I have just recently (7-8 months ago) began extensive study of God's word and I've heard from several sources that the King James Version wasn't translated as accurately as it could have been.
I personally prefer the New Living Translation by Tyndale House Publishers as I have a hard time studying the KJV and also because I've been informed that Tyndale House has taken Greek and Hebrew text from around the world and spent a large amount of time on accurately translating from the dead sea scrolls and other ancient texts.
Here's a link to where I got a lot of information on this subject:
https://dod.org/programs-by-category/land-of-the-bible-topics/dod2116.html
Part 2 of this program can be accessed through the link under the video.
I would love to know what your point of view is on this subject.
Please, try to be nice. I'm not trying to start any heated arguments.
Thanks!
Hi Dorothy!
Regarding Bible translations: A good rule of thumb to start with is to reject the works of single men (not as in unmarried, but as in those who are not a part of a linguistic team with actual linguistic education, credentials, and with peer accountablilty), which would include Mormon works, the JW bible, and the Hebrew Roots versions that are out there, including the AENT.
In a nutshell, Bible translations break down into word-for-word translations or thought-for-thought ('equivalent dynamic') translations. And then there are paraphrases. Doctrine should be gleaned from more literal translations rather than paraphrases, as paraphrases are not as true to the original languages as translations are.
Both word-for-word and thought-for-thought translations have their strengths and weaknesses, and as such I personally refer to several translations when reading and researching. I have done lots of memory work from the King James Version (more a word-for-word translation); my primary (and worn out) version is the NIV (more a thought-for-thought translation) - the 1984 version, not the 2011 version, which I do not like. The 1984 version can still be purchased from distributors such as CBD:
When I'm online, I have active tab(s)s that look like this:
. . . which gives me parallel versions to read at a glance.
You can go to the box with the translation title in it and click on the down arrow and change the version that appears, and add another parallel version by clicking on the 'Add parallel' button below the translation furthest to the right. Or you can 'x' out the parallels and just read one version. It's very handy =o)!
I also go to the Hebrew/Greek when needed, and for that, I've found the simplest site to use is
Blue Letter Bible - Home Page.
It's primary version that comes up is the KJV (though other versions are also available), and from there you can access the Hebrew/Greek dictionaries very easily. Here's how it works:
Let's put in
Heb 4:12. It will take you to that verse, but include the entire chapter on the page (which I really like for context). You'll notice to the left of the verse there are a cluster of 'buttons' with a letter on each button.
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For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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Clicking on the letter 'C' is the one which will give you the English and the Greek with the Strong's number. You can then
click on the Strong's number in the middle column of the display and it will give you a complete definition of that Greek word. Take care to remember that meaning is in large part determined by context, so if you see the word, '
heart', for example, as in the last part of that particular verse, we can see that the meaning is not the physical organ that beats within our chests, but encompasses the more abstract meanings of the word 'heart' that follow - determined by context.
One of the cool things I learned from studying the verse above is that 'word' is not merely the written Word of God, but the Logos (Christ Himself, the same Greek word that John uses in
John 1:1 to describe Christ in the beginning) of God.
Beyond that, here are a couple of links that you might find helpful:
Now on to what some term the controversial stuff - there is the 'KJV only' viewpoint. I understand their stance, but disagree with it. There are tons of sites/videos out there to research the KJV only point of view - I've looked into it and have found their bias to be unreasonable, partly based on the facts I've researched about original texts (A video I found helpful in condensing the typical arguments into debate form can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTfiuksOwl4).
Here is a really long article about how we got our Bible . . . scroll down about 3/4 or so to the 'Textual Criticism' section for some good information:
http://www.biblebb.com/files/howbible.htm
In fact, if you google 'textual criticism', you will find some good information.
Also be aware of a 'controversy' regarding the original language of the New Testament. Some in Law-keeping sects are more and more claiming either Hebrew or Aramaic primacy (the language in which the NT was originally penned), and claiming that the Greek corrupts the text. Greek Primacy is the
overwhelmingly accepted view, based on textual criticism and credible scholarship.
Again, beware of any 'translations' that are the work of one man; there is no accountability and no peer review for such translations, and they tend to be works by men who hold to aberrant belief systems (Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Hebrew Roots, etc.) and are trying to force Scripture fit into their doctrines instead of changing their doctrines to fit the Scriptures.
Grace and peace to you in the Lord Jesus Christ,
-JGIG
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