I know this question has been asked before, but I wasn't bothered to open it up?

Question

So Christians, why ARE there so many versions of the Bible? Wouldn't two be enough? And how many versions are there in the world?

I'm not hating, I still love you people! =)

Answer 1

Well-----King James Verion is in old "elizabethan" english
NIV-----most commony used
Messanger Bible-----for teens with notes
English version----for adults or teens, very basic english, no notes
Pop up Bible----for babies!

Hope I helped

Blessings,
David

Answer 2

The Bible is only one, translations did help people to have it in the common language; despite some religions effort to hide it from.
Here are some,
My preferred, New world Translation

AS - American Standard Version (1901; as printed in 1944), American Revision Committee.

AT - The Bible—An American Translation (1935), J. M. Powis Smith and Edgar J. Goodspeed.

By - The Bible in Living English (published in 1972), Steven T. Byington.

CBW - The New Testament—A Translation in the Language of the People (1937; as printed in 1950), Charles B. Williams.

CC - The New Testament (1941; as printed in 1947), Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Revision.

CKW - The New Testament—A New Translation in Plain English (1963), Charles K. Williams.

Da - The ‘Holy Scriptures’ (1882; as printed in 1949), J. N. Darby.

Dy - Catholic Challoner-Douay Version (1750; as printed in 1941).

ED - The Emphatic Diaglott (1864; as printed in 1942), Benjamin Wilson.

Int - The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures (1969).

JB - The Jerusalem Bible (1966), Alexander Jones, general editor.

JP - The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text (1917), Jewish Publication Society of America.

KJ - King James Version (1611; as printed in 1942).

Kx - The Holy Bible (1954; as printed in 1956), Ronald A. Knox.

LEF - The Christian’s Bible—New Testament (1928), George N. LeFevre.

LXX - Greek Septuagint Version.

Mo - A New Translation of the Bible (1934), James Moffatt.

NAB - The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition (1970).

NE - The New English Bible (1970).

NTIV - The New Testament in an Improved Version (1808), published in London.

Ro - The Emphasised Bible (1897), Joseph B. Rotherham.

RS - Revised Standard Version, Second Edition (1971).

Sd - The Authentic New Testament (1958), Hugh J. Schonfield.

SE - The Simple English Bible—New Testament, American Edition (1981).

TC - The Twentieth Century New Testament, Revised Edition (1904).

TEV - Good News Bible—Today’s English Version (1976).

We - The New Testament in Modern Speech (1929; as printed in 1944), Richard F. Weymouth.

Yg - The Holy Bible, Revised Edition (1887), Robert Young.

Answer 3

There are a lot of different denominations within the Christian community. I do not know how many Bibles. The ones I know of is the Jewish, Catholic, King James, and the Mormon. I believe there are a few more not so well known. As time passed man attempted to write a better revised version according to their beliefs.

Answer 4

Not only are there SOOOOOO many versions of the Bible, there are SOOOOOO many interpretations of the Bible. There are also many ways to interpret the Koran and other religious texts.
The greater question is: Why is God, or Whoever, so damned inarticulate. Is God stupid? Why couldn't God have written clearly and given the same message to everyone in the world?
I wonder if science could study this question?
For example, is it possible for us to seek universal religious values and religious admonitions, religious rules?
Maybe science could help us make religious progress as fast as they made bigger and faster computers.
I still need a religious leader to show me how to use an iPod and a PDA. So, they wouldn't even be out of a job.

Answer 5

My wife is a seminary student studying Hebrew and Greek. There are very different ways to try to say in English what was understood back in ancient times. Do you try to make it as poetic as they did? Do you literally translate it word for word? Do you paraphrase to explain certain understood euphamisms of the time?

I'll give you an example. In the old testament, it is advised that a woman go to a man while he sleeps and uncover his feet and wake him. Some translations of the bible explain that this is a gentle way to wake the man up because his feet will get cold. Some say it was a symbol of respect for the man because the woman was below him in status. My wife tells me that in ancient Jewish culture, that was a euphamism for sex. Do you come out and say that or leave it obscure?

Thoughtful Christians disagree on how to deal with the text of Scripture, so there are various versions. Different versions speak to different people, and often you get different things out of each one. Often ministers will prepare a sermon by reading the translation in multiple editions of the bible (Or translating for themselves direct from the Hebrew/Greek) for some perspective.

Answer 6

Good question...

There are many versions because the variances in them are not in content - but in style if you will; meaning contemporary language, formal language, for children, etc. and while they do not compromise the original text they do appeal to people in unique ways. People are unique and diiferent styles will be easier to read, understand, etc. and there is nothing wrong with that.
These are NOT REVISIONS...it is like perhaps the language you would use with a friend, use with your boss, use in school...

I know of about a dozen well-known versions. I love "The Message" myself, which is called a paraphrase. It is written in the language Americans use with many familiar expressions. And it is very effective - I see things in a new way because of contemporary language I know being used to express things.

Answer 7

nicely, you may desire to offer up telling him to renounce. Then he would be thinking while you're ok and supply up gradually. or you may desire to take a seat down him down and clarify to him which you at the instant are not comfortable with him watching porn. for this reason, he can understand which you're on the factor once you will supply up intercourse (and no guy needs that!). And if that doesn't artwork, attempt and set up some variety of clear out from porn and notice if that works. If he comes up with a controversy for it, initiate telling him your thoughts lower back then say i am going for a walk or some thing to get remote from him. which will fairly make a guy understand which you're at your tip and that if he strikes one extra time, he's out!

Answer 8

All these english versions we have, KJV, NIV, NAS - are derived from Greek and Hebrew texts. And THOSE "original" sources also differ greatly. On top of which you have very particular meanings that are difficult to translate. For instance, there are 4 different words that are generally translated as "if" in the greek.

Answer 9

Translation is not easy and sometimes there cannot be only one way to translate some words, phrases, set of ideas. Then today with all the languages ppl speak in the world there needs to be more than one type of translation.

Answer 10

true there are many version of the bible. but the word of christ is only one and at this point no one knows what he said. but its easy to know that he said we must love one another and strive for peace. love thy neighbour etc. different versions come about because of the ego of the writer. they think they have a better interpretation of what jesus said hence they must must come out with another edition! so you seeee its the clergy that is to be blame for dividing the religion further. they dont realize this!