I am not happy with the answers to my question...?

Question

People are saying that the problem is in people's interpretation of the Bible, not the translators. But I still ask if the translators are not putting their own interpretation and their own point of view when translating the Bible. Translators are human beings that can make mistakes, right? How can I know which translator is right? Were the translators also inspired by God? So why so many different translations and interpretation?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiNYPsnVfPGqmUPJJsT3Wk_sy6IX?qid=20070430202645AArx7Kx

Answer 1

I remember when I read Shakespeare in GCSE English, that was only a few hundred years old but some parts were really tricky to work out. For instance when Juliet is on her balcony she actually says:

"Romeo, Romeo, why for art thou Romeo?"

Which means "Why is your name Romeo", since she can't be with him because of his name; Montague. Many people think she's actually saying:

"Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou Romeo?"

Suggesting she wants to find him and well... make some romance.

I can only imagine how misinterpreted the bible is given that its over 2000 years old.

Answer 2

You have good reason to not be concerned. The bible translators are not divinely inspired. I know a little bit of Spanish and have read a sentence or two in the Spanish bible and compared the English from Spanish and it is surprisingly different.

Also not every bible is the same. Before King James had the bible re-translated the Catholic bible was the only bible you could get. And it makes you wonder why he wanted the bible re translated. He did put a Protestant spin on certain things.

Another thing I'd like to point out is the Bible Code. You cannot find a code in any English bible because it is translated and yet if you look up the Bible Code on the Internet there are a lot of web sites selling programs using the King James version. You have to use the Hebrew version to find a code in the bible.

Answer 3

In the King James 1611, the translators wrote a letter to the reader which states that they did the best they could, but that in order to get the fuller thought, or deeper meaning intended, you may have to go to the original manuscripts.
When you transliterate, as in a simple example: Moses. thats all you get.
But if you FULLY TRANSLATED it, you would get: "drawn up from water". You see how there is the fuller thought being conveyed.
The New Testament writings have the massorah, which is a cumulation of the footnotes of whats written, and there is a wealth of information contained therein.
People can argue all day long over an interpretation, but I simply go to the manuscripts and be done with it. Just because what was meant doesn't come thru into the English, does not mean it does not exist. You can find out exactly what was meant of any verse.
The problem today is that the Churches do not have qualified teachers or they don't teach at all. Biblical illiteracy runs rampant today, and thats a shame.

Answer 4

Janet I do not claim to know all the answers that I know you are wondering about, I will try to answer this one as best I can. I will make some assumptions since I am not able to talk with you directly. I believe you are talking about the Bible most christians use, the King James Version.

This book was taken as directly from the only text availiable to the schollars and religious leaders of that time. By then The books of the Bible had been writen and re-writen many times. This was done to make sure that the Bible would be passed down and given to believers that required copies of the Bible. Each time the religious and learned person doing the copy did it with total reverance and belief that he was writeing the true meaning of the original.

The original was coppied and changed into different languages, as time went by all launguage does change within itself too. This I am sure caused the religious people that wished to remain faithful to the meaning of what they believed the text meant. So very gradually biblical text did change.

There are those that believe there are several books of the original text that were deleated when the King James version was translated because they were not believed to be a part of the original. or because some of them offended the religious scollars of that time.

I am not the originator of this information just the messenger so if folks have any valid argument or beliefs that differ from what I typed then theuy must go ahead with their beliefs just as we all eventuly do. I am glad you question things it shows an interest and intelligence. Good luck

Answer 5

There are many versions of the bible today . If you were to study them side by side, you would see that when God said A father would not give his son a snake to eat, you will find it to be a snake in all the versions. Some may say a serpent and some may say asp. but it is still a snake.

I am glad that there are different versions of the bible because if there is a passage that is difficult to grasp in one version, I can open another and maybe it will clarify what it means. The original intent of the bible has not changed. All bible translators work in groups not alone and all pray intently that all would be approved by God. Many Godly and scholarly people study and examine and most of all pray over every word in a new translation before it goes to press. The Bible has been translated into almost every language on earth, and all languages say the same thing.

