Is there really any point in Studying the Bible in English?

Question

I just asked a simple question about Jesus, I got reams of "quotes" from people.

I quickly realised that the English meanings to these words are still developing and changing.

Why do people study words that have changed so wildly over time, then think they understand the literal word of God?

Answer 1

Why would the language make any difference? It's still false in Hebrew and Greek.

Answer 2

To a fair minded person, a study of the English translations of the Bible will determine the following:

1. The texts which are used for translation (Greek on the New Testament, Hebrew on the Old Testament) are ancient enough and have enough verifiable evidence that one can conclude they are accurate to the original documents of the first century.

2. The "word for word" translations of the Bible, from Greek/Hebrew to English, are as accurate as can be made. These include King James, American Standard, NKJV, NASV, and such like this. A simple inter-linear Bible would confirm this.

3. The Dynamic translations (NIV, LIVING BIBLE) are quite accurate, although more likely to be mistranslated in some passages. I would classify the New World Translation in this context.

4. Catholic English translations are not translated from the Greek, but from Vulgate, rendering them a translation of a translation.

So in fact, it should become clear that an understanding of the Word of God could be obtained even from what some would call "weak" translations of the Bible

Answer 3

Well, if I tried to study the Bible in Hebrew, German, French, Spanish, or Latin, I would not be able to understand it at all. But, as an English speaker, I find it easiest to study the Bible in English.

English is a living language, so new words are added, some words change meaning, etc.

When studying the Bible, it is often helpful to have a good commentary and a good Bible Dictionary beside you. When you come to words that confuse you, look them up.

One example of a word that has changed meaning is Fear. When the King James Version of the Bible was translated, Fear means to respect, to revere, to love. Now, the word means to be afraid. Once I learned this, the verses made better sense to me.

If I don't study the Bible in the language that I speak, what would you suggest?

Answer 4

I. The creation (a million:a million-2:3) A. the days of creation (a million:a million-5, 6-8, 9-13, 14-19, 20-23, 24-31) B. The Day of relax (2:a million-3) II. the worldwide and the backyard (2:4-25) A. No until eventually, No Rain (2:4-6) B. The actual creation of guy (2:7) C. guy is placed interior the backyard (2:8-17) D. The actual creation of woman/ the marriage relationship (2:18-25)

Answer 5

I don't understand Hebrew or Greek, so what would be the point of me reading the Bible in the original tongues? English is as close as I can get. However, if I am going to make a point or a major decision based on the meaning of a particular word or phrase in the Bible, I simply look up or ask someone to explain the original language phrase in more depth.

Answer 6

I suggest you use the Good News Bible or the New International Version, which are in good, modern English. Don't assume that every sentence is accurate, though most are. Ignore people who quote the King James Bible, they want to mess you up.

If you want to go further, a Bible study program with Greek and/or Hebrew interlinear testaments with lexicons (dictionaries) for computer is a great step forward. Once people use original languages, they never want to go back to their vernacular language.
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Answer 7

Thats why they make new translations. And they basically work from the Greek manuscripts (Nestle-Aland New Testament in Greek is a reliable springboard), although obviously see how others translated difficult verses.
17C King James Version
19 C Revised Standard Version
20 C Many new versions, eg New American Standard Version, New International Version, Jerusalem Bible ...

Answer 8

if you want to know what the bible really says you cannot study it in english. the old testament was written in hebrew and the new testament was written mostly in greek, some arabic i think. so anyway, to know what it is really saying, you have to read/study it in it's original language. this is not as hard as it sounds. for example, we have a hebrew and english old testament (jewish bible). when we have a question about what a word means we simply look up the hebrew word and vwah lah. we also have a greek and english interlinear new testament and if we come across something that sounds wrong we look up the greek and low and behold it becomes so much clearer.

Answer 9

Truly is an excellent question. Quick example I can come up with is the translation of the ten commandments in the king james bible. The thou shalt not kill is not an appropriate translation. There is no one enlish word which is the direct translation of the original text. The scholars of king james era chose "kill". The actual translation would be closest to "thou shalt not premeditated murder except in self defense or wartime". If the commandment actually meant "kill" the Israelites of that era would have been breaking the commandment when they went to war with the various folks they went to war with. (David killing Goliath etc.)

Answer 10

It's much better to read in the Greek and Hebrew, but to do that takes years of study. For most people that is not an option. So that is why you need a Priest or Minister who is fluent in Greek and Hebrew and can explain the text to you.

Answer 11

The reason being that most people either cannot or maybe will not go through the amount of time it would take to learn those languages. God is all powerful it does not matter what humans do in every version what he wants to be in there will be in there.