People have been fighting about the different Bible translations for hundreds of years, and will probably continue to do so for many more to come. There are those that think this topic isn't important at all, while others see it as a matter of life or death. Now no matter which side of the fence you find yourself on, I feel it is important to be well informed, seeing that so much of our lives are based on what we read in the Bible.
When looking at or comparing the different Bible translations, it's hard not to see that there are some obvious differences between some of them. I will be sharing some of these differences now, but would first like to mention that in no way do these differences change the core and most important messages of the Bible. The truth is still shown in that Jesus did for our sins and through Him we can have eternal life.
Here are few examples from the Bible that show some of these differences:
Who killed Goliath?
Most people would agree that it was David, right?
Not according to the English Standard Version translation (Focus on the bold print)
King James Version
"And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhananthe son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam."
- 2 Samuel 21:19 (Emphases mine)
New International Version
"In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod."
- 2 Samuel 21:19 (Emphases mine)
English Standard Version
"And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, struck down Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam."
- 2 Samuel 21:19 (Emphases mine)
In the book of Hosea we are given information about the tribe of Judah. The question is now whether they were with or against God?
According to the New International Version translation they were against God:
King James Version
"Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints."
- Hosea 11:12 (Emphases mine)
New International Version
- Hosea 11:12 (Emphases mine)
English Standard Version
"Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One."
- Hosea 11:12 (Emphases mine)
As one last example:
Who will be blessed so that they might eat of the tree of life and enter into the city of God?
Does God want us to do His commandments or does He want us to have clean clothes?
King James Version
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
- Revelation 22:14 (Emphases mine)
New International Version
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."
- Revelation 22:14 (Emphases mine)
English Standard Version
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates."
- Revelation 22:14 (Emphases mine)
Whether we'd like to admit it or not, no one can't say that these examples above teach the same thing. As Christians, we have to be able to admit when things do not quite match up, or else we would just be fooling ourselves.
This being said, the central truths are still the same throughout these translations, and as long we are saved through what Jesus did for us on the cross, the truth is still being taught.
To help with keeping things clear and easy to understand, I will only be explaining the broad outline of how the different translations came to be. Should you feel you would like to delve deeper into the history feel free to do so. I will also be sharing a video at the end to give some extra details and maybe make some things more clear.
Basically and very simply put: Bibles are translated from ancient manuscripts that were written and copied over thousands of years. These manuscripts served as the history book/newspapers of the time to make sure their history is carried forward to the next generations in an accurate manner. This copying process is also not a problem at all because it was done very meticulously and precise way. Now, there are basically two major sets of manuscripts that Bibles are translated from:
- The Majority Texts (Textus Receptus) - Compiled by using over 5000 manuscripts found at that stage that match perfectly with each other (Currently there are over 64 000 that all match). It is also very important to note that these manuscripts do NOT have amendments, additions and deletions.
- The Minority Texts (primarily the Westcott and Hort translation of the Greek Text), based primarily on manuscripts named: Codex Sinaiticus and the Codex Vaticanus). Only a handful of these types of manuscripts have been found. Now these manuscripts don't completely match each other and they don't match the Majority Texts. It should also be noted that these manuscripts are filled with amendments, additions and deletions that proof that something is not completely right.
The 1611 King James Translation of the Bible was for the most part translated from the Majority Text, while all English Bibles translated after 1611 were/are translated from the Minority Texts with either little or no use of the Majority Texts. The reason for this being: Some of the Minority Texts are dated as older than the Majority Texts.
Please know that in no way do not have a problem with the Bible being translated into more understandable language, but when we are using faulty manuscripts, errors are bound to slip in.
Our question should't be "which translation is most accurately?",
Our question should be "What translation of the Bible is translation the correct manuscripts?"
Read the Bible translation you can understand! If you can understand the KJV or the Afrikaans 1953 translation, then I recommend that you read it. If not, then read any one you prefer. There is no use in reading a Bible you believe is correct, but you don't understand it or you don't like reading it. At the end of the day, the Bible is a helpline to help get to know God better so that we can rely on God directly through His Spirit. I don't believe a few details here and there will take anything away from how great our God is or how He is able to work in our lives.
Here is a short video for those of you who would like to know a bit more detail on the subject:
16/1/2014