Why are there so many different "Versions" of the Bible?

Question

Perhaps the truth has been lost in translation over the years. No language can be translated literally from one language to the next, not even in modern times.

What is the reason for having so many different versions of one Bible that is supposed to be absolute "truth". Why is it that Christians believe they can pick and choose which to follow and which not to follow? How do you know which one you believe to be "true"?

Let me rephrase. It do not mean how do I know which version to believe, because I believe in NO version of the Bible. I am curious as to how Christians decide which version THEY follow.

Answer 1

The Hebrew Bible, or the Christian Old Testament, is a collection of stories that were passed down through an oral tradition. They were eventually written down and passed down that way. They were all handwritten, and errors could have occurred with the new editions. When Christianity started, the oldest books in the New Testament were written about 50 years after Jesus died. There wasn’t a set book either. Each congregation probably had a few copies of letters from Paul and some other writings. When the Christians had the Hebrew Bible, they needed it translated into Latin. It wasn’t until Constantine commissioned to have books made for him did the Christians sit down and make a canon. Books went in, and books went out. Not all of the books were written in the same language in the first place. A lot of redacting occurred.

When Christianity spread, the primary language was Latin. People would try and translate it into the popular vernacular, but they were typically burned at the stake. Older translations, like the King James Version, though beautiful and poetic, are not very accurate. Since then, older texts have been found and translated. Modern scholars rely on many sources for translation, and they work together. I would suggest getting The New Oxford Annotated Bible, New Revised Standard Version with the Apocrypha. If there is any debate over translation, it’s in the footnotes.

Answer 2

First of all, it is because the businesses that publish all the versions are in it to make money.
The businesses own the right but that doesn't make them Christian.
Look at it this way, Satan wants you not to know what God wants. So he puts out all these versions so you will never find the truth.
It is a lot like the war. Japan had a code, they sent coded messages for missions that they wanted accomplished. Americans finally broke their code and then sent hundreds of messages out there for useless missions. The Japs didn't know which missions were real and which were fake. They got confused and their plans where hindered.
This is just like what Satan does with all the other versions.
Something to think about.
1)Most people just had the King James 100 years ago, so this wasn't an issue.
2) Only the King James isn't copyrighted. so anyone can publish a copy and distribute it.

You figure it out.

Answer 3

The oldest translation of the bible is the DOUAY-RHEIMS version first published around 1582. It is still available through TAN Publishing company on line. There are so many translations because of the Protestant Reformation. Best to go back to the original version. How do you know what to believe? Well, before the bible was made into a book that could be printed or copied, there was something called "TRADITION." People lived out their faith following tradition that had been handed down since the time of Christ. Tradition and the written word of the bible must correspond.....well, I could go on and on.....but....

Answer 4

As people became more educated and more and more of the church's beleifs was proven to be incorrect (such as the world was flat, the earth was the center of the universe) The bible was changed to support a new beliver as the old had seen it's best days.
Most religious sects now know the truth of god, religion ect but hold it under raps until such time as it's no longer possible tio keep the truth from the faithful.
When the dead sea scrolls was discover the catholic church announced that I would be fifty years before the mankind could accept the facts taken from them.
Recently the catholic church annouced their acceptance that evolution was the method by which we got here , but intended to convey the idea that god was behind evolution.

Answer 5

Because, like you said, you can't literally translate languages from one language to the next. There may be different versions of the Bible, but deep down they are all the same and have the same meaning.

Answer 6

no bible is true mind you but i will put my two cents in since you asked why different bibles and all. first off all the bibles pretty much say the same thing just different words and meanings to each word as is but since the church was divided into 30,000 different sects one can only assume that they take some thing literal in the bible and spread it differently but the teachings are still the same way just taught differently and read differently.

the J.W.'s have the holy scriptures which say just about every thing the K.J.V. says and the catholic bible has more books than the baptist bible may have.

the holy scriptures are simply a bunch of chosen books and the name of god to them is Jehovah.

Answer 7

Because PEOPLE want to know the TRUTH, (what GOD said).
Translation's, seem's to be all we got, but the WORD of GOD is in them.
The HOLY SPIRIT (HE live's inside of Children of GOD) will Confirm the WORD of GOD if you Learn how to Hear HIM. Take's time. Yes, you can be Decieved as a Child of GOD, but your Still a Child of GOD.
IT would be nice to have the Original's and be able to Understand the Language's they were written in.
I use the King Jame's Version and a Amplified Bible, to understand the Word's in the K.J.V., and alot of Teaching Tape's, CD's, Magazine's so on, I ask GOD, in JESUS's Name, to keep me outta all Deception (eat the Hay and Throw away the Stick's).
Yep, I have been down almost every kind of Wrong Thinking (Deception, Lie's) trying to Understand the BIBLE, but IF I hang in there, the HOLY SPIRIT get's me the TRUTH eventually.

Did you know that GOD can Teach ANYBODY (Lost or Saved) using your Eye's?
You can Look at something (a broken down Neighbor's Wall with Weed's growing on it?) and ask GOD what's going on? If you Listen very quietly, GOD will show you something.
GOD is not owned by HIS CHILDREN(Christian's), or anyone or anything.
GOD is FOR all HUMAN BEING's.
Hope this helps.

Answer 8

Most Bibles say pretty much the same thing: God, Christ, Salvation, etc. There are different people who speak different languages and have different levels of understanding, therefore it is sometimes necessary to translate and make different versions, for example for teenagers and different cultures.

Answer 9

not to mention all the various "books" that got dumped and never made it into today's version. Quite amazing the whole notion of a bible. A real deity would never rely upon something like men writing to other men (or telling stories verbally) in order to communicate with humans, the deity would just communicate directly with every individual.

It works like this:

Deity thinks "I want man to know of me".

Then it happens, instantly, and for all humans for all time.

Well, at least it would for any omnimax deity.

Answer 10

Are the different "versions" of the Bible materially different in their tone and message? If not, I'm not sure that it's that huge of a deal...

I personally prefer to have a second point of data to corroborate Bible teachings. My second "witness" is the Book of Mormon. Check it out: www.lds.org