I mean, the Bible has been translated many times. Don't you think somethings could of been taken out, put in or misunderstood?
2007-04-05 08:11:02 · 42 answers · asked by Megan 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No. The bible is historical fiction. If you believed the world was flat or that genies were real because of faith you would be an idiot. What makes christianity any different?
2007-04-05 08:14:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
It depends on your definition of "Bible." There never really was a single book called "The Bible." It is an anthology of works that has been editted and redacted many times over many centuries. For me, the Bible is whatever the congregation has made it. I am more interested in the final product than I am in the original ingredients. Take the book of Genesis, for example. The current book is actually a collection of two original works that were editted into a single book (probably during the Babylonian captivity). Neither of the two original stories are the original book of Genesis - the final product is the book of Genesis.
As for whether we lose information over time, that is not likely. Ancient literary collections were far more likely to pick up additional material than they were to drop original material.
But translations can certainly put a spin on things. It is best to familiarize yourself with the original languages so that you can (at least) compare English translations to see which are most faithful to the original language.
2007-04-05 08:22:39 · answer #2 · answered by NONAME 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
While the Bible has been translated many times, each of the translators has gone back to the early Hebrew and Greek manuscripts and translated from them. Most people do not realize that there are over 2,300 manuscripts of the New Testament in its original language come from the time before the "Council of Nicene", in 325AD, where the official canon of the Bible was first established. Another 5,300 from then to the invention of the printing press.
Comparing these manuscripts, they are word for word indentical 99.7% of the time. The remaining 3% consist of things like spelling difference for the same word (such as "color" rather then "colour") or word transposers ("Christ Jesus" instead of "Jesus Christ"). Normally those variations are found in 1 of the 7,300 manuscripts. There are about 40 words of the over 83,000 words that scholars have any debate about. None affect any major Christian doctrine.
Since translations are normally made from these same original language text, it is difficult for things to be "taken out", "put in" or "changed". If each translation was based on the one before it, you could do that. But since each translation goes back and uses the same manuscripts as it source, any alterations would be very obvious.
So you can trust that the New Testament you are reading today is an accurate and reliable translation of the original text.
2007-04-05 08:29:43 · answer #3 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We don't and it's like you said. Anyone who believes that everything in the bible is "absolute truth" is an IDIOT. Yes, I said IDIOT! The Spanish Inquisition, the Crusades and other "Original Translations of the Authentic First Composite Bible Destroyers Throughout History" have damaged, slandered, omitted and rewrote (in order to fit their needs) the Bible from it's original words and meanings. These corrupt religious leaders have always been in every religion and always will be. It is up to the individual seeker who thirsts for knowledge of the truth to seek it. We, who are aware of this are enlightened by the truth that there is no way the Bible can be taken literally nor as "absolute truth." I choose to follow Christ's example and consider the bible to be a metaphorical work filled with parables and bits of true history. If anyone disagrees with me then, I strongly suggest you get re-educated in history.
P.S. Some books of the bible were destroyed and 'til this day know one will ever know for certain if they ever existed except for the people who destroyed them.
2007-04-05 08:29:22 · answer #4 · answered by Lifted by God's grace 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bible was written 2000 years ago by nomads who lived in the desert and knew absolutely nothing that is relevant to our lives.So to answer YES the bible is a bunch of babble that was written in a language no one knows by people who said they were"inspired" by GOD-or they could have been suffering from heat dementia or schizophrenia.And to this day no one actually know what the bible says, everything that was written down (hundreds maybe thousands of different times) was not truly translated but more of an educated guess.
2007-04-05 08:17:31 · answer #5 · answered by Art 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Bible was written by, and interpreted by MAN! And man is totally fallible. So, no everything in the Bible is not truly correct. Everyone, even non-believers, can take something from the Bible. What I see as the "gist" of it is that people should respect other people and nature. Be good to others and, hopefully, they will be good to you.
2007-04-05 08:17:52 · answer #6 · answered by Should be Working! 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Many things were left out and it wasn't by mistake. The Bible we know is an authorized version and it is highly selective. Read the differing accounts of the Resurrection to see what I mean.
2007-04-05 08:22:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not only that but the Bible is a compilation of different materials from the time. Some were deemed worthy, others unworthy. Who knows, maybe Jesus himself recorded something about sheep livers being God's favorite sacrifice and all you fools are missing out by trusting in the work of long-dead sinners.
2007-04-05 08:18:12 · answer #8 · answered by coqueto 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why would something written by bronze age goat herders be completely factual even in it's original form? It wouldn't be. We have been studying the bible for over a thousand years and there is plenty in it that can be proven wrong. The only reason it has become the best seller that it is, is because no matter how crappy life can get it promises a wonderful 'afterlife' in never-never land. Unfortunately in order to gain accomodations in heaven you must give up rationality, reason, logic, manners and most importantly your own sense of morality and compassion. I refuse to do this for a horrible fiction that no longer holds sway.
2007-04-05 08:21:15 · answer #9 · answered by Medusa 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They don't! If there was sufficient proof that the bible was "truly" correct there wouldn't be so many people turning away from christianity.
There are so many things wrong with the bible that it could hardly be considered as any kind of truth.
2007-04-05 08:20:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I believe that God made the Universe including the sun, moon and stars. This little planet is very small compared to the whole Universe. He did it all with holy spirit. Satan would love to destroy the bible or at least discredit it. Or write another book supposedly by a prophet like the Quaran or Book of Mormon or some other apocryphal book.
But , the truth would be preserved by God for mankind in an accurate form. It is all we need and nothing to distort it needs to be written.
2007-04-05 08:16:35 · answer #11 · answered by Steven 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