lpstong

How many versions of the Bible are out there on the Market? Does anyone know. I know there is the main version which is the King James version, than there is the gideons version. Than there is the New King James version as well. I know there is few others out there.

To me it seems it would lose it quality and its teaching if one changes the wording of the bible. I know one has their own personal interpretation but should one change the wording of the bible to fit their needs.

I also know that prior to King James asking the Bible to be compiled that their were already many translations of certain parts/books of the bible. And not all the words could be translated to the Kings English. Many Greek and Hebrew words can not be translated.

To me it just seems that much of the luster or meaning of the Bible is devalued with each new translation. Why cant it be all agreed to use one Version and agree on that?

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OneofaKind

Hi Ipsong

Have you tried comparing different versions to see how different they really are?

lpstong

I just dont understand why it has to be rewritten so many times over. And not all religions use the newer versions either. Because many will agree of the discrepancies. I know a few still use the King James Version.

But why does it need to be rewritten. The bible is the word of God. Why should God's words be toyed with. Because some people didnt like the word usage used in the King James Version. Using the words of the bible to fit the current needs of people is not right. God's words should never be changed to fit current needs of the people.

Again I ask. Why should I have to compare. Whys should the words have to be changed. If it is the truth than the book should never have to be rewritten PERIOD.

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wlctrent

You are right, if it is the word of God it should not be re-written PERIOD! But it has been re-written so many times it is getting hard to tell what is God's word and what is man made. That is one of the reasons I don't follow the christian religion anymore.

taiarain

Interesting points. Of course, who would be able to teach the classes in Hebrew and Aramaic that global Christians would need to take in order to be able to understand the books of the bible as originally written?

Taia

OneofaKind

Good point Taia

Furthermore the different English versions are written in language that different people can understand and identify with.

Grant

Replies in bold.

mtatum4496

Quite true.

It is important to remember that the works contained in what we call the Bible were not handed down from on high in one nice neat little package. Focusing on the New Testament as we have it today, God did not point a finger at the many writings of the early followers of Jesus and point out to the ascending church fathers which books were to do into a canon. There was a lot of sweat, work, and politics that went into deciding which books would be canonical and which would not. Some of the ones that fundamentalist Christians tend to emphasize almost did not make the cut.

We also tend to think that the books in the Bible are universal in every Christian faith. They are not. Coptic Christians have books that are not in the agreed upon Protestant canon. Catholics certainly have additional books in their Old Testament when compared to the Protestant editions. Some Bible scholars think the Song of Solomon should have been tossed out altogether - others think it it rightfully placed in the canon.

When translating any work from one language to another, the human element comes into play. When faced with a word that could be translated several ways, human being will go for the one that makes the most sense to them in their own time, place and culture. This is especially true if you have no background on the customs and culture of the time frame in which the writing was originated. Two of the reasons for the continual number of new versions of the Bible are simply this: as we learn more about the context of the original writing, we have a better shot at understanding what the writer/scribe originally copied down; second, modern scholars try to the best of their ability to not let their own contemporary views influence how they translate an ancient writing.

This is a great concern to many Christians who consider the Bible to be "THE WORD". Since I do not consider the Bible to be the Word (in my personal theology, that would be Jesus, not a collection of any writings) and I do not consider anything that passes through the hands of human beings to be infallible, I will look to the Bible for themes and counsel for how to live (and not live) my life, and evaluate what I read while still leaning on what I feel in my heart is right and has been confirmed by Spirit to be the right choices for my life.

Danielle

This is also how I look at the Bible, but don't try telling that to my husband and mother-in-law.

Grant

"Two of the reasons for the continual number of new versions of the Bible are simply this: as we learn more about the context of the original writing, we have a better shot at understanding what the writer/scribe originally copied down; second, modern scholars try to the best of their ability to not let their own contemporary views influence how they translate an ancient writing. "


Its mostly for different dialects and such if you ask me. Literal translations are better for picking apart passages and digging at the specifics. Though-for-thought translations are better for getting a message across.

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