Why is the bible not in American english?

Question

The new King George Bush should update it.

Seriously. Inquiring minds want to know.

Answer 1

There is a new online edition on the way being compiled specially for people like Dubya.

Bear in mind it is a work in progress.
Here is the link.
http://www.thebricktestament.com/index.html

And here is a link from Dubya's own favorites list
http://www.truechristian.com/christianscience.html

Answer 2

The Bible is in "American English." Try the New American Standard Bible, The New International Version, The New Living Translation, to name a few.

Seriously, inquiring minds should inquire a bit more.

Answer 3

Modern American English is a very mercurial language. Words and meanings change every day. This is true for all living languages, but American English seems to be especially fluid. By the time a "new American English" translation was approved, the words wouldn't necessarily quite work.

There is, by the way, a translation of the bible called the "New American Bible." It's an official Roman Catholic translation, which will turn some people off, but it's pretty good.

Answer 4

There is a translation that comes from the Hebrew, translated into English. It has been researched verse by verse. Goes back to many authoritative sources. It is available at on line book stores. It is called the Book of Yahweh The Holy Scriptures. If you visit yahweh.com you can preview the book and read the Preface which will give you more information. It is the most accurate to the original you can find.

Answer 5

Because it is a marketing tool. Would you buy a religion that had some BillyBob speaking like a trailer park lawyer? Americans always think that if the Bible is written like 'old-timey' English translations, then it must be passed down from God that way. If it was too familiar, then they might suspect it is just a translation. As long as they think it is 'old', they think they have something. Just like people paying more money for French wine when California wine is better, or going to the Sak's Fifth Avenue and paying 300 bucks for a dress they could get at Kmart for 20 bucks.

Answer 6

It is

you must never have read

The Message (one of the street languae versions well ok written in Canada but pretty close huh??)
The LIving Bible (paraphrased originally for children)
The Phillips Translation (this lists many synonys to help someone meditate on a verse)
Good News (contemporary language)
The New English (well prbably better for British)

I prefer the essentialliy leteral ones
English Standard Version
New King James
both read well and in general dont impose particular translation choices

Answer 7

If you are serious, you can shop around for Bibles that are translated into more contemporary language. I think the New International Version is something like that.

Bible translation, history, and critical scholarship are awesomely interesting fields... the Bible is not as the hard core fanatics claim it is, (the literalists are dead wrong and scholars have known that for decades if not centuries) and not as it appears on the surface. I have sure had an education the last couple of years learning about Bible history and Bible scholarship. Boy oh boy...

Answer 8

There are more Bibles out than you know. I spent 4 hours online one night looking for one I wanted to buy: New King James, New American Standard Version, New International Version, Living Bible, the Message Bible, and so on...there are even Bibles written in slang (but that really is crossing over to being sacreligious).

Answer 9

If George Bush were to update the Bible, it would be a pop up and on cardboard pages. No thanks, I'll stick with the real one. You know you can get versions of it that is in American English.
And you have to remember...the Bible was not originally written in English, so just be glad you have access to one in English. Try reading one in Hebrew or Greek!!

Answer 10

Actually, most of the modern translations of the Bible are mostly consistent with American English, such as the NIV and the NRSV. I recommend looking into those.