looking for a certain bible....?

Question

I am of the Christian belief, ie King James, NIV, etc.
I feel that so much is lost in translation that I would like a bible, preferably that contains the Apocrypha, that doesn't flounder when it comes to the translations. If the word means that they have to write out a sentence, so be it, I just don't like it squished into one American word. And yes, I have considered learning Hebrew and Greek, but who has the time to do that? Concordance's just scratch the surface, I want the BIG BOOK with an overkill on correct translation. help please.

Answer 1

There are two major Greek sources, the Textus Receptus (compiled by Erasmus in the 16th Century out of several incomplete Orthodox Greek Bibles dating to around the 12th Century) and the Nestle-Alland, based on a compilation made in the 19th Century from a 4th and 5th Century source, the Codex Vaticanus and the Codex Sinaiticus. These sources are the base for nearly every English translation. TR underlies the King James Version. Most 20th Century versions are based on N-A.

Some KJV fans complain that the N-A translations are "defective" or "distorted" because several verses in various parts of the New Testament are "missing". They claim authority for the TR because there are more copies of it around than of the much older sources for N-A. The N-A promoters counter that the centuries between sources likely allowed for interpolations into the text by well-meaning copyists. The two schools are pretty firm in their positions, so they aren't likely to declare peace soon. In any case, these two sources are about the closest the ordinary reader will get to the originals. The Jewish scriptures are based on the Masoretic Text, a 10th Century compilation that is presumed to be pretty accurate.

Short of learning Koine Greek or Biblical Hebrew, the closest you might get is an interlinear Bible. It will be expensive and a bit hard to read, since the word order and syntax will be like it is in the source. (A commentary might prove useful.)

Alternately you could go the Strong's Numbers route. The numbers are assigned to two word lists, one Greek, one Hebrew. When you come to a word in a Bible with Strong's Numbers, you can look up the number to see exactly what the word is and what its connotations are. You don't get the syntax but you may pick up more of the nuances.

And there is the Amplified Bible, which essentially throws every possible meaning of a word or phrase into the text, which makes for difficult reading aloud, but you won't be able to say you've missed a possible interpretation. The down side is that there will be more information than the original authors intended.

One last suggestion would be to get two Bibles, one a little more literal (like the New American Standard) and the other a little more sense-based (like New International Version). Look up the same passage in each to get a feel for what was meant and how it was said.

Since Martin Luther was responsible for the questionable status of the Apocrypha, you would want to look for the "Catholic" version of a translation. I have a copy of the RSV "Common Bible" that includes both Catholic and Orthodox books that don't normally appear in Protestant Bibles. If a Protestant version has the Apocrypha, it will clearly say so.

Answer 2

There are Bibles that have the English translation alongside the Hebrew and Greek. These will give you the standard English translation, and will also provide exact definitions for the original text in text notes, etc.

One thing also to remember is that sometimes even literal translations are not literal. Think of cliche's for starters. If I were to say that you painted yourself into a corner, you would know exactly what I meant; if a foreigner translated the same sentence into their own language, a literal translation might be confusing.

Also, some words mean more than one thing. My study Bible has text notes all over that provide alternate definitions for different words.

Learning basic Greek would be ideal; you could at least read the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament (which is actually littered with mistranslations from the original Hebrew), which contains the Apocrypha.

Check a Bible bookstore--they should be able to steer you in the right direction.

Answer 3

You have a definite problem. You want the perfect translated in English Bible, and English at many times is not the perfect language to translate into. You mentioned a concordance, well, add to that commentaries ( many go into the explanations of what words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek mean), Vine's Expository Dictionary (One word comes to mind that eludes English completely, because we have no conceptual basis from which to form a word to describe it) , and STUDY THEM!!!!!

Otherwise you will always find your English translations to be lacking. English just isn't that great. It's not a semitic language for starters.

I would recommend the Oxford Bible with Apocrypha:
http://www.looneytunescds.com/rel/v2_viewupc.php?storenr=45&upc=0195288807&pt=6&affnr=-1

It has explanations of the errors in the Apocrypha, especially the historical problems presented at the bottom of each page.

I recommend that you have more than one Bible open for what you are talking about. So that you can check the translation of what you are reading against the other. A Parallel Bible can be most helpful to you. An electronic Bible with Strong's numbers is key to looking up specific words in mere moments.

Okay, I told you some of what I have. I gave it my best shot for empowering you. I hope that it worked.

Answer 4

I found a copy of the KJV put out by Oxford university that is not bad. It includes the apocrypha.
As an online reference I tend to like Biblegateway.
You might find what you are after in a catholic Bible, likely an older one.
The only caution I can think of with KJV is that you must translate from the usage of words in King James time to our usage now.
One example is the use of the word Virgin.
The original Hebrew used alma meaning young woman instead of bethulah meaning an actual intact virgin.
KJV English used virgin to mean a female who had not given birth yet. KJV makes the distinction by adding the explanation of not having slept with a man where it is needed. KJV in the language of its time is actually accurate. The meaning of *virgin* changed over the past 250 years though.
There are many other examples.

You will likely find you still need to seek outside sources because as you say concordances only scratch the surface. I would add that Concordances are usually slanted towards one viewpoint as well, not objective at all.

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I am surprised that Tuberoot and I actually agree on the Oxford edition of KJV.

Answer 5

I have a Reform Bible (NIV). I think it used to be called the Geneva Bible. It has a lot of foot notes and verses are broken down and explained on the bottom of the page and in the side margin it has cross reference verses listed.

I also have a software program "The Bible Collection Deluxe".
It has 31 Bible translations: English (KJ, AS 1917, etc.) Ancient (Hebrew & Greek Original, H & G translated and Latin) Other languages Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Chinese.
There are 12 commentaries: Matthew Henry; Jameison-Faussett-Brown, Geneva Study Bible, John Wesley's 1765, etc.There are 8 references: Easton's Bible dictionary, Nave's topicall Strong's Greek & Hebrew Lexicon and Gospel story comparison tool.

Answer 6

Much of the text has been subtly changed to ultimately make it say something completely different. Here's an example... regarding Judas, the word "traitor" is not found in the Greek, rather the word used means something like "the one who reported", or something to that extent, look it up. Here's another... the word "age" is not found in the Greek, rather it's the word "aeon", the difference is subtle, but it changes things dramatically. And, if you look at Paul's writings in the Greek, he is using gnostic terminology (ie. Archons, Demiurge, Aeons, Pleroma, etc.) And so on.

Answer 7

They don't make one. To get something that's true to form, you have to read it in its true form. If you're looking for purity in the text, then you'll have to work for it. Learn the ancient languages that the texts contain, and then you'll know what it really says. Until then, you remain, like us, in the half-light.

Good Luck.

Answer 8

You cannot find such a book now. Thank the scholars who have saved what is present.

Answer 9

If you try real hard you just might get God to say just exactly what you want Him to say!