I have a question concerning different Bible Translations...How come most of the wording arguments deal?

Question

mainly with the New Testament? Why don't people dispute and argue about wordings of the Old Testament? Get your interlinear Bibles or your dozens of different "English" language translations and compare wordings in the Old Testament. You may see they are all basically the same. I think it is because the Hebrew writters of the Old Testament worded it in such a way that there is no room for changing the words to suit your different version of view. How about this question...in other nations where they use the Bible written in their own Language (ie German, Japanese, Spanish, French, Russian, etc) do they have as many different versions of their Bible as we do for the English Language? I mean how many different ways do we need to word the Bible before someone actually feels they have it right? Why can't we just learn Hebrew and Greek and know what the Bible actually says?....before you say it...Yes I am learning Hebrew and Greek now...What are your thoughts on this?

Understand what I am asking...I am not condeming translations. I am only asking why we need variations (versions) of a translation of a certain language. Grab one of your English language translations. It is simply a Version of the English language translation. Why do we need so many Vesions.

Answer 1

I think a basic class in Biblical Hebrew & Greek should be a prerequisite for any Christian; you are to be commended for your efforts. The original autographs were miticulously copied by scribes who held the material in the highest regard - literally as God's Word. Through God's power, I believe the Bible has been translated as closely to the originals as humanly possible - the doctrines certainly don't contradict, although there are a few places where comparable facts (OT History) don't match up: numbers of chariots, for example.

Now "versions" are a different story entirely. In choosing a Bible, one has to determine whether it is just for reading, or indepth studying, etc. I use the KJV for studying, but many young Christians are deterred by Olde English. I use the NIV at church because our Sunday School quarterlies use NIV verses. My children have an International Children's Bible version because of the ease of the language.

Answer 2

I'm glad to hear you are studying Hebrew and Greek.

All of those other countries and language groups have more than one Bible. However, the English speaking world is primarily protestant and evangelical where there is the most interest in the Bible.

There are very few Christians in Japan. Spain and France are mainly Roman Catholic, and that church has discouraged reading the Bible until the past 50 years.

Remember the Roman Catholic Church killed people for the crime of translating the Bible as recently as 400 years ago.

America was founded by those trying to get away from the tyranny of the RCC.

There are at least 8 Spanish translations and at least 4 in French. At least 3 each in German, Portugese and Italian.

Pastor Art

Answer 3

First, go ahead and learn Greek and Hebrew. Pick up Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Demotic as well. And read some reliable sources as to what once constituted the bible.

Remember that it is simply the folk lore and tales of a group of starving shepherds living in the Middle East... The tribe of Israel....It was an awful place to live then, and it still is, isn't it? Remember as well that there were other civilizations in that area at the same time that influenced the folk lore... Hittite, Assyrians, Egyptians, Nubians, Babylon, and others, as well as the influence of Rome. As well, you ought to know that few read nor wrote their own languages, so much of what was ever in the bible was copied and re-copied and errors were made, and copyists put their own spin on some of the translations. Books, scrolls etc. were for the wealthy, and the religious readers.... the common man did not read nor write his own language, and women never would have been taught, even if they were in a wealthy family Any woman who did, was killed (As an aside, read about Hypatia -- a Greek mathematician, who was murdered for her bravery to learn anything...)

And you ask, "why don't we just learn Hebrew and Greek?" Why would you want to unless just out of curiosity? Words that are in the King James version (1611) don't necessarily translate to modern language, and words of the Hebrews often don't have an adequate translation... or meant something far different then than it might now...You would have to learn and live in the culture or rely on anthopologists gleaning information about what it was like in that area....And further, most people with a good, broad education are not interested enough in any religion to study a holy book, unless they are going to study others.... The bible is like The Book of the Dead or any other holy book of any other religion... same dog, different collar.

Answer 4

I wish I knew Hebrew and Greek! My hispanic friends say there are conflicts with different translations in their language, and I've heard the same regarding Russian.

Re: the NT - OT question, I believe 1) The Hebrew was translated to Aramaic and then Greek (something like that), so there's more room for diffrerentiation. 2) There's more money in NT translations, i.e., people looking for a hip expression will go there first, and 3) the plethora of Protestant denominations are NT-based.

Incidently, "original" Hebrew translation of the NT was found carefully preserved in Russia. You may find that interesting, if you can read it!

Answer 5

I only thing I can add that may or may not have been said is this. Trinity is totally Pagan and if a person does their homework they will find that out. Holy spirit is God's force not a person at all. Jesus was Firstborn in every way. The word under consideration is “prototokos.” It is made up of two words, “protos,” meaning first,(2) and “tokos” from “tikto,” “to give birth.”(3). There is little evidence that the word “prototokos” was used extensively before the time of the Septuagint.(4) Its basic meaning is the first one born, the first born child. Many churches have changed this word "prototokos" to have a different meaning than it clearly does have. Another point to consider: Below is Jehovah speaking to Jesus Christ his Son. I have yet to hear an explanation that made sense. The utterance of Jehovah to my Lord is: "Sit at my right hand Until I place your enemies as a stool for your feet." Ps.110:1 Footnote: To My Lord (Master) Heb., A'dho-ni'

Answer 6

That is not really true. The versions of the OT also have problems in translation. A major part of the reason that there seems to be a uniform translation of the OT is because the Greeks forced the rabbi's to translate the bible and that is how you got the Septuagint.

