Is the "translation" or "version" of the bible that important?

Question

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Answer 1

Yes, the translation is important. There is a long history of translation, and many have lost their lives for it as well. The original Hebrew Bible was, of course, written in Hebrew, but when the Gentiles decided to convert the book was translated into Greek. Later, it was translated into Latin. Some of the words were changed during translation, which changed entire meanings of passages. Additionally, words were sometimes translated from the old language to the new for a reason. Exodus 22:18 of the KJV commands that "Thou shall not suffer a witch (kashaph) to live." The word in Hebrew "kashaph", which means a "gossip", was translated into Greek to mean a "poisoner," and later translated into Enlish as a "witch." This word translation helped spark the killings of many women during the Middle Ages.

My personal bias is for the scholar's Bible, the NRSV. This is the version I used in college for a few of my classes. I like it because a whole bunch of scholars translated from the oldest texts available. (In other versions, the translation was from Latin, which is two languages away from the original. Also, new discoveries in archeology have made older copies available.) Additionally, if the scholars had any debate on a translation, it's well documented in the footnotes.

Versions are important too, because different organizations have different versions. For example, what's in the Hebrew Bible different from what's in a Christian Bible. Different Christian denominations also have different versions. The Catholics have the Apocrypha. Different books are in different orders for different denominations as well; it all depends on what points they are trying to emphasize.

Answer 2

"Translation"in English is important to me because I do not know what it means in Aramaic or Hebrew. It will take me a lifetime before I get to learn the original language used.
"Version" varies in the sense that the Catholics have their different sets of Chapters and verses compared to other Christian Bibles. While Catholics claims they have more than what other Christians have because they said Martin Luther tried to omit many contents, the Christians on the other hands accuse the Catholics of changing and adding several documents not related to the early manuscripts.
Christians have One God and some claim Jesus as God incarnate while Catholics claim Trinity.
It is important to me now to find which one is really based on the original work. I am sure none of these denominations really hold the absolute truth.

Answer 3

Sure its very important. There were hundreds of people killed by Constantine so he could have exactly what he wanted in a book to rule the people. Then he killed others that didn't follow it. Now today, it can still be the main reasons for taking another persons life. It has been translated in pretty much all languages so that way, if your a little islander that can't read, even you can be killed!
Can you think of any country that doesn't kill another human being from the purported facts laid out in their Holy Books?

Answer 4

Yes, when translating a language into another, many words can be translated in different was or with similliar but different meanings. Such as the word that was translated into virgin in the bible could also have been translated into young girl. Also many time when the bible was "revised" such as the KJV many of the original books were removed or new books added. This all shows the bible is subject to mans whims and errors and can not be believed as fact.

Answer 5

Most translations are good. The closer they stick to the meaning of the words in the original language the better. KJV, NKJ, NIV are exapmles of good translations. Now, paraphrases are another matter. Paraphrases, while they use modern language and are easy to read have serious drawbacks. The Good News Bible is an example of a paraphrase. Paraphrases do not always convey the full meaning of the words the original transcripts intended. They lack the depth and richness of the translations.

Answer 6

No. Some are much easier to read than others, and that is useful if one is going to do so. The diacritical marks that appear on proper names in many versions are an annoying distraction.

Answer 7

the "bible" is NOT important at all,
the "bible" is religious BS . . .
the "word" of God can't be contained in a human book !

Here's the Solution for the "bible" and religion:

Create a Private, Personal, Direct, Divine Relationship with Our Creator and save Your Soul from religion's and atheist's beliefs.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< L O V E >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Love and Believe in Our Creator;
Love and Believe in Yourself.

Only with Our Creator's Love and Peace will we be Truly Free!

Without God, there is No Love; Without religion, there are No Wars!

"religion is Spiritual fraud"; "religion is the Worse invention of humanity" - Jesus Christ, Buddha and any one else with Spiritual intelligence.

atheists = all the people in religion = all the ignorant fundamentalists = all the cults/superstitions = paganism = wicca

Answer 8

Yes, the clearer the original intent the clearer the understanding if what was meant.

Answer 9

I would say so, since not all versions are the same.