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A
Read The Books and The Parchments by F.F. Bruce. He tells the history, linguistics, and semantics of how the Bible came to be.
S
I think the King James is possibly as accurate as any translation but it will still leave you a little blind as to the full meaning from the original Greek and Hebrew. There are also a few inaccuracies but it's about as close as any English translation.
Kenneth S Wuest has some word studies that are excellent ,as well as a New testament that uses as many English words as necessary to convey the Greek. The Amplified Bible is also a great help to get full meaning.
I would say though that the main thing when learning the Bible is to not get so caught up in a few verses that you get the meaning twisted and believe false doctrine. Look at the Bible as a whole and interpret it in such a way that all the scriptures agree with each other. When we see scripture that seems to contradict each other, it is really our understanding that is convoluted. In the case of the Bible a little knowledge really is a dangerous thing.
Still, don't let any of that frighten you. If you are born again, you have the Holy Spirit as your teacher and he will lead and guide you as long as you are pliant and teachable. It's only when we become haughty and puffed up with our own knowledge that we loose our way.
Kenneth S Wuest has some word studies that are excellent ,as well as a New testament that uses as many English words as necessary to convey the Greek. The Amplified Bible is also a great help to get full meaning.
I would say though that the main thing when learning the Bible is to not get so caught up in a few verses that you get the meaning twisted and believe false doctrine. Look at the Bible as a whole and interpret it in such a way that all the scriptures agree with each other. When we see scripture that seems to contradict each other, it is really our understanding that is convoluted. In the case of the Bible a little knowledge really is a dangerous thing.
Still, don't let any of that frighten you. If you are born again, you have the Holy Spirit as your teacher and he will lead and guide you as long as you are pliant and teachable. It's only when we become haughty and puffed up with our own knowledge that we loose our way.
it's not correct to say "protestants" say the KJV is the only complete truth --
there's a sect of people that fall under the loose 'protestant' umbrella, who are convinced that the KJV is the only accurate version of scripture - some so far as to say that no other version in any other language is accurate.
these people don't by any means represent the belief of all protestants.
so "some protestants .. " is more like the truth.
on the other hand, there are also protestants who would call such people who hold that belief a cult, and not truly part of the Church at all.
there's a sect of people that fall under the loose 'protestant' umbrella, who are convinced that the KJV is the only accurate version of scripture - some so far as to say that no other version in any other language is accurate.
these people don't by any means represent the belief of all protestants.
so "some protestants .. " is more like the truth.
on the other hand, there are also protestants who would call such people who hold that belief a cult, and not truly part of the Church at all.
Hebrews 13:17 has been mangled by the Amplified version as well.
Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves. KJ.
The greek: be persuaded by those that guide you. Yield to their persuasion.
See what I mean? See: 'The Great Ekklesiastical Conspiracy'.
Strongs concordance and KJ bible is the way to go.
Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves. KJ.
The greek: be persuaded by those that guide you. Yield to their persuasion.
See what I mean? See: 'The Great Ekklesiastical Conspiracy'.
Strongs concordance and KJ bible is the way to go.
V
Unless they're published by the JWs, Mormons, or other cultish religions that use the name of Christ but don't actually proclaim Jesus, they are the real McCoy, to the extent that they are all accurate renditions of the original autographs as inspired by God through the Holy Spirit. If it is an accepted mainstream traditional version, don't worry about it.
Tintin's got the honest answer here -- the scriptures weren't written in English; they were written in Hebrew, Aramaic & Greek. every time you translate something from one language to another, there's opportunity to miss some nuance or meaning of the original prose, and to in some way misrepresent it, or at least not do it justice.
something like what atwhatcost is pointing you at is well worth the time to read --
i've never studied Greek or Hebrew, but for a long time now i've wanted to. God willing, one day i will. i'm very thankful for being in touch through this site with some wonderful brothers and sisters who are educated in it - reading some of what they say here has helped my understanding out a lot.
