talk about a return on investment!
 
Bavinck had John Bolt and the Dutch Translation Society backing the translation. van Mastricht has RHB as the project. Polanus has 10 volumes which is quite sizeable for any one individual. The Latin scholars are there for the project but I would think they need some backing up. Bavinck and PvM has some demand for the laypeople and pastors, but Polanus may be harder to justify. Turretin only had 3 volumes.
 
CHSalzgeber said:
To each their own, but I like the sound of Mark 10:30. Admittedly, translational work of this nature isn’t necessarily for the Lord’s sake or the gospel’s, but talk about a return on investment!
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"So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother [c]or wife or children or [d]lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life."
Hey, if you'll sell your house to fund a translation, all the power to you.
 
Charles Johnson said:
The answer to your question is that it would get done a lot faster if I were receiving funding, because I have a family to support, and I can't take off from my day job to translate Latin books, which takes a lot of time. Perhaps more than people realize.
Or, to put it as the Apostle did, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
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The thing is, is this work has set dormant for hundreds of years. Admittingly, we would all like to take off our day jobs to do the Lords work, isnt that almost every Christians dream? But sometimes the adage goes "if you want to see the change, you have to be the change." But just think about if all the volunteers in the church quoted Paul? Who would watch the children, who would hand out coffee, who would do the soundboard, who would tend the parking lot; what about deacons who tend to the flock, many times unsalaried? Paul also said he would work with his own hands as not to burden others with the cost of his ministering the Gospel. As someone shed light to me, sometimes doing it slowly is better than not doing it at all; and, if God has gifted you with the ability to translate Latin, are you going to sit on that gift until you get paid; or, are you going to exercise it trusting the Lord will recompense even if man does not. No hate, it is totally up to you, but having a volume translated first, so people can see what they are investing in, may be more pertinent to the mission of receiving funding than simply stating pay me before I start.
 
Charles Johnson said:
"So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother [c]or wife or children or [d]lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life."
Hey, if you'll sell your house to fund a translation, all the power to you.
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That's not really what's in view here. I was more trying to encourage you along similar lines as Mr. Dave. A worker is worthy of his wages, yet laboring to be rewarded here on Earth is often shortsighted in the context of eternity. Like Esau trading a birthright for a bowl of soup. There's folks who work for money and that's wonderful. I'm one of them, too. So I'm not looking down on people who do this. But when it comes to spiritual things, well, no one is paying me to pass out tracts, I'll say that.

What do you have that you weren't given? Who ultimately gave it to you and for what purpose? Why are we here, anyway?

Food for thought.
 
I'd also like to point out, for those who love to talk about how much they'd like such and such work translated, these works are all free, online, in Latin. Nothing is stopping you from picking up a Latin lexicon and reading them. It's not reasonable to ask others to make great sacrifices to translate without pay when you won't make the sacrifice of learning to read something that's freely available to you. We're not living in the 15th century, where a Latin book could only be obtained by a member of the clergy or a wealthy laymen.
 
Charles Johnson said:
I'd also like to point out, for those who love to talk about how much they'd like such and such work translated, these works are all free, online, in Latin. Nothing is stopping you from picking up a Latin lexicon and reading them. It's not reasonable to ask others to make great sacrifices to translate without pay when you won't make the sacrifice of learning to read something that's freely available to you. We're not living in the 15th century, where a Latin book could only be obtained by a member of the clergy or a wealthy laymen.
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Its perfectly fine brother, I think we all see your point; again, no hate. Maybe get together a plan, a sample of the translation, and a projected time of completion and do what someone mentioned like on Kickstarter. Have a blessed day.

If you can set up a project webpage, that can receive monthly withdrawals, you have $50 a month from me. Cant speak for others. If you can convince just 7 other people in the entire world to do the same, there is your $4,000 a year/per volume.

Go to Google Domains, pay $14 for a site like polanus .com or org, explain your plan, and get with the business. We're waiting on you.
 