With in the Hebrew there are multiple ways of translating many of the words, grammatically as well as stylistically.

Answer 7

When the people would go astray or change their books the Lord would send another Prophet to guide them, admonish them etc.

Revelation had no guarantee to be protected from corruption or change as long as the Prophets were being sent.

Only after the last Abrahamic Prophet came did the Lord guarantee a divine protection on revelation because the doors of Prophethood had closed forever.

The Final Faith and Book would be preserved till the last day.

The Arabic Quran is considered to be the absolute "Word of God" and therefore will never be changed.

"The word of God" means the words are exactly as revealed (original language of the Messenger).

If I take a speech by the President of the United States, translate it into French and then publish it as the exact "President's Speech" I would be called a liar. The President never spoke in French and I could never say it was "his" speech. In fact it could only be called the closest translation of his speech but it can never be called "his words"; And even if I published his speech in English (as was the original) changed a few words and then put parenthesis around the entire speech and said this was his exact speech I would be imprisoned. If I changed even one single word it would no longer be the exact words of the President.

If Revelation is ever translated into a different language then it is no longer the "Word of God" , it would be the closest translation perhaps but NEVER the absolute WORD OF GOD.

If a single word in an entire book is changed the entire book is no longer the absolute "Word of God" .

The Quran is the only revelation on the earth today that fits this criterion.

Answer 8

English is the most widely-spoken language in the world because it's the language of global commerce. Since so many cultures speak it to varying degrees, it stands to reason that there would be more translations into English than other languages, simply because people don't understand English the same way in different places. It's not nearly as taboo to have a fag in your mouth in the UK as it is to have one in your mouth in the US. If you get a lift in the US, you'll go a lot farther with it than you will if you get a lift in the UK. And if you get the boot in the US, you'll be in far more dire straights in than if you get the boot in the UK.

Answer 9

--ONE MAJOR REASON is because of the many religions trying to prove the trinity, which comes to the fore especially since 300 years after Christ!
----THIS THROUGH the murderous Constantine and his "christianity"!
--THE CONCEPT OF TRINITY came about through ancient Egypt, Babylon and other nations and the Israelites knew that such teachings were not of Jehovah the God of the Bible!

**THE REFERENCE below shows the onslaught of how foreign the concept of TRINITY was to the writers of the Hebrew Scripture & the early congregation or church(legitimate) of Christ(29A.D. THRU about 100 A.D) up to the death of the apostle John!
--EFFORTS to establish the trinity especially through the pagan christian Constantine(who remained an illegitimate christian) were ruthlessly carried on and many a torture & death took place to establish such a contemptable teaching to both Jehovah God & Christ Jesus!
--SO THEN it should not be surprizing that such flim flamming of Bible texts would take place with such ruthless efforts as Peter warned about:
(2 Peter 3:16-17) “16 speaking about these things as he does also in all [his] letters. In them, however, are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unsteady are twisting, as [they do] also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 YOU, therefore, beloved ones, having this advance knowledge, be on YOUR guard that YOU may not be led away with them by the error of the law-defying people and fall from YOUR own steadfastness.”

***UPDATE//
COMMENTARY --On the unique work of the Interlinear Translation produced by Jehovah's Witnesses by those not Jehovah's witnesses:

*** w98 2/1 p. 32 “It Is the Best Interlinear New Testament Available”
--THAT is how Dr. Jason BeDuhn describes The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures. He explains:

“I have just completed teaching a course for the Religious Studies Department of Indiana University, Bloomington, [U.S.A.] . . . This is primarily a course in the Gospels. Your help came in the form of copies of The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures which my students used as one of the textbooks for the class. These small volumes were invaluable to the course and very popular with my students.”

Why does Dr. BeDuhn use the Kingdom Interlinear translation in his college courses? He answers: “Simply put, it is the best interlinear New Testament available. I am a trained scholar of the Bible, familiar with the texts and tools in use in modern biblical studies, and, by the way, not a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. But I know a quality publication when I see one, and your ‘New World Bible Translation Committee’ has done its job well. Your interlinear English rendering is accurate and consistent to an extreme that forces the reader to come to terms with the linguistic, cultural, and conceptual gaps between the Greek-speaking world and our own. Your ‘New World Translation’ is a high quality, literal translation that avoids traditional glosses in its faithfulness to the Greek. It is, in many ways, superior to the most successful translations in use today.”

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures is published by Jehovah’s Witnesses to help lovers of God’s Word get acquainted with the original Greek text of the Bible. It contains The New Testament in the Original Greek on the left-hand side of the page (compiled by B. F. Westcott and F. J. A. Hort). A literal word-for-word English translation is found under the lines of Greek text. In the narrow right-hand column is the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, which allows you to compare the interlinear translation with a modern English translation of the Bible.

Answer 10

Naturally some people are troubled by the great variety of versions. They think that it must be indicative of many mistakes in the text. They wish there were only on version so that they could have complete and implicit faith in every word and phase. My example is Parisees were extreme legalists and they add hundreds of minute regulations to the mosaic law and tried to get others to follow them, are they still in there or not?