what's been said here about being taught by the Holy Spirit about the word is great too - Jesus said His words are spirit, and through His help by the Holy Ghost we don't need to know Greek or Hebrew before we can understand the truth - but certainly doesn't hurt, and in a lot of ways it helps. knowledge & understanding do not harm us
something like what atwhatcost is pointing you at is well worth the time to read --
i've never studied Greek or Hebrew, but for a long time now i've wanted to. God willing, one day i will. i'm very thankful for being in touch through this site with some wonderful brothers and sisters who are educated in it - reading some of what they say here has helped my understanding out a lot.
what's been said here about being taught by the Holy Spirit about the word is great too - Jesus said His words are spirit, and through His help by the Holy Ghost we don't need to know Greek or Hebrew before we can understand the truth - but certainly doesn't hurt, and in a lot of ways it helps. knowledge & understanding do not harm us
L
I guess I'm one of those believers that feel the Holy Spirit can teach me the Word of God with whatever translation I have. I don't need to be a Greek scholar or Hebrew scholar or purchase a huge study bible. Read the Word daily and meditate and pray on what you are reading. Can't go wrong with the best translator (Holy Spirit)
Funny, I read Greek and the bolded sentence above doesn't look like Greek in the slightest! It looks like KJV!
Here is the Greek:
7 Μνημονεύετε τῶν ἡγουμένων ὑμῶν, οἵτινες ἐλάλησαν ὑμῖν τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, ὧν ἀναθεωροῦντες τὴν ἔκβασιν τῆς ἀναστροφῆς μιμεῖσθε τὴν πίστιν." Hebrews 13:7
Μνημονεύετε Mnemoveuete- present, imperative, active - to remember, to be mindful of, "remember to honour them." Memnonics is an English word which means "assisting or intended to assist the memory." It has its root in the Greek word. So no - persuaded is NOT a good translation, at all! Plus, there is no word "persuasion" at the end of the verses.
ἡγουμένων or egoumenon is a present, middled (deponent) participle, used as a substantative. In other words, a noun It means "to lead" or "leaders" or "those leading you."
If you want more translation of the words, I can do that. Instead, here is the ESV, which is a much better translation that the KJV, which doesn't even get it close!
"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7
I realize now what your problem is, Yet. You are going by an archaic text, which you somehow think is Greek. I would suggest you read a modern translation, and maybe then you will get a glimpse of the gospel, which you seem to have missed in the KJV. (Not that everyone misses it! It is still God's Word. But the OP just doesn't seem to get the meaning of who Jesus is, and what he came to do!)
T
I am not an expert in this area but I believe the first modern English translation in the UK was the Revised Standard version
that was first published in the 1940s. I remember using this for Religious Studies in secondary School. Before this the King James was the only Protestant Bible people used, and the Duay translation was used by Catholics. There was no question as to which translation was better because the choice just wasn't there. I am sure God managed to get his message across then.
Many older people still use the KJV because it was what they were brought up with. I use it but also the RSV for clarification.
that was first published in the 1940s. I remember using this for Religious Studies in secondary School. Before this the King James was the only Protestant Bible people used, and the Duay translation was used by Catholics. There was no question as to which translation was better because the choice just wasn't there. I am sure God managed to get his message across then.
Many older people still use the KJV because it was what they were brought up with. I use it but also the RSV for clarification.
maybe this will help
Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust].
(Hebrews 13:17a -- Amplified)
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account
(AKJV)
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.
(ESV)
Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God.
(the Message)
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.
(NIV 1984)
Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject, for these do watch for your souls, as about to give account
(Young's Literal)
Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God.
(NLT)
seems like you might like the Message or NIV here best, Yet!
though i usually think the Amplified just muddles things with all its interjections, and the Message mangles or misrepresents the text more than anything else.
Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust].
(Hebrews 13:17a -- Amplified)
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account
(AKJV)
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.
(ESV)
Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God.
(the Message)
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account.
(NIV 1984)
Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject, for these do watch for your souls, as about to give account
(Young's Literal)
Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God.
(NLT)
though i usually think the Amplified just muddles things with all its interjections, and the Message mangles or misrepresents the text more than anything else.