9 But avoid
foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels
about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
10 Warn a divisive
person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have
nothing to do with him.
11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is
self-condemned.
My whole
reason for this Bible Study, is because of a group of those who call
themselves Christians. Who worship the version of the "King James
Bible"! I have even had them insult me by calling my NIV Bible a
comic book. Telling me that they read the original Bible, 'The King
James'.
It does not go well when I remind them that the original Bible was
not written in English. That the King James translation is only 401
years old. And that to read the original Bible you will have to
learn several languages which include: Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
At the same time as I prefer the NIV, I do not attest to it being
the end all be all version of the Bible. The only person who can say
as such, is Jesus Himself. I believe that God has preserved his Word
in the translations where those have strived for God's Guidance in
the translation from the original languages!
This has turned into a stupid and foolish controversy, that has no
place in the Christian's life. We are even warned about such!
2 Timothy 2:23
New International Version (NIV)
23 Don’t have
anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know
they produce quarrels.
There are two types of Bible's, 1) The Paraphrase(or interpretation)
and the 2) Translation.
1)
Paraphrase or Interpretation is oral - it refers to listening to
something spoken, or reading what is written, then the person(or
persons) try to derive a meaning from it and write that meaning.
Example: Setting the captives free, could mean to: let go of
prisoners, let go of those under sin, to free those under a
dictatorship, or it could even mean to take off your shoes. It
interpretation is open to the one or the group who is deciding what
it means.
"The Message" is one such Interpretation. Interpretations are
dangerous if you rely on them alone. You are relying on someone's
interpretation of the Bible, when at times the Bible speaks very
differently to each of us.
2)
Translation is written - it involves taking a written text (such as
a book or an article) and translating it in writing into the target
language.
Example: bonjour comment allez-vous ? - Hello, how are you?
Both NIV and King James are translations, the difference between the
two is that King James is a word for word translation. Keeping the
words in the same order they were written. NIV is a word for word
translation, but the words are moved around so that the sentence
makes sense.
Different languages in the world, have different rules for sentence
structure. Some words come before others and if translated word for
word to English, we could end up with a translation that makes no
sense or where the meaning is lost. We have to understand the
underlying grammar of each language.
However the challenges with a word for word translation, runs into
walls when it is difficult to figure out what the words mean from a
language that was written many thousands of years ago. It is indeed
a very difficult task to preserve the Bible, its original languages
include Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
One such word, in Hebrew, was the word of "Ruah". Its a beautiful
word that cannot be translated into one Word, with out understanding
the context it is in. It is used to mean breath, spirit, and as well
"Breath of God". Its the one word that separates us from all
creation. Its used to represent how God gave us life. How God
breathed life into us all!
With translations of the Bible, in my research, Biblical scholars
spent many hours, days, years praying and making sure they have
preserved the Word. If there is a preface in your Bible, I suggest
you read it. In my NIV they frankly say "Like all translations of
the Bible, made as they are by imperfect man, this one undoubtedly
falls short of its goals."
They admit, that they have strived their best, but nothing can
compare to the perfect manuscripts that are preserved for us in the
original languages.
I myself prefer and recommend the New International Version, as it
speaks English for today. The biggest problem I have with the King
James Version, it that its English is 401 years old. When I was ten
years old, I was given my first Bible, which was a King James
version. One verse that I could not understand from the King James,
was:
Genesis 4:1
King James Version(KJV
1And
Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said,
I have gotten a man from the LORD.
I thought, of course he knew his wife. How could he not know her?
Then in the early 80's, I was presented with my first NIV Bible. It
was translated as
1
Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth
to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a
man.”
Now that I understood, it made more sense because it was written in
an English that I spoke. Old English is just that, old! Today when
we say we know are wife, it is much different then when they spoke
that. Imagine going back 400 years and telling a girl you want to
get to know her, then wondering why she slapped you.
As well the NIV has the advantage of the discovery of the "Dead Sea
Scrolls", which were found on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea.
They are the oldest known copy of the Bible with the manuscripts
dating around 150 BC. Since the discovery of these scrolls in 1947,
it has further helped translate and understand the language of the
Bible.
Whats amazing is how God Preserved the Bible for us!
Since the original Bible language includes Hebrew, Aramaic, and
Greek. I will not be reading the original language anytime soon. I
prefer the NIV, but at times refer to the King James, Good News, New
King James, and other translations. As well I have investigated the
Original words, from Hebrews, Aramaic and Greek. I do this because I
want to be intimate with God's word. I want to hear God speaking to
me through His perfect and infallible Word!
