God’s New Covenant: A New Testament Translation

Description

God’s New Covenant: A New Testament Translation (1989) by Heinz W. Cassirer is a posthumously published English translation of the New Testament by a Jewish classicist and philosopher who converted to Christianity later in life. Cassirer completed the translation in just 13 months, driven by his engagement with the Greek text and his desire to bridge his Jewish heritage with Christian theology.

Translation Approach
Cassirer’s work blends formal and dynamic equivalence, prioritizing clarity while retaining scholarly rigor. His rendering of terms like aionios as “eonian” reflects nuanced theological choices, though some passages adopt expansive phrasing (e.g., Mark 1:4 stretches five Greek words into 22 English words). The translation avoids overtly Christian confessional language, retaining terms like “church” and “baptism” without reinterpreting them through a Jewish lens.

Stylistic Features
The prose is often formal, with repetitive phrasing in dialogue introductions (e.g., “Jesus answered him thus…”). Cassirer’s inclusive language adjustments, such as replacing “man” with “person,” were partially edited posthumously to streamline text, though some changes introduced subtle shifts in meaning (e.g., “every nation” vs. “any and every nation” in Matthew 28:19).

Legacy
Edited by Ronald Weitzman, the translation gained attention for its fresh perspective and scholarly depth, though its dense style limited accessibility. Cassirer’s work remains notable for its fusion of Jewish intellectual tradition with Christian scripture, offering a unique lens on New Testament interpretation.