... translations, interpretations and denominations.
I'm not judging. I'd like to understand how Christians resolve this. In particular, how do you know that you are living your life by the Word of God if your beliefs mismatch with others who believe the same and use the "same Book"?
2007-08-12 16:16:40 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Our faith is given by God, some have been given more truth and others less. God bless.
Luke 12:47-48
2007-08-12 16:20:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Translations:
The Bible was originally written in several languages: ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, temple Hebrew (about 500 years more current than ancient) and Greek. It should be obvious that the easiest language for any reader is their native language. So, the Bible has been translated many times to put it into the native and/or common languages of the day. Why the retranslations? Languages change. The English of King James' day is not the English of today.
Interpretations.
It's like the statement about opinions: "... Everyone has at least one". Quite frankly, anyone and everyone is free to form their own opinion and interpretation and it's not that difficult to find someone to publish it for you.
Denominations:
This one is more difficult. Here we have to face a few fundamental facts of human nature. First, we are not perfect, hence our (human) errors will have repercussions and cause divisions. Second, unless submitted to Christ, we have a strong drive to complain and separate ourselves from those we want to complain about. Third, some people get into "religion" for their own personal power. They will cause divisions as either they are driven out of the main group or if the power hungry get power within the main group, others choose to leave to avoid the power hungry.
2007-08-12 18:03:27 · answer #2 · answered by imagineer66 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Human beings, including Christians, are not perfect. Even though the Bible is true and is the actual Word Of God, it can be easy to misunderstand or misinterpret things when one lets themselves not be guided by God when reading it. Some people base their (wrong) interpretations on whatever fits their messed up agenda. There are different reasons why people misinterpret. This often leads to different denominations, but some denominations started simply due to differences in the way their church was set up, not necessarily because of their own Biblical interpretation.
Whatever it is, if it contradicts the Bible then it's not the Truth.
2007-08-12 16:31:14 · answer #3 · answered by michele840 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You first have to define what is meant by the "Word of God". The Bible contains divine revelations of truth from God to mankind that were given when the Holy Spirit moved the ancient authors to write them down.
Since that time the records have been preserved with remarkable accuracy although not with 100% perfection and when they are translated there is always some loss of meaning.
That having been stated, the important revelations of truth have been preserved for us to read today in many languages and translations. It is still the "Word of God" because of the source of these truths.
If you were at the United Nations and a foreign ruler was speaking in a language that you had to have translated for you then while you wouldn't be hearing the exact message as it came from the speakers mouth you would be able to understand the message that he was trying to convey to the audience. You would be hearing in effect the words of the Sultan or King or President and be able to come to reasonable conclusions about what that message meant to you and how it might impact your life.
I know that I'm living according to the Word of God because I get my understanding from the Bible aided by scholarly Pastors who are committed to teaching what the Bible has to say without adding traditions that have come about by the imaginations of men.
Like the people of Berea whom Luke commends in Acts 17:11 I compare what I hear and what I am taught to what the Bible has to say.
2007-08-12 16:34:24 · answer #4 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people aren't really Christians who read the Bible and pretend to be Christians so there's one big thing hit out. lol..
Mostly, I know if I'm living my life right when I look in the Bible at Jesus' life to see if I'm living my close to his standards. It doesn't matter way too much anyways because Christians are no longer under the law.
There are also some people who do not completely understand what the Bible means and just pick and choose what to believe. I think that's a HUGE problem in the churches is that. I have really nothing else to say about that... It's a question I have too.. Whether people really are one with God you know.. and are really Christians or not
2007-08-12 16:24:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The Bible recognises the existence of the Canaanite god Ba'al in several places. The truth is that Christian monotheism originated in the deserts of Egypt which was formerly Polytheist. Hence the early followers were on very close guard for the old influences. In later times the Egyptian ideas were tempered with the ideas of Zoroastrianism with its bi-polar right/wrong mentality which remains the lynchpin of Christian morality to this day. Before that it was simple obedience hence Commandments, Deuteronomy etc.
2016-05-21 03:03:55 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many more books some of which have been recently proved to predate the Gospels in the current bible, like the Gospel of Saint Thomas.
For being the inspired word of God, many items have been omitted from this book, mostly by carnal men with political agendas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uh-1JVctSOY
♥Blessed Be♥
♥=∞
2007-08-12 16:28:33 · answer #7 · answered by gnosticv 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible is the word of God.
2007-08-12 16:25:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The original bible is in hebrew. The first english translation was the King James one (at least I think it was James... either way it was some King) anyway, the best thing to do is read from there, because it is the first english translation so it is the closest we can have to the original without learning Hebrew
2007-08-12 16:22:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
'cause some religions such as lutheran [just an example] take out verses...change around words.. exactly why they beat there wifes.
christian is a faith.
you believe in god
and that is that.
and different translations are just bigger words...more explained ones.. lol
2007-08-12 16:22:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