how did this get mistranslated?

Question

King James Version
Mathew 24:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

New King James Version
Mathew 24:3
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

"age" does not equal "world".

some would say this is a minor mistranslation, but people think jesus is talking about the end of the world, when in fact he is talking about a period of time.

Aion, also known as Æon, was a minor Anatolian deity in classical times. Aion was considered, in Late Antiquity, to be another form of Osiris-Dionysus.

Dionysus
The term Osiris-Dionysus is used by some historians of religion to refer to a group of deities worshipped around the Mediterranean in the centuries prior to the birth of Jesus. It has been argued that these deities were closely related and shared many characteristics, most notably being male, partly-human, born of virgins, life-death-rebirth deities and other similar characteristics.

funny when i put "aionos" into a greek translator i get

αιώνος τού = lifetime generation eternity

Answer 1

Age is the better word. The disciples asked about the temple and when it was to be torn down. Mark 13 also asks the same thing, but it is worded better and easier to read. People like to use this passage to talk about the end of the world. Instead it talks about when the temple is to be torn down in 70 A.D. by Titus. Between that time there were wars, famines, and of course a roman sacrificed a pig on the alter of the temple (abomination of desolation). This told people to flee the city from the destruction that Titus was to bring. That is why it says not to go back and get your cloak. Don't let it be in winter or you will freeze to death as you flee. Don't let it be on sabbath because the city gates would be closed and you can't get out. If it was talking about the rapture or end of the world, why would Christians be concerned if it was winter or the sabbath? Jesus was talking about the end of temple worship and sacrifices, an end to that age. In vs 30 of Mark (vs 34 of Matthew) is the clincher for the end of the age and not the end of the world. I admit, it is poor word choice by the translators.

Answer 2

You are mistaken. People now think Jesus was talking about the end of a period of time....but He was really talking about the end of the world. The King James was translated into English correctly. They took the manuscripts they had in the original language and translated them directly into English. Their manuscripts were accurate to begin with and their translation process was rigorous. They checked and rechecked - I'm pretty sure that every single passage they translated was sent to 12 different committees and checked 12 times for errors. There were none other than spelling mistakes. They didn't practice any kind of textual criticism and they didn't try to 'guess' what God was thinking when He inspired the writers like some modern translators do..They weren't motivated by money either like they are today....they just wanted to make a translation of the Bible in the common language of the people so that even the poorest ploughboy could read the scriptures.

The NKJV is incorrect there....it really should say "world" not "age" but in order for a bible to qualify as a "new version" (and make people some money.....) the committee has to change a certain number of words. I guess they decided that it didn't matter if Jesus was talking about the end of the world or just the end of an age. They were wrong though, it makes all the difference!!

This is why I don't use new versions. They are incorrect in many ways.



EDIT - Insania, no it wasn't translated according to doctrine. I have studied this issue quite a bit, trust me. All they did was take the Greek and Latin and Aramaic and Hebrew manuscripts and find the most accurate English words possible. This Bible wasn't translated so it would fit popular doctrine - it was just a word-for-word translation into English. That is why it is so accurate.

Answer 3

Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (αιών)?

αιών - aiṓn; gen. aiōnos, masc. noun. Age, referring to an age or time in contrast to kósmos (G2889), referring to people or space. Denotes duration or continuance of time, but with great variety.

(I) Age, an indefinitely long period or lapse of time, perpetuity, ever, forever, eternity.


(A) This world and the next.

(1) As implying duration (Mat_12:32, "neither in this world nor the next" [a.t.], meaning never) (Mar_10:30; Luk_18:30).

(2) The present world, with its cares, temptations, and desires; the idea of evil, both moral and physical, being everywhere implied (Mat_13:22; Luk_16:8; Luk_20:34; Rom_12:2; 1Co_1:20; 1Co_2:6, 1Co_2:8; 2Ti_4:10; Tit_2:12). Hence this world is called aiṓn ponērós (G4190), evil, meaning evil world (Gal_1:4). Satan is called the "god of this world" (2Co_4:4; Sept.: Ecc_3:11).

(3) By metonymy, the men of this world, wicked generation, and so forth (Eph_2:2). Huioí toú aiṓnos toútou (huioí, the pl. of huiós [G5207], son; toútou [G5127], of this) sons of this generation, the people of this world (Luk_16:8; Luk_20:34).

(4) By metonymy, the world itself as an object of creation and existence (Mat_13:40; Mat_24:3; 1Ti_1:17; Heb_1:2; Heb_11:3).

(B) Spoken in reference to the advent of the Messiah, meaning age:

(1) The age or world before the Messiah, the Jewish dispensation (1Co_10:11, "the ends of the world").

(2) The age or world after the Messiah, the gospel dispensation, the kingdom of the Messiah (Eph_2:7; Heb_6:5; see also Heb_2:5).

Answer 4

It's not a mistranslation at all; it's simply a difference in translation.

The Greek word translated as "world" or "age" (depending on the translation) is αἰών, or aion. According to the Greek Lexicon, this means:

1) for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity
2) the worlds, universe
3) period of time, age

So they're BOTH right.

Answer 5

Ancient hebrew thought taught about ages as circles. A start and an end. Not eternity but ages.

That age indeed end long ago.

Also keep in mind that KJV bible was translated according to doctrine. So if a word that was translated better fit their doctrine then that is what they went with...

Answer 6

In the Greek the word 'aionos' can be translated 'age' or 'world'. The final decision depends upon the context in which it was written.

Answer 7

"some would say this is a minor mistranslation, but people think jesus is talking about the end of the world, when in fact he is talking about a period of time."


Thats what they did? Where is your beef?

Best you trun to the greek text, to see what it means.

Answer 8

The Creator is not the author of confusion, Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees for not one jot or tittle will pass... for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men:

Answer 9

Abraham was the seer for the Taruian age. Moses was the seer for the Aries age. Jesus was the seer for the Pisceian age. The age of Aquarius comes next. cant wait to see who's up next!

Answer 10

That has a lot to do with the language of the time when the King James version was being put together. But to some extent, age and world are interchangeable since we will have a "new heaven and a new earth" and the world as we know it will be no more.