A certain group of people often say that Christians have misinterpreted the old testament, but how then have?

Question

they say that Christians don't understand the ancient Hebrew [that we've misinterpreted it], but I'm vastly read in Solomon's teachings and I can tell you that *everything* he wrote is perfect in the Christian Bible. Like all of his proverbs are perfectly right. I've been living by them for 14 years now and they're awesome, and 100% right. but how could this be so if Christians are supposed to have mis-translated all of the old testament?

I'm not worried who the people are who say we've misinterpreted it, my point is that we *obviously* Have interpreted it right. If we hadn't then Solomon's teachings would just come out gibberish. And trust me, they don't- I've never seen a book more filled with wisdom and knowledge. And I've read all that Socrates said, all of Plato's stuff, Aristotle, etc, etc,,,,,,,,

Answer 1

What about Leviticus? Apparently, you can ignore that now. So what is the bible, an a la carte menu, or an eat all you want?

Answer 2

First off, the book of Proverbs was not written by Solomon. "Solomon had actually been dead for at least 4 hundred years before either Proverbs or the wisdom tradition itself ever came into being" excerpt from book cited as source, below.
The 'books of Moses' also werent' written by Moses. If you read them closely, you'll find that Moses' death and funeral are described there.
It was NOT 'Christians' that translated the Bible, either Old or New Testament, but rather a few individuals over the ages: first from the Hebrew or Aramaic into Latin, then Greek, then English, German, and so on.
There are some gems of wisdom in the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament, but there is also some stuff that may have applied 2,500 years ago but absolutely does not now.
Do you consume milk and meat together? You're violating one of "God's commandments".
By the way: some child-rearing advice is given in "Solomon's wisdom" that absolutely violates everything we know today about the human psyche and how to aid child development.
Other topics are the role of women in society, the very much fought-over topic of homosexuality, attitude towards the environment, birth control, and many crucial issues that are wrongly or incompletely addressed in the bible.
If the bible were such a 100% right book, it would and could withstand close scrutiny from historical and factual investigation.
It cannot, however, and anyone who challenges the Bible's position, advertised by all Christain churches, as the absolute and inspired word of God is usually shut out and declared a 'heathen' of some sort.
I know of no other area where people will absolutely shut their eyes and ears to facts as the bible and therewith some Christian beliefs.
Finally, someone from the 'inside' has written a well-researched and honest book that exposes details about the Bible and how it has been used and misused. This person is John Shelby Spong, former Episcopal bishop of Newark. He has had extensive seminary training from WITHIN the church that has enabled him a better perspective into the scriptures than the average lay person can have.
I was given this book by my cousin who is a nun, and it is clearing up a lot of questions for me. John Shelby Spong is NOT out in this book to condemn Christianity but rather to wake us all UP to facts, with a calling to a truer practice of Christianity today. You might find it interesting to read.

Answer 3

In my experience, when people say Christians misinterpret the Bible, it always refers to how they understand it's teachings. I've never heard anyone say that it was translated incorrectly. Can you read Hebrew? Because if you're saying it's perfect, well, the only way you'd know for sure is if you translated it yourself. You can have a coherent flow of information without getting every word right. I've done it in Spanish; came up with an entirely different sentence, that fit perfectly in the paragraph.

Answer 4

The mistranslations and misinterpretations are selective and targeted.

Let me give you one notable example... and the most egregious.

In many Christian translations, and all the classical ones, Isaiah 7:14 is claimed to be speaking of a virgin. Yet, in the original Hebrew, the word for virgin, betulah, does not appear in the verse. The word mistranslated is 'almah' which means young woman with no suggestion regarding her sexual status. The writer of Isaiah, however, uses the word 'betulah' on at least 5 other occasions. So, if virginity was a salient factor to the prophesy given in 7:14, why did the author not choose the precise word that he knew well?

The answer is that when early christians translated Isaiah from Hebrew to Greek, they chose a word in Greek which implies virginity. They did so to support the story of Jesus' birth given by Matthew.

The truth is that there is no prophesy that the Messiah will be born of a virgin and the story told by Matthew was included to attract pagan followers, contrary to Jesus' wishes. And the lie, well known to be a lie in church circles, has persisted and been propagated for nearly 2000 years.

Answer 5

Interpretation is not the same as translation -- you used both in your question. It is not clear which one you really mean.

Anyone can interpret anything they want; that doesn't make it the correct interpretation. And anyone can say that an interpretation is the right one; but that doesn't make him right.

Translation is a complex issue. To some extent, it involves some interpretation, but there are many other factors that play a major role in it, such as, what source material, .to use strict or loose translation (word-for-word or paraphrase), etc.

Personally, I believe that those who say we have misinterpreted or mistranslated the Hebrew Scriptures are just blowing off steam from jealousy. However, we should always seek to live by the best interpretation and translation of the Words of God.

Answer 6

Actually it was the Jews who translated the hebrew scriptures into greek, 200 years before Christ was on the earth.

It was the Jews who translated maiden in Hebrew into virgin in the Greek.

The Christian were only quoting the Greek, because that was the language they understood best.

Today very few Jews read ancient hebrew so they like the Christians read from English translations.

As to Plato, I agree he gave to Christians the idea of a trinity, and the immortality of the soul

Two teachings not found in the bible, Hebrew or Greek.

Answer 7

In the times that we're in... it would be foolish to speak for a group of yourself & others much less a whole sect. Some Christians, as individuals misinpterpret lots of scripture.. almost the whole Word of God. It definetly depends on who's interpreting it. If you have been given wisdom to understand a verse or part of the Bible, then feel free to share that wisdom with others. Unfortunately not everyone is given that opportunity. I have questioned it myself but haven't come up with the answer except with the suspiscion that God gives more understanding to some than others.

Answer 8

Of course they misinterpreted it. According to OT God is sadistic, genocidal mofo. Christians say he is... love.

Answer 9

we can understand but also know we arent Jewish either....I like Proverbs too