Is the translation correct?

Question

The bible has been translated from ancient languages no longer in common use. How can you be sure that the translation is accurate when there are so many words that can be translated in different ways?

Isn't there even a slim possibility that your beliefs may be tainted by inaccuracies in the translation?

Answer 1

no because it is the word of God.

Answer 2

There is a possibility that some of the 'little things' may be innacurate.

HOWEVER...

1. God has promised that we will never lose his word.

2. We are often finding older and older materials which we can use as reference

3. There was a HUGE council of men who translated the Bible many of us use today (the NIV) taken from all different areas of religion so as to get the best and most acceptable translation for the most people. There are some points which couldn't be completely agreed on which are usually marked with little tiny letters and then footnotes at the bottom of the pages.

Answer 3

There are so many ancient manuscripts around ,there is no doubt as to the authenticity of the Bible.The latest,The Dead Sea Scrolls has a copy of Isaiah in it and it is exactly like the one we have today.The whole Old Testament was written in Hebrew ,with the exception of parts of Daniel which were in Aramaic.Hebrew is the language of Israel today.The New Teestament was written entirely in Greek except for Matthew which was in Hebrew.Not exactly a forgotten language.You look at Codex Alexandrina,Siniaticus and Vaticanus and they were all written in different long ago centuries,but all are the same.No question about it .The only ones who throw up doubt are the non-believers and the only ones it affects are people wwho don't know any better....:Oh,gee,maybe they know something I don't?I don't wanna look stupid,I guess I'll take their word for it."
Baloney!

Answer 4

I like to read and compare different translations.
But, the main thing is this. God is in complete sovereign control of the whole universe he created. He knew how all the different translations would end up from the very beginning.
Point is, if one reads with a sincere and seeking heart.The Lord will know that and his spirit will guide you in all truth.
Truth is all the different translations are all pointing you in a direction. Christ and his work on the cross.To take up your cross and follow him. If you read it as a whole, and not try to pick apart and over analyze a word here or there, he will teach you. It is OK to do that, just don't let that distract you from your main goal. Seeking him. If you just stay sincere with him he will lead you.

Answer 5

Moses was traditionally depicted with horns in religious art - see Michaelangelo's famous example - owing to a mistranslation of the Hebrew term which really meant "shining face."

It's a well-known fact that the "Virgin Birth" as reported in Matthew and Luke was supposed to be a "fulfillment" of the prophecy of Isaiah (7:14) "Behold, a 'virgin' shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel;" but that the word translated as "virgin" really only meant "young woman;" hence the entire doctrine is based on a clerical error (which - coincidentally, I'm sure - allowed Christianity to incorporate yet another mythological feature of the pagan cults it was replacing).

The very concept of "Christ" was borrowed from Gnostic mysticism, in which it was thought of as a state attainable by all rather than an office held by a particular historical personage; it was only confused with the Hebrew concept of the "Messiach," thence with Jesus, owing to the accident that both happen to literally mean "anointed."

In other words, mistranslations abound; misinterpretations are rampant; it requires surgically precise and impartial scholarship to determine what was probably originally meant by the various authors of the books which became "scripture," and religious "authorities" are anything but impartial - are wholly concerned with defending their own preconceptions.

I'm always amused by the typical arguments of "Christians" with regard to issues such as these: "God has promised that we will never lose his word." How are you so certain? "Because the bible says so." That perpetual loop.

Answer 6

Guy above me! It is not the word of God but the word of man. You can adhere to the values presented in the bible, but do not take all of them literally. Some of the ideas presented were written in, to encourage the support of particular beliefs of the period it was written and era it was translated.
You can believe ideologies such as the ten commandments, since they make sense. But don't trust certain opinions through the fact that they were altered to support values of other eras after the original versions, when they were translated.
Basically use your sensibility!

Answer 7

haha, you must be a muslim. oh you silly muslims, you crack me up....but don't blow me up! of course there are translation issues. The bible was also written by man and can contain irregularities which are well known. Does this mean that the entire book is crap because translations say that the ark was bigger than the titanic or noah was insanely old? of course not. it is a great historical document. you also have to remember that the old testament was mostly oral tradition passed on through generations of jews and these stories are extremely old. the new testament is considered by many to be more reliable since it was written by people who had first hand accounts with jesus, such as matthew, mark, luke, john, etc. These books also give exact quotes from Jesus, so they are considered by christians to be highly reliable. Many debate the meaning of revalations though. That is the great thing about the bible, it can mean different things to different people. it keeps you thinking about it and thinking about God.

Answer 8

The Holy Bible as used by Christians in this world, is the living word of God. Sure, there will be some apparent errors and discrepencies, but as God is actively guiding His people through the study of it, all things are ok.
It is not a static book such as the Koran claims to be, but an active document as relevant right now as it has been since humans began to record the histories/lessons contained therein.

Answer 9

I hear this question so often. Here's how I feel about it. If God is able to preserve His word (the Bible) in the world for two thousand years, He is able to see to it that His word is available to man in exactly the way He wants it. There are new translations coming out every year it seems, but the KJV has been around forever, and the NKJV is as accurate but easier to read. Stick with them, and have faith in God that He will not let you be led astray. God IS in control of His word.

Answer 10

Let us assume that half of the original thought of the Bible was misplaced through nth translations.Aren't individual souls capable of finding out the truth themselves? Buddha discovered the truth simply by meditating and came up with teachings almost similar to the Bible. Isn't this proof that we are capable of finding the truth ourselves? How much more if it's just reassessing the truthfulness of the Bible?

Answer 11

Many versions of the bible existed before the King James and the advent of mass printing.
See: http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/

For an analysis of the various translations of the bible see:
http://faith.propadeutic.com/questions.html

For accurate translations of the bible at the literal level use the NASB or ESV translations.

If you run across what you think is a biblical contradiction, please study the two sites' content below for a comprehensive list of so-called biblical contradictions.

http://kingdavid8.com/Contradictions/Home.html
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/bible.htm

Accuracy of bible:
http://www.carm.org/questions/trustbible.htm
http://www.carm.org/demo2/bible/reliable.htm