If God's words are law, then why are there so many versions of what should be only one bible?

Answer 1

What might you think a 'version' is?
It is simply one way to say something.
There are a variety of ways to say the same thing.
There is but one Bible, but a variety of ways to relay its main theme.
Goodbye
See you
So long
Have a happy.......

Answer 2

well first let's get it straight.. not all of GOD'S words are law. some are testimony, like history, some are prophesies, some are poetry, and so on. the LAW OF GOD is HIS WORD. they testify of HIS character. in response to the many versions of what should be one BIBLE, the answer is we have an enemy. the history of the source for all translation dates back to the waldenses, in a time of history when the printing press was first invented.. these people for 100's of years had the responsibility of translating and hand writing the scripture known as the MAJORITY TEXT. these people heard that the pope of the catholic church wanted to translate the bible so they sent a messenger to tell him what they had. he in return killed the messenger and sent an army to kill the waldenses and take the majority text. they heard what was coming and sent the majority text to a noncatholic country, England, and King James. ring a bell? the people were murdered, pushed off of cliffs. they died for the WORD OF GOD. when ole popey heard that the m.t. had been sent to England he told the spanish king to go after England and the M.T. hAVE U HEARD OF THE SPANISH ARMADA? YEP, THE GREATEST FLEET IN THE OCEANS. AND DID U HEAR OF THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA? By Sir France Drake? wel as it turned out the Britsh Fleet was faster and sailed circles around the s.a. and kicked their butts.. the most interesting part is that the spanish armada retreated to the north side of the British islands where it would be safe.. or would they? it was a place known to be protected by storms.. Well u can't run from the CREATOR, and sure enough a hurricane sailed straight into the mouth of the inlet where the s.a. was moored. wiped them out.. so u see friends GOD has protected HIS word. and those people who defended it? they knew where HEAVEN IS, and put their treasures there.. so if u wanna know the best translation look for the BIBLE that is based on the MAJORITY TEXT, not he latin vulgate or catholic version.

Answer 3

"...and cross-cultural translation will almost always create error."

For an unbiased approach to the Biblical texts in original context and meaning (that is, Hebrew = Old Testament, Greek = New Testament), I recommend Tentmaker.Org.

The author of Bible-Truths.Com is a tad aggressive, but his insights are entirely accurate.

Yet the idea remains the same, beyond error-ridden translation; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201;&version=15;

Here is an outline (according to a correct interpretation of the Hebrew and Greek):

1. "An infinite being, God, created the Heavens and the Earth at some unspecified time in the past". (Note: We have discovered this time to be approximately 13.7 Billion Years Ago; the Earth was "formed" approximately 4.667 BYA.)

2. "His Spirit hovered above the face of the waters of the deep, and He said Let Light Be." Light broke through the cloud-covered sky (see VENUS).

3. The Creation story continues, using the basic Human concepts of "Morning" and "Evening" to explain the extremely long periods of geological time.

4. He chooses "the worst people group on the planet", the Jews, and makes them his "Chosen people"; this is "evidence to his power".

5. Out of this lowly and sinful culture comes the Messiah, who is the Moral Redeemer of all Mankind.

The Bible is very clear: Even if you do not accept the death of Christ, his death still occured; thus, his sacrifice "prepared a place for you in Heaven" whether it is despised or preferred.

Answer 4

For all the people saying "it's never changed", it has been translated. Aramaic, Hebrew, Koine Greek, Byzantine Greek, Syriac, Coptic, Ge'ez, Latin, and (modern) vernacular laguages (including a Cockney Rhyming Slang version) - and anyone who has done any translating knows that phrasing, intent, and/or meaning can get lost in translation.

So, you can imagine that over - what was the figure mentioned here - nearly 2000 years of translation that it has been editted, misinterpreted (literally and figuratively), and improved (ie, tweaked and changed 'for the better'). Also remember that it is only over that last century or two that the literacy rate of the population has been on the rise - for much of that "two thousand years", most people relied on someone else to 'read' the Bible for them. Play a game of 'Chinese Whispers' sometime to understand exactly what I am getting at...

I'm not saying that the Bible is intentionally corrupted in a bid for world domination - just that it has gone through a long path to get to it's present form. It may be the word of God, but it has been humans that have written down the words of the Bible - and humans have a tendency for "only listening to what they want to hear"... (I believe the phrase that comes to mind is "never changes my butt"...)

Answer 5

The Old Testament original language was mostly in Hebrew and the NT mostly in Greek. When it is translated into English it's difficult to get the exact phrasing and sentiment because some words do not have an English parallel. Several have attempted to do it in different ways which is why there is such variety of English Bibles even though they use the same original text. Probably your best way to understand the whole of it it is to learn Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. ;) But that's unlikely for most people. (I just finished putting hubby through 8 1/2 years of Biblical language training).

Answer 6

The NASB is the most literal word for word translation of the best available manuscripts. The NIV is a dynamic phrase for phrase(thought for thought) translation using the best available manuscripts. The NKJV and the KJV are also more literal translations with a devotional quality to them. The front of each Bible tells how they translated it. www.equip.org

Answer 7

It is because very few people today can read the ancient Hebrew and Greek languages in which the Bible was written. Has as been translated into English (and other languages) to make it readable for everyone.

Why many translations? Because over time languages change, every couple generations it will need to be revisited to keep the English current (For do you want to read it as first translated into English: For God so loued ye world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.)

If you compare all the Bibles in a bookstore, you will discover that many of them are the exact same word for word translation - but with different extra added. Study note, commentaries, colored verse to show subjects, for teens, for new weddings, for singles, etc. The difference is in the extra, not in the text of the Bible.

Plus different Bibles have been translated for different audiences. "Good News for Modern Man" is designed for people who use English as a second language with a limited vocabulary and short sentences.
"New American Standard" is a literal word-for -word translated intended for in depth study - but often difficult to follow because of the difference in English and Greek grammar and sentence structure. Intended for reading.
"New International Version" tries to balance "word-for-word" with ease of reading, so structures sentences in English order and may use three or four English words for a single Greek word.
"New Living" and "The Message" - paraphrases, rather then translations, meaning a retelling in their own words - not word for word, but idea for idea. Not intended for study. Closer to commentary then translation.
"New Jerusalem" - Catholics translation. The Catholic church has always had its own "approved" translation of the Bible, not because it is translated different, but because they require the Bible to have no "extras", no commentaries, notes, etc. It has to be ONLY the text of the Bible.

When you actually compare the different versions, (and in over 50 years of studying the book, I have) you will find that the difference as differences in the meaning or content of the Bible, but in the style and intended audience. So the reason for the many translations is to make it the Bible as available to as many people as possible.

Answer 8

There are different translations to help some people better understand , they all basically say the same thing, just worded a little different.

Answer 9

God's words are not laws and even if they are there are over one billion people on this earth with each one with his/her own mind. You are free to interpret the way you see it.

Answer 10

There are many versions because it was written by many people with different opinions and ideas, and therefor different inputs.