English Bibles

Dennis wrote:

"It came to be because our English Bibles are believed, by many Christians, to be an accurate translation of the original words while they are, in fact, a biased translation of those words."

and Ryan Replied:

You do understand that English is pretty much all anyone here can read and that is all we have for bibles. There is only one entity in existance that I can see who would like to put in the minds of people that there bible is bias and untruthful so that people won't read it or believe what it says. I'll let you guess. Who's side are you on?

My thoughts:

Ryan,

The reality is English translations do have problems. The KJV came about, in part, because of an agenda. All of the translators have a bias. The various translations do not agree on certain points. Beyond that, the English translations come from two sets of Greek manuscripts, and those two sets are different in places. It seems to me that all of these are facts – or the truth. Jesus said the truth will set us free, and that Satan is the Father of lies. So suggesting that Satan is the one spreading the truth seems rather bizarre to me.

Does all of what I have said mean I don’t trust the Bible, or don’t think it is the Word of God? MAY IT NEVER BE! Because I know that the Bible as a book of words is useless, but the Bible as the inspired Word of God, interpreted by the Holy Spirit, is powerful and true. When we read, study, meditate and pray over the Scriptures, they go from words on a page to His Word in our hearts.

Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus, and Madeline Murphy O’Hair knew the text of the Bible better than most pastors – but this did neither any good because they did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling, and making the Word alive and real to them.

So, saying the Bible has imperfections is not, for me, a problem. The One who interprets it to us is perfect, and that means we can hear and understand His truth.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Matthew G. Parker on October 20, 2011 at 7:58pm

@ John,

It took me long time to find that one online. I had seen one in print years ago, but lost it. Anyway, they no longer have it up, I don't think. I used print screen and paste to save it in paint so I'd always have it.

NOTE: There is an okay FREE Interlinear online. It is also free to download. It is called the "Interlinear Scripture Analyzer." When I first got it, it had the Nestle Aland 26/27, but now it only has the Scriverner's Textus Receptus, which was the KJV 1894 retrofit.

@ Paul,

I guess The Interlinear thing I have is a "best evidence" thing.

Unfortunately, many christians love to say things like "The Bible says..." and then go on to tell you their convictions.

This is where The Interlinear simply can't be beaten! FOR EXAMPLE... how many time has someone said, "You know The Bible says 'Forsake not the assembling...' and you home church people, well how do you excuse what you people do?"

Well, For me, that's an easy one. I simply say, "The Bible doesn't really say that." THEN, while they look at me like a cow at a new gate, I simply say... "What It really says is, 'And may we be considering one another unto beside sharpening of love and perfect acts. Not abandoning the on together leading of themselves, as according to what some do, but beside calling, and to so much... rather as much as you are looking nearing The Day.'"

Then I explain that this is just one place where The Church is clearly told to be about doing ...just like Jesus (or Batman). :) And that we should act "beside" one another "together leading" each other, while "beside" encouraging one another. This is NOT setting in a building with our mouths shut, our ears open, our brains empty, and a dollar in hand for the offering!!! 8^)

Also, don't you think comparing The Interlinear to Google Translate is not really very good? Don't you think that a group of scholars working on one very important Book (many for a lifetime) with many other scholars critically judging their work, is a touch different than a group of Google hackers (my wife is a hacker) turning out free online software?

Isn't that like comparing Old Testament scribes to the children's game of "gossip?"

Blessings,

Matthew

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Permalink Reply by Roy Hill on October 21, 2011 at 6:55pm

Hi John,

I found a list of commands that overwhelmed me. I'm tempted to say that the link to it looks like greek to me.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AhP_v8B57Mc2dGNmMzRlMX...

John Brown said:

Roy,

I don't have a reference to a "Jesus command list" as such. I'm not so sure I would really trust such a list either. Many amateur would-be commentators don't seem to grasp a few simple facts. Jesus was emphatic that he came to the lost sheep of Israel. That means that he taught in that context only and one should read the ministry of Jesus from that perspective: teachings pertaining to the kingdom of God to Israel, who was still under the Mosaic Law.

Therefore, not necessarily everything he said might be applicable to the modern Body of Christ assembly, if Pentecost means anything. Paul explicitly taught that there were things God revealed for the first time to him. That means there are spiritual matters about the new Body Congregation that Jesus never mentioned. Jesus' ministry was to teach Israel and fulfill the Mosaic Law. Paul says the Law is now written in the heart via new birth of holy spirit. This was not available when Jesus taught because it was his death and resurrection that made it possible.So Jesus taught nothing that includes this new reality, new only since Pentecost. I've not worked on sorting all of this out yet but it is on my "to do list."

-- John

Roy

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Permalink Reply by Marshall Diakon on October 23, 2011 at 9:33am

It is the wisdom of God that we have Scriptures and New Testament writings through copy and translation portals. koine Greek & paleo-Hebrew, through the eddies of time, have much been lost to us (despite bold claims to marked scholarship). In effect, what was written is today "through the glass darkly" and curiously encrypted by way of "spiritually discerned". If these things were not so, Christ might be reduced to a catechism or an ascent via informational digest.

The many problems with translation & variants motivate/intrigue us to seek the Lord's face; prompt frequent examination; train us further to depend & walk in the Spirit. Failing to do this tends to sustain a pantry collection of contradiction & error: a historic hallmark of industrial/institutional "faith". Since the Life of Christ is our Salvation (and not a quarantined Biblical abstract or thesis), all things concerning Him come alive for us. Atop this, He has given by His Spirit "one mind, one accord" among us. All these things further yield to confirm those who truly walk by faith in Him, and apart from the relative many "Biblical" philosophers, academics, leeches, mocks, magicians, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew G. Parker on October 23, 2011 at 11:04am

Marshall,

Agreed!!! All of my Interlinear studies brought me to this one simple conclusion; "He's hungry, he needs food. He's thirsty, he needs a drink. He homeless, and we have room. He's necked, he needs cloths. He's sick, I'll go see how he's doing. He was in jail, but I will still show compassion." This is the very thing we see in spontaneity in Acts 2:42-47 [Hi Paul Byerly 8^)].

It is so simple to get caught up in "Lord, Lord, I have prophesied in Your name. In Your name I have even cast out devils! In Your name I have done many wonderful works!" and we forget Christ's answer to that, and how simple The Gospel really is!

Blessings,

Matthew