why is there over 20 english translations of the bible when we really just need 1 translation?

Question

this is the major conflice that i have with christianity many christians teach that the bible is 100% infallible word of god...but many translations...in my view there should only be one....if there is a scripture where there are many views or opinions on it? then why not let the reader decide for himself by seeking God in prayer on the meaning of that scripture?

Answer 1

how many churchs are there? when they dont like what one says they made up there owen and made it say whatever in there way

Answer 2

Each Bible translation has its own purpose and goal. Some are more literal than others. For example, the New American Standard and English Standard are word- to word- versions of the original texts (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) of the Bible. The New International Version is a thought- by-thought translation, it is not a word for word translation whereas the New Living Translation is more of a paraphrasic version of the Bible. The philosophy of each translation of the bible is very important. For example, some Bible translators feel that we need bible translations that will speak literally to the english audience while some suggest it is good to have a word-for-word translation at the same time produce a good translation of the bible.

Having said that, various translations of the Bible do not ,however, deny the infallibility of the Bible or undermines its importance as the Word of God, rather their sole purpose is the attempt to make clearer, better translation to the english audience.

Answer 3

First of all, the Bible is anything but infallible. Martin Luther write that the Bible holds the Word of God as the cradle/manger held the Christ child. There are duplications, errors, and untranslatable words in the 1149 chapters.
We have 13000 ms. with parts of the Bible - they don't all agree.
The first 800 or so years were basically pre-literate, stories handed down from generation to generation.
2400 years were all scribed, i.e. written by hand, and subject to the resultant errors.
The different editions of the Bible reflect the theology and the marketing of the particular editors and publishers. As the best selling book, year after year, pushing a new Bible out is good business. There is also the realistic issue of niche marketing. Madison Avenue continually reminds us that people have different tastes in colas as well as reading. You may want a Bible as historically accurate as possible - if so, then Reese's Bible puts Job after Exodus. My Japanese friend wants a Bible in as simple of English as possible - Max Lucado. I want a Bible w/ wide margins and some mss. notes - Contermporary English Version. My teenagers want something that is their own....
You're quite correct about how nice it would be if Christians could all agree on 1 translation. Instead, God seems to be interested in multiple translations/denominations to reach the different kinds of people.

Answer 4

You raise a good point, because every word people believe with everything they have is based on their translation of the bible. With each translation something is lost, and what is lost can be something so small that it ends up huge. For example, simply misinterpreting "The god who knows" and "The gods who know" can completely reverse the entire belief system of the bible's followers, despite the error seeming so minor. This is exactly why the bible should be to a guide to the religious, not a manual of life.

Answer 5

There are many translations mainly because they were adapted for the people of that time to be able to understand it better. Despite this, God is all powerful and so His word remains 100 percent truth.

Also, I don't think you should count solely on your own interpretation of the scripture. One of the main points of attending a church is that they feed your soul and keep you from taking a wide left on the path due to a misinterpretation of scripture.

For example, the man that wrote, "Conversations with God" or whatever it was called, went way off base. He claims that God spoke to him but just reading what he claims God said and comparing it with the Word of God shows that he was listening to someone, or something, else.

If he had been in church regularly, someone could have told him how twisted his logic was.

So, though you should read the Bible daily and pray, you need to be taught as well because human beings have the great talent and ability to make things 'work' to their advantage, excusing things they want to do and allowing things they shouldn't.

Answer 6

Not everyone understands the King's English. Various translations are created to make the Bible understandable.

Not everyone has the same level of reading and comprehension skills. Besides, the Dark Ages happened because people didn't have access to a Bible in their language. People were taught what the leaders wanted them to hear.

When the Reformation happened, and people were able to read and hear the Bible in their own language, the Renaissance occurred.

I say bring 'em on! We need people to get the Bible in a vernacular they understand.

Answer 7

Don't know how many of you are proficient in ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic but I for one am not. Thankfully some people are. The many English translations are out there because of language changes over the years, some found they just preferred a different literary style, and honestly some want to make a profit. However there are NO doctrinal differences in them.

Answer 8

Honestly many problems can come up from the many translation but the one main reason for more translations is to help find a meaning to all of this. Example, in the Hebrew version of the bible in Genesis instead of the earth's creation in seven days it is a period of time. That can bring up many contradictions but it also is part of the key to your answer. People just translate it to what they think is best.

Answer 9

The answer is Satan.

Second part of question:
The original Scriptures are in fact the Word of God.
The original King James Version is the translation from the Hebrew and the Greek. This is your best choice for your Bible.
Always go with the Scriptures><>

Answer 10

Language is imprecise. Ask any translator, they will tell you there is no correct "word-for-word" translation from one language to another for anything. So you could not have just one translation from the original unless somebody just decreed "this is the ONLY translation" without any logic or rationale behind the decision.

Ultimately that is what we all must do when presented with scripture, decide what it means for OURSELVES. Or decide that it makes no sense and disregard it.

Answer 11

They all say the same thing, they just word it differently. I haven't read all of them, but bits of the main 5 or 6 I think. Everyone wants to try their hand at a major translation, or they want to pick and choose what they want it to say.... I like having a couple different translations cuz some verses are a bit cloudy in one. The Message is a newer one in modern language that I find to be quite fun.