First, let me start by saying the original inspired manuscripts in Greek and Hebrew are the best "versions" of the Bible. Since most of us know nothing about either language, it's essential to know what some of the popular Bible versions say and what their translation method is like. For example, King James Version (KJV) takes the Hebrew and Greek words and translates them into the best-fitting English word possible, word-for-word. NIV (New International Version) and NLT (New Living Translation) take the original idea that was in Hebrew and Greek and translate that idea in English. NKJV takes the KJV but tries to update the English to fit with more modern terms.
Personally I have 1 KJV, 1 NLT and 1 NIV bible. If I am confused by a verse in one, I might consult another, and so on. However, I'd say about 90% of all the verses I have read in my life have been from my NIV bible. I find that it's a solid translation that isn't too confusing, and at the same time isn't oversimplified. I would recommend KJV to anybody that doesn't have trouble reading it because I think most people agree it's closest to the original manuscripts as you can get. I can handle KJV when I'm checking up on a verse but I have a little difficulty reading entire chapters in it.
Sooner or later somebody will quote a verse from the Bible to try to defend a point to you, and it may sound fishy, so a good idea is to have a method of verifying a Bible version that you have never heard of. Try this: Check common verses that mention Jesus as God. John 1:1, John 10:30, Titus 2:13, etc. You know if a version twists these passages as to deny the deity of Christ, you can ditch it. For example, the New World Translation (used by Jehovah's Witnesses) slightly changes a lot of key verses to fit their beliefs. Be careful when somebody quotes a verse and it triggers an alarm inside your head.
"For the word of God is living and powerful.." - Hebrews 4:12
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
That was very cute Taylor...
Skeptics and critics of the Bible often site the various Bible translations as "evidence" and "support" that the central reading of the Christian faith is so easily dictated by an interpreters opinion... What they do not realize is that the "Koine" (Greek used in Jesus' day) Greek (New Testament) is no longer used today and Greek is the most "exact" language in the world... The English language is limited to its interpreting the vastly superior Greek language... Take alone the word "love" in English for example... In the Greek there is "phileo", "agape", "stogei", and "eros"... I once heard that, on average, for every English verb there are 5 Greek variations of that same verb... So, it is easy to see why we have so many Bible translations... Because the Bible from front to back covers 1500 years of history, has over 40 authors of completly different backgrounds and occupations, different cultures, and different styles of writing (some Poetic, some Narrative, etc.)... When you have a language that different from ours and a culture that different from ours it is easy to see why Christians would want even MORE translations so that they can get a better understanding of what God is saying...
Yeah, the Greek language is a trip.
Post a Comment