Throughout history, most Jewish and Christian believers have understood scripture not in the languages in which it was first written but rather in their own—in translation. Far from a mere academic exercise, biblical translation has shaped how we answer faith's most enduring questions about the nature of God and the possibility of salvation. In addition to considering questions of literal versus free translation, literary style, and inclusive language, Oxford's John Barton draws out scriptural translation's role at critical junctures in religious history.