Bible Translations
This entry was posted on 3/19/2007 12:08 PM and is filed under Bible Translations.
A visitor to our website asked:
A quick question, you say on your page stating your beliefs that the bible is without error. What bible would that be? the KJV, NIV, NASV, MSG.. which one?
Great question!
I study from several translation at the same time to get a complete overview of the text. I use Greek translating tools to check the orginal language and definitions as I study. The New Amercan Standard 95 update is one of the most accurate word for word translations of the origianal language. You may want to invest in some bible software and I suggest Logos software.
The original O.T. Hebrew / Aramaic and N.T. Greek would be the best bible to read if we were all language experts and could read the original manuscripts. Not many people read and write in these ancient dead languages.
God's Word, accessible to all people in the language of their heart.
In English, not all translations are word for word and may vary in what they say but short of a rewritten cultic versions,(ie. The New World Translation ) what we have today is the Word of God in our language. The greater understanding comes through the power of the Holy Spirit as He and The Logos ( Jesus ) reveals and confirms the truth in our hearts. When we listen to the Spirit of God we should come to the same conclusions. (Hebrews 5:14)
When it comes to interpretation of the bible, why are there so many discrepancies in different people groups? This could be any number of problems: Spiritual immaturity, unlearned and unwilling to study, argumentative personalities, carnality, and just plain unsaved people who believe and proclaim they are saved. (2 Peter 1:19-21) America's Pulpits are filled with carnal unsaved preachers ( Matthew 7:19-23) and false teachers. (Col 2:18–19, 2 Cor 11:13-15, Jer 14:14, Jer 23:26, Rom 16:18, Eph 4:14, 2 Pet 2:13) By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, you can discern the differnence.
Through the centuries, the practitioners of textual criticism, a precise science, have discovered, preserved, cataloged, evaluated, and published an amazing array of biblical manuscripts from both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, the number of existing biblical manuscripts dramatically outdistances the existing fragments of any other ancient literature. By comparing text with text, the textual critic can confidently determine what the original prophetic/apostolic, inspired writing contained.
John Jr MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville: Word Pub., 1997, c1997), Ge 1:1.
The New Testament findings are even more decisive because a much larger amount of material is available for study; there are over 5,000 Greek New Testament manuscripts that range from the whole testament to scraps of papyri which contain as little as part of one verse . A few existing fragments date back to within 25–50 years of the original writing. New Testament textual scholars have generally concluded that 1) 99.99 percent of the original writings have been reclaimed, and 2) of the remaining one hundredth of one percent, there are no variants substantially affecting any Christian doctrine.
John Jr MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville: Word Pub., 1997, c1997), My advice is study, pray, and continue on in your spiritual journey. BC Denver
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