Christian advice?

Question

How can christians give so much advice on reading the Bible when they can't even agree on which version is the correct one? NLT, NIV, KJV, NKJV. If their religion is the one true religion, why can't they use just one book?

Fuzzy, you tell me that all versions say basically the same thing and then 1 paragraph later tell me that the KJV is quite flawed. Forgive me for calling you an armchair minister who is just as flawed as your answer.

Answer 1

You are absolutely correct. The different version of the Bible cause a pretty big problem. Think about it. Even one or two letters difference can make a huge impact on the message.

This is not fact but it is an excellent example.

"In the beginning God created the world."

"In the Beginning God recreated the world"

Thats 2 letters difference in the two passages but it completely changes the message. You will find that type of thing all throughout the different versions of the Bible. Many people would also be very surprised at the differences between our versions and the original Hebrew version.

Answer 2

"agree on which version is the correct one"

Knowledgable Christians will tell you that only the original autographs were error free and that there is no "perfect" translation because, well, it's a translation. As to the different versions they all have their pluses and minuses. The KJV is a word for word translation that has certain errors but the old English is beautifully poetic though sometimes hard to understand if you are not familiar with it. The NKJV has corrected some of the KJV errors but it has it's own flaws and while easier to read it lacks the style of the original KJV. The NIV & NLt are dynamic equivalent translations where ideas are tranlsated using modern equivalents for weights and measures and things like that. They are good for getting the sense of a passage and easier to read but they fall short when it comes to in depth exegesis of a passage because the text has gone through the interpretations of the authors.

Personally I use the e-Sword software with the KJV with Strong's numbers when I want to see what the actual text was in the original Greek and Hebrew but I listen to the NIV on MP3's when I just want to refamiliarize myself with what a book has to say.

You can download them both for free on the Free Stuff page @ http://www.express56.com/~bromar/

Answer 3

Your objection is silly in view of the condition the world is in. There are hundreds of languages on earth, each changing continually, so that over a hundred years major changes have taken place in English, German, etc.

God inspired the Bible 2000 ago app., since then as all things God does for men we have had to everything possibly human to gather the fragments and search for old codex and manuscripts so as to verify that what we have is as close as is possible to what was given first.

That is how God works things. He does not do for us what we can do for ourselves. This also means that a great many language scholars have had to translate, and still do I am sure, the original text into various languages.

In Japanese, a most excellent translation exists. God's name Jehovah is widely used throughout. It probably was translated by Catholic missionaries(?) What is wrong with it? The young can no longer read its archaic language.

In English, the KJV is renowned, and so is quite popular. Unfortunately, it is very old and when compared to many newer translations is quite flawed. Thus the DRC translation, the NJB, NW, Darby, Byingtton, Webster, Rotherham, and YLT are good translations to use.

Why use them all, because where the translator's work is unclear, the others at times solve the problem.

How? Lately, here on Yahoo, the problem of Genesis and chapter two where some state that a different creation account is found is easily solved by using the above translations. For example, DRC solves the problem simply and beautifully by this small but important difference:

Gen 2:19:
KJV 19And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam

DRC 19And the Lord God having formed out of the ground all the beasts of the earth, and all the fowls of the air, brought them to Adam
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In this fashion, it becomes obvious what happened, and how the text should read in English.

Unfortunately, most people don't realize that the Bible is a huge work to translate so that it is unavoidable that translators have portions in which they excel and portions in which they do not.

Frankly, when viewing the old codex, we must be grateful for all the hard work having been done by these highly dedicated people.

Answer 4

There are always differences of opinion and indeed some take it too far.
I don't see a problem with any of the translations you mentioned. They have slightly different approaches such as word for word (KJV/NKJV) or thought for thought (NIV, NLT).
They are all one book which is the bible, just different techniques in translating from Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament into the English language. If you look at a parallel bible you will see they are nearly identical with primarily differences in approach as I mentioned above. There is a Hendrickson Parallel Bible that has the four translations you mentioned.

Answer 5

welcome to man's interpretation.
I find it ironic that these different translations are exploding in the last 25 years.
I have the KJV, the Greek and Hebrew for reference. I don't throw out all the Bibles for this reason, just reference back to the KJV and the original Hebrew and Greek writings. If they don't agree in verses and meanings, I do not accept the translation.

Answer 6

lol It is one book. It's just different translations. The word of God still speaks through all of them. For example I like a meaty study bible with lots of footnotes and cross references but my husband needs an easy reading bible like the Living Bible, not as accurate a translation but much easier to understand. Does that explain it a little for you?

Answer 7

I see these versions as being printed to help understand the Scriptures in modern English as opposed to old English. The Word of God is not changed or compromised. If it is, one does not use that version as a study aid.

Answer 8

All those version say the same thing only in different words

Answer 9

We all believe in the basic plot adam and eve ect.. we just believe in different details which arent to much significance and btw I don't care if you believe in my religion or not and i don't think anyone else does either...

Answer 10

It' human nature to want a monopoly on "Truth."