A Comparative Study of Two Chinese Versions of “<i>The Holy Bible</i>” from the Perspective of Skopos Theory

本文以弗米尔的目的论为理论框架，结合宗教文本翻译的神圣性、文化负载性特征，对比研究《圣经》和合本(CUV)与吕振中译本的翻译策略。通过分析两大译本在目的原则主导下的功能定位差异(和合本侧重传教劝化，吕译本侧重学术考据)、连贯性原则驱动的语言调适：白话口语化以及原文形式保留及忠实原则映照的文化协商：神学概念的本土化诠释以及希伯来语源的异化再现，揭示翻译目的如何形塑宗教文本的跨文化传播路径。研究发现，和合本通过意译、增译实现“福音易懂性”，吕译本以直译、异化保留“经文原真性”，二者分别体现了翻译目的对宗教文本双重属性(神圣性与世俗性)的差异化回应。This paper takes Vermeer’s teleology as the theoretical framework, and combines the sacredness and cultural load characteristics of religious text translation to compare and study the translation strategies of the Chinese Union Version of the Holy Bible (CUV) and Lyu Zhenzhong’s translation. By analyzing the functional positioning differences between the two major translations under the principle of purpose: the CUV version focuses on preaching and persuasion, while the Lyu’s version focuses on academic research, the coherence principle driven language adaptation: colloquialization of vernacular language, preservation of original form, and cultural negotiation reflected by the fidelity principle: localization interpretation of theological concepts, and alienation reproduction of Hebrew etymology. This study reveals how translation purposes shape the cross-cultural dissemination path of religious texts. This study has also found that the CUV version achieves “gospel comprehensibility” through free translation and additional translation, while the Lyu’s translation preserves “scripture authenticity” through literal translation and foreignization. Both verisons reflect the differentiated response of translation purposes to the dual attributes of religious texts (sacredness and secularism).