Today’s image is a composite of three views of galaxy cluster MS0735.6+7421, which is located in the constellation Camelopardus, approximately 2.6 billion light-years from earth: NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope in Feb. 2006, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory in Nov. 2003, and NRAO’s Very Large Array in Oct. 2004. (National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, New Mexico).
In this age of technology, not only can we see things using different instruments, giving us different views, but we can combine those views into useful composite images that give us a fuller understanding of what we are seeing. This is because each view gives context to the other.
That is why I consider biblical study, not done in the original languages, requires multiple translations, especially choosing ones with different characteristics. This is like looking at today’s galaxy cluster with different instruments. We do not limit ourselves to the opinion of one framework of observation. Translations all have bias, no matter how much they argue they do not, and no matter how hard the translators try to avoid it. They are part of the The World in Which We Think.
The Bible reminds us that in a multitude of counselors there is safety (Proverbs 11:14), which allows you to examine many possibilities and compare strengths and weaknesses. So, always use multiple translations when you study the Word.
Three-source view of galaxy cluster MSO735.6+7421
Higher resolution versions of these images can be found here.
