2006-10-21 16:27:08 · 13 answers · asked by v v 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This is what two experts said:
Old Testament:
In fact, the New World Translation is a scholarly work. In 1989, Professor Benjamin Kedar of Israel said:
"In my linguistic research in connection with the Hebrew Bible and translation, I often refer to the English edition as what is known as the New World Translation. In doing so, I find my feeling repeatedly confirmed that this kind of work reflects an honest endeavor to achieve an understanding of the text that is as accurate as possible. Giving evidence of a broad command of the original language, it renders the original words into a second language understandably without deviating unnecessarily from the specific structure of the Hebrew....Every statement of language allows for a certain latitude in interpreting or translating. So the linguistic solution in any given case may be open to debate. But I have never discovered in the New World Translation any biased intent to read something into the text that it does not contain."
New Testament:
While critical of some of its translation choices, BeDuhn called the New World Translation a “remarkably good” translation, “better by far” and “consistently better” than some of the others considered. Overall, concluded BeDuhn, the New World Translation “is one of the most accurate English translations of the New Testament currently available” and “the most accurate of the translations compared.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament.
“Here at last is a comprehensive comparison of nine major translations of the Bible:
King James Version,
New American Standard Bible,
New International Version,
New Revised Standard Version,
New American Bible,
Amplified Bible,
Today's English Version (Good News Bible),
Living Bible,
and the New World Translation.
The book provides a general introduction to the history and methods of Bible translation, and gives background on each of these versions. Then it compares them on key passages of the New Testament to determine their accuracy and identify their bias. Passages looked at include:
John 1:1; John 8:58; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1
Jason BeDuhn
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Chair
Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion
Northern Arizona University
2006-10-24 05:31:23 · answer #1 · answered by TeeM 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The different versions of the Bible have minute differences, mostly in style, and not substance. It actually helps that there are many translations, so that you get the feel for what is being said in the original.
Naturally, there are some that are only good for readability, and not serious study. This is because the translators have taken liberties with the text to make it "today." Some of these are The Living Bible, and The Message.
Others fall into two categories: Literal or dynamic equivalence. Literal Bibles strive for a word for word translation, in the proper sentence structure and syntax. The others try for a though for thought translation, because some Greek to English words don't translate well.
Either way, it is because we have so many to choose from, that we can be even more certain (not less) of what the message is about.
2006-10-21 23:33:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Experience is the best key to undertstanding the Bible, nothing can replace it.
I believe God knew that humans couldnt manage to keep every single detail the same, and so on reading and experiencing it God irons out the faults in each, just as one cannot understand the whole Bible in one sitting and may be ignorant of a lot of things in it, one may also have a version of the Bible that differs slightly in detail from the very first one. God irons the differences and can teach anyone no matter what Bible they have and read. The words are only half the story. The whole point is that you dont have to believe all the details to be a Christian but only in the one thing they all agree on, Jesus as Gods son.
2006-10-21 23:48:40 · answer #3 · answered by Zinc 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
And with so many typos and mistranslations, who can really tell?
Or would you like the Black Bible Chronicles (sometimnes referreds to as the Ebonics Bible)
The 10 Commandments:
I am the Almighty, your God, who brought you outta Egypt when things were tough. Don't put anyone else before Me.
Don't make any carved objects or things that look like what is in heaven or below. And don't bow down to these things like they are anything heavy. Not ever!
You shouldn't dis the Almighty's name, using it in cuss words or rapping with one another. It ain't cool, and payback's a monster.
After you've worked six days, give the seventh to the Almighty. (The Almightly made the heavens and earth in six days. He rested on the seventh day and blessed it as right on.)
You shouldn't be takin' nothin' from your homeboys.
Give honor to your mom and dad, and you'll live a long time.
Don't waste nobody.
Don't mess around with someone else's ol' man or ol' lady.
Don't go 'round telling lies on your homebuddies.
Don't want what you can't have or what your homebuddy has. It ain't cool.
2006-10-21 23:32:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why are there so many religions or Denominations of Christianity?
THe Best way to answer this question is with a scripture. Turn to James Chapter 1 verse 5 and 6. Follow that advice.
2006-10-22 00:59:43 · answer #5 · answered by kcyesye 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they all have basic messages that's true.. but they were written a long time after Jesus died and so these bibles are not the original words of god.. so it is twisted by men.. the thing that makes me so sorry is that they have twisted the main and most important aspect of religion which is that god is one, has no son and he's the creator of all mankind..
The Romans has many son of gods in there old gods before Christianity.. it is a romantic but untrue that Jesus is god or his son and that he died for our sins so we do anything and we will go to heaven ..
2006-10-21 23:34:33 · answer #6 · answered by m_a_fouda 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
if you're talking about the holy bible..they all mean the same thing..it just different versons so people can understand it better
2006-10-21 23:30:50 · answer #7 · answered by Leslie V 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you want to learn very early languages you could get a good idea.
2006-10-21 23:30:12 · answer #8 · answered by Visual Cliff 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
none of them are. all the authors wrote according to their interpretation...and then all the translators wrote their interpretations. it's all propaganda to keep people fearful and in line. rather than teaching people to believe in themselves, common sense, and developing personal integrity to live by.
by the way, i am not a christian hater. i'm native american and was not raised with christian beliefs. there is a lot of history of christianity not being a very positive "thing" for indigenous peoples...but, whatever floats your canoe is okay with me dudes.
2006-10-21 23:40:03 · answer #9 · answered by pirate00girl 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They all have the same basic message...does it matter when you keep that in mind?
2006-10-21 23:29:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