Christians - what are your thoughts on this Bible trivia?

Question

Martin Luther was the first to translate the Bible into the native langage of his country (German) so that common people could read it for themselves. In his first translation he actually left out the commandment about not making graven images - just because he personally didn't agree with it!! He went on to revise his own translation over 40 times during his life. (and was more or less forced to put back in the commandment he left out!!)

So, what does this say about the accuracy and infallability of the Bible that you read every day?

For the record, this story is TRUE. Most books on Bible history will state this. Try the Cambridge History of the Bible, produced by Cambridge University. The point being - not all translations could have been completely accurate and infallible - just as today that cannot be the case either.

Answer 1

Barometer Soup,
I have never read a book in German, and so the same is true, the Bible.

Martin Luther was different. He risked a lot by doing what he did, including his life. I doubt if anyone here did anything close to being as great as what he did.

And didn't you say that he put it back in? IF your story is true, then you are being a bit funny about all this? Ya think?

I would never tell anyone that the Bible is infallible, neither would I say it was inerrant.

Answer 2

Martin Luther was a monk who's job it was to copy bibles by hand in Latin. Guttenberg make the bible available to the public when he invented movable type. Prior to public bibles the stories were depicted on doors by carvings and in windows. It was Luther's repetitive copying that led his to write the 95 Theses about what was wrong with the Roman Church. All he wanted was a debate. It was never his intention to start a revolution.
Luther's writings have more volume's than an encyclopedia. And his consistency wanders a bit . Luther's Small Catechism is still the standard for explanation of the Creeds,Lords Prayer and the Commandments.
The Roman Church is the one that condoned Praying to statues and paying for candles and buying indulgences to get money to build Churches and influence Government.
You need to stop playing trivial pursuit and get a real education.

Answer 3

You know it never ceases to amaze me how often people like to offer the excuse of the "accuracy or infallability" of the bible. First off, the Bible, is 66 books (God's # for mankind) it was written (compiled) over a 1500 year period, by several different authors, & has maintained it's credibility throughout the ages, despite people trying to discredit it! God holds each & everyone ACCOUNTABLE for the information that we seek in TRUTH! Since God cannot lie, & He says that if we seek Him with ALL OUR HEARTS...we WILL find Him!! We cannot accept any truth just because it "seems" right, or just sounds good, or what we "want to hear"...we have to want the plain truth! God will lead you there, IF the real truth is what you seek!!

Answer 4

the first bible translated was the version of the 70's it was the old testament from hebrew or aramaic to greek.. there were some mistakes like in isaiah 7:14 where the original texts it's talking about a young lady.. the version of 70's translated like "virgin" soo then since that mistake.. in the gospel according to Matthew there is the same verse but with the version of 70's, if you checked a Hebrew Bible you will find many parts of the old testament are quoted in the New testament were changed according to the jesus's life..that's the reason many jews dont accept jesus as messiah..

Answer 5

moreover, one might argue: there may have been errors or deliberate changes in translation, but we do have the original Hebrew text (at least of the old testament). However, this is not the case. See the last paragraph of this article:

For after we have already proven that the Torah was twice forgotten and it was rewritten in a different script (and according to the Gemara in another language, as well), who can prove and show that the Torah which was renewed is that which was forgotten? What was forgotten had disappeared, and we will never know what it really was.

the full article is available in http://www.daatemet.org.il/pamphlets/en_pamphlet9.html

Answer 6

Well, he put it back in didn't he? The commandment that is.

As for his revisions... I praise God that Luther was diligent enough to revise as many times as he needed to, if that meant he became more and more accurate with his 'translations'.

To me, it shows the accuracy of the Scriptures in spite of what man may do to it, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

To me, your story here assures me that God will not allow a man to rest, being inspired by God to prepare His Word properly for all the world to see and know that He alone is God Almighty, forever and ever!

PS You might also be interested to study The SCRIBES and learn what their schooling was like and how accurate they actually had to be in order to be commissioned to copy Scriptures for others. Granted they were not 'translators" but this is one example of the care God put into maintaining His Word through the ages.

It does not surprise me that God may have "hounded" Luther until he "got it right", even if it meant having him re-do his work some 40 times or more.

Answer 7

200 years before Christ the Jews translated their Hebrew Scriptures into Greek (Septuagint LXX)

Martin Luther used the Vulgate (a latin translation of the Hebrew / Greek manuscripts of his day)

The Vulgate came about because Latin replaced Greek as the common language and was made so the common people could read it.

The need for the German bible came about centuries later when only the "priests" could read latin, and they wanted to keep the bible a secret.

Answer 8

I think you are misinformed. It is the Catholics who want to leave out the portion of the first commandment that talks about the graven images because it gives them problems with all those statues in their churches. The Lutheran's do not worship statues and are not under the authority of the Pope. Unless it's changed in the last few years.

Answer 9

I believe the Bible is a flawed, man-made book. Martin Luther is not the only one to translate and revise the Bible. He is but one of many people who have bastardized an already flawed collection of so-called "God inspired" writings by a bunch of questionable unknown authors.

Answer 10

It really doesn't matter what one man in Germany did or didn't do centuries ago. Have a lot at the link below and hopefully you'll understand why we trust the New International Version of the Bible.