We find it all in 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 (KJV).

The letter of St Paul to the Corinthians is fully dedicated to making the point of how important the word of God is to be properly translated into other languages, not from a linguistic point of view but also from the point of view of being a true interpretation of the word of God, and preserves the correct message of the Gospel! A translator cannot be only a “translator” but also an interpreter! Let’s give some quotes, including my explanation in brackets:

” For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue (the translator) speaketh not unto men, but unto God (the translator does not translate for men but for God): for no man understandeth him (nobody who is supposed to read the translated text can attest whether the translation is good or bad); howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries (in spirit the Gospel conveys the mysteries of God thus the translation needs to convey the same spirit).”

“I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” (I wish all of you could translate to other languages, but I would rather have you prophesy – be in the spirit of God – for greater is the one who is in the spirit of God than the one that just has the ability to speak multiple languages; but if it happens that the translator not only translates but also correctly interprets, that same one is greater than the prophets for it leads to the edification of the word of God amongst others!)

“Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me” (If the one that is supposed to read the translated text cannot grasp the spirit of the Gospel then that same one becomes estranged to God)

“For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” (one first needs to be able to grasp the spirit of God in the text which the same one reads in his own language)

“Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. ” (it is all about the quality of the translation, not the quantity)

And I could go on and on and on … every single verse in St Paul’s letter strikes the same note …