Faydwyn

But by reading a “message” translation, you are reading someone else’s interpretation of what that message is, rather than looking at the words themselves, with their multiple meanings and connotations, and deciding what the message is yourself.

Faydwyn

I’d like to build on what mtatum wrote…

Have you ever tried studying a foreign language? If you have or do so in the future, you might have a better idea as to why there are so many different translations.

One major issue is that words have multiple meanings and definitions, and often words used in religious texts are especially nuanced. The translator will choose the meaning that makes the most sense to him based on his beliefs, personality, life experience etc. Another translator might choose a different word. For example, the Inuit have a bunch of words for snow. We have just one. If you translated our “snow” into the language of the Inuit which word would you choose? Each Inuit word for snow has a different meaning, so the one you choose will affect the meaning of the text. Conversely, if one were to translate an Inuit word for snow into English, something of the original meaning would be lost.

Meanings can also change based on context and the translators understanding of that context. Here’s a simplistic, non-religious example. Take the sentence “She slept with him last night.” For some reason you don’t understand the context of the statement; all you have is this one sentence to go on. “Sleeping with” someone is often a euphemism for having sex, so you might interpret the sentence to mean that she had sex with him. However, later you find out more about the context and you learn that the “him” that was referred to in the sentence was really her dog. Would the sexual interpretation still be as likely?


As a side note: I think it would be really interesting to read a secular Bible translation that was done by Agnostics and Atheists; and then compare it to the theist’s translations.

MickinEngland

Different singers all record their own cover versions of the same song (such as the Beatles 'Yesterday') but the song stays the same.
In fact its interesting to see how they bring their own styles and arrangements to it.
Same with the Bible,different teams of translators each handle the original Greek in their own way but the underlying message stays the same.
The old King James Version is best in a lot of peoples eyes (including mine) because of its fearless style, whereas some of the newer versions are too wimpy and politically-correct, but useful for cross-reference..

techluck

I have both the New Living Transation and New Internatinal Version. They are written so that I can understand and comprehend the concepts.

Tanglefoot

Here's a link that list most of them, looks like well over 60 different versions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_...e_translations


Heck after counting all the translations listed, its just over one hundred different printings.

jaej

Over 60? That's ridiculous. I find it awfully hard to believe they don't deviate..

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