Abstract
This article compares the work of a modern Bible translator, Max L. Margolis (editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society's Bible translation of 1917), to that of an ancient counterpart, Theodotion (who is credited with the preparation of a Greek translation of the Bible). Among the most significant features common to the versions produced by both is that they are revisions of existing texts (in English and Greek) rather than fresh translations from the Hebrew. Through an examination of the extensive documentation available for the modern period, the personal and professional context is established in which Margolis' activities can be properly understood and evaluated. Lacking such documentation for antiquity, scholars have resorted to a variety of approaches to shed light on the circumstances in which ancient translators like Theodotion worked. The current status of scholarly opinion about Theodotion and his Greek text is reviewed and assessed. In the process, there are comparisons with Margolis in order to expand our scant knowledge of Theodotion's goals, methods, and motivations. These efforts open up the possibility of similar comparative studies for other ancient and modern figures.