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davejonescue said:
Its perfectly fine brother, I think we all see your point; again, no hate. Maybe get together a plan, a sample of the translation, and a projected time of completion and do what someone mentioned like on Kickstarter. Have a blessed day.

If you can set up a project webpage, that can receive monthly withdrawals, you have $50 a month from me. Cant speak for others. If you can convince just 7 other people in the entire world to do the same, there is your $4,000 a year/per volume.

Go to Google Domains, pay $14 for a site like polanus .com or org, explain your plan, and get with the business. We're waiting on you.
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I could do something like that. I have to finish up my current project first (Hoornbeeck), but it's nearing completion, so that shouldn't be an issue.
 
Charles Johnson said:
I could do something like that. I have to finish up my current project first (Hoornbeeck), but it's nearing completion, so that shouldn't be an issue.
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Yes please do. You would be surprised just how easy (it should be) for someone to raise $4,000 per volume. for such a desired project like this And honestly, after the first volume, those who werent on board, will be. If all the people who say they want to see Polanus translated, put their money where their mouth is, it should be no problem. Use your former translations as examples. If in all of Reformed theology you can get just 50 to put $10 a month, you would be set. Many would do that just for no-cost digital editions when they come out as a gift for funding. Nobody is taking Logos seriously anymore that they even care about the project. Someone that actually does would give people hope. Look forward to seeing you get this going, please post here when you do, and, if I dont see it, please message me so I can get on board.

This is going to be awesome!!!
 
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davejonescue said:
Check that. I am going to instead give a shot at retyping the second edition. When comparing it to the first, as I had downloaded it from Proquest, there seems to be some significant corrections and additions in the 1605 as opposed to the 1595. This is good because it is a pretty short work, which will give me experience doing it and give me a good self-window on how long it should take. Like I said above, it will give my mind a rest from the sermons for a few days or weeks.
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I think something like this has been made available on Amazon.
 
Charles Johnson said:
I think something like this has been made available on Amazon.
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Well, I spent about 7-10 hours on it yesterday and only got 7 pages done. I guess one of my gifts is not typing (or, at least I need to learn it first.) I am going to have to come back to it when and if I have more time; I just don't have the time to dedicate to it right now at my level of typing. But, I did see there is a huge difference between the final and first edition. I will try and do a couple pages each day, but it may take a couple months instead of a few days doing it slowly. But this work seems worthy of retype; so I cant just leave it alone.

The revealed is that which is manifest unto men, either by the word of God, or by event; for that which falleth out, therefor falleth out, because God would have it to fall out.
The secret or hidden will, is also open and manifested, in that time that God hath set.
Moreover, the will of God, is either the goodness of God, or the justice of God.
The goodness of God, is by his will, by which he himself is by all means good, being both in himself and without himself, the author of all good things.
In himself he is good, by his essence and chiefly.
In his essence, because he is good, not by participation of good from another, but naturally, and of himself, and that from eternity; neither is he so, by any accidental goodness, but it is his own very goodness.
Chiefly, because he only is the chief good, that is to be desired of all.
Without himself he is the author of all goodness, both in making so many good creatures, and also by doing good to the creatures that he hath made.
This goodness of God, by which he is the author of all good things without himself, is either general or special.
General is that, which generally extendeth itself unto all creatures, not only towards them, which have continued in that goodness in which they were created, but also towards those which have fallen from their first goodness, as towards the evil Angels, and wicked men.
The special goodness of God is that, by which God willeth well to the elect Angels, and his chosen amongst men. Psal. 73:1
Moreover, the goodness of God is the fountain of the grace, love, mercy, patience, and clemency of God.
The grace of God, is Gods most gentle good will, and his fatherly favor and will, by which he fatherly embraceth us unworthy of it, and no man deserving of it. Gen. 6:8, Luk. 1:30, Tit. 2:11.
And this grace is truly and rightly termed the grace, that maketh us accepted before God.
But it is not powered into us.
Neither is it a quality inherent in us, but remaineth only in God himself.
 
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