Jesus came to earth to die on the cross to pay for our sins. He came back to life on the third day and is coming back soon to take us to live with him forever. Those who reject Him will spend eternity in hell.

The only bible I have seen that has been changed drastically is the "New world translation" which is put out by the Jehovah's witnesses. That version has been altered by a group hoping to change the message to suit their agenda. Watch out for that one. Otherwise, whatever translation or version you use is great. Hope that helps

Answer 6

I believe the NIV was translated by a team of scholars that met for a long time and debated how things were interpreted.


In 1967 the New York Bible Society (now the New York International Bible Society) agreed to sponsor and finance the work on the new translation. This made it possible to enlist the help of scholars from around the English-speaking world: the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Participating in the work were over one hundred Bible scholars, all of whom were reputed to be conservative and to hold to a high view of Scripture. The "Preface" to the NIV New Testament stated: "Certain conviction and aims have guided the translators. They are all committed to the full authority and complete trustworthiness of the Scriptures, which they believe to be God's Word in written form."

Answer 7

So, you didn't like the answer to your question... keep on asking it until you find someone to agree with you. Is that how you resolve issues? Personally, I think that translators and people's interpretations have skewed things for their own purposes. Supposedly, the Bible was passed down for hundreds of years by oral tradition before it was ever written. There are bound to be errors, exaggerations, omissions and other inaccuracies. Add to that the problem of translation and you have a mess. If you firmly believe it's the translators, who caused the problem, then just say so. Since it can't be proven one way or another, you don't need anyone's validation.

Answer 8

The reason for so many different translations and different interpretations are because people are not typically learning from the times and original language that the bible was written in. If you get with a pastor that actually explains these things to his congregation literally from the times they were written and gives you examples, it's much clearer, however, there will always be mis-translations and organizations that take one thing from the bible and make an entire religion from one thing... this is the devils playground. He likes to mix the truth with the lie to confuse the masses. It is fun for him.
You have to beware of false profits. Also, before you study the bible you are to be in fellowship with Christ which means naming your sins so that you can be filled with the spirit. The holy spirit then takes the knowledge and helps it make sense to you so that you can retain it for future use in your Christian way of life.

Answer 9

If you are bothered, read one of the more literal translations. They are less readable, but you may find them better.

Also try the amplified version of the bible.

Also if you read different passages it tends to elucidate things.

You'll never pick up the meaning with just one read - more like 30. Reading it many times is pretty important.

Its also very important to pray for the Holy Spirit's help in understanding it. The epistles are only written for the Church, and read like Dr Seuss to non-believers. This is because they include supernatural things that one's natural mind can reject. This is so even for believers, since we so often try to do things in our own strength (called sarx, the 'flesh').

If you are a christian and seek the gift of praying in unknown language (for edification; 1 Cor 12&14), praying in this way (30 mins a day, say, with 30 mins or more bible reading) the Holy Spirit will pray out the mysteries in the Word for you with your authority so you understand them. Unfortunately most translators historically haven't received or used this gift.

You could if you have the time and like a challenge learn the common Greek (koine), used at that time the NT was written.
You can then check out definitions of the words, and apply your knowledge of sentence structure in that Greek to get the meaning best - I would guess at times it can be ambiguous when two meaning are both possible, e.g. knowing which noun particular adjectives apply to.

Answer 10

There are many questionable translations in the bible. Also, until the invention of the printing press each copy was handwritten. Many people would find it difficult to write one page with no errors let alone an entire bible. It would be ridiculous to suggest that any modern bible has exactly the same meanings as the original documents.

Answer 11

I think you have a very good point. If I were a christian I would read a version of the bible that I was compfortable with and that I enjoyed reading. Then I would trust in God and pray that I would interprete His word in the way that He thinks is most apropriate for me, aswell as give me the understanding that I would need to encorporate other peoples interpritations in my Christian life as I/He saw fit. This way I am sure that I would be able to emulate Christ to the very best of my ability, and therefor garentee my place on his right hand side for eternity.

Unfortunatly I am not a Christian, so I wont do any of that, but you can if you like.

Dunk