the different versions of the bible

shorty
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the different versions of the bible

whats the difference in the bibles

exactly whats the difference. im not saying there are no differences i just want to know how they are different.


CynageN
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the different versions of the bible

From my understanding, translation. Some are better translated than others I believe.


shorty
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the different versions of the bible

actually it seems that in at leastversions they look for the contradictions and write them out


Equilibrium
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the different versions of the bible

shorty wrote:
actually it seems that in at leastversions they look for the contradictions and write them out

Bingo

"Character is higher than intellect... A great soul will be strong to live, as well as to think."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson


MattShizzle
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the different versions of the bible

They are all wrong anyway! Laughing out loud


shorty
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the different versions of the bible

how about anytime a theist quotes anything other than the bible its out of context... lol


Rigor_OMortis
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the different versions of the bible

There should be an initiative to spot all contradictions in the Bible, hold on to them and not let people forget that these were once the errors of their faith. Unfortunately, if we had seen the "original" set, perhaps we would have a much easier job deconverting.

Inquisition - "The flames are all long gone, but the pain lingers on..."
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Holmes
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the different versions of the bible

Got an NASB, an NIV, an RSV, and a NKJV sitting here in front of me, and damned if they all don't note Mark 16:9-20 'aren't in the earliest mss' (manuscripts).; same thing with John 8 (the story of the 'let he without sin cast the first stone and stuff') And goodness, they even all uniformly note alternate translations of various words and phrases.

So I'm thinking that whatever the 'intent' was of the various translations, it probably, maybe, possibly wasn't to 'edit' out inconvenient texts? Laughing out loud

The short answer is, there's really no 'short answer' why there are bunches of different 'translations' of the Bible. I'll try to address 'at a high level' the underlying reasonings for some of them however:

1. Which books were to be considered canonical? A Catholic bible has several more OT books than a Protestant bible. Why? Lots of reasons, but basically - much like the Civil War was ultimately about slavery (the 'State's Rights' referenced always lead ultimately back to slavery Laughing out loud ), the Protestants considered only the Hebrew versions of the Old Testament canonical. The Catholic Church, lead largely by the example of Hellenistic converts like Augustine, used the Greek translation of the OT, also called the Septuagint (sp?)

2. Updates to reflect changes in the language. Modern 'mericans don't speak Shakespearian English. In fact, most of the time we have no clue what that Bard (must be an AD&D 1e Bard; I never could figure out their level titles, neither) is going on about, but it sure sounds purty. And the original KJV is written in that style of English. It generally doesn't help that several Egnlish words have changed in meaning since then.

On a related note, about 40% of the time when somebody tries to point out an 'inconsistency' in the Bible, they're referencing a KJV. The easy solution is to point them to a 'more modern translation'.

3. A conscious decision on the part of the translators to either be as 'literal' a translation as possible, or as 'readable' a translation as possible. The Living Bible (I believe) is an example of a translation that has taken the 'intent' of the source material and tried to write it in as close as possible to modern English. The New American Standard Bible (NASB), is the other extreme. Sometimes it's a bit hard to read, but I've only met one person who doesn't think it's the most verbatim translation available.

Sounds rosy, but ya gotta consider Modern English folks don't think, or write, the same way as 2000 year old Hellenistic Jews, or even 2000 year old Hellenistic Jews write or think similarly to another Jew Post Exile, or even Pre.

4. Small differences in interpretation in words. Like the NIV is basically the RSV, what says "Virgin" instead of "young unmarried woman". Seriously, talk about splitting hairs.

I mean, young unmarried women at the time Isaiah was written were tantamount to being frickin' virgins. If they weren't, somebody was either getting a 'shotgun wedding' or stoned... Laughing out loud

Most versions of the bible will tell you in the front pages Why they were written, What their source material was, and The Guidelines for Translation (which OT translations were used, what version of the Greek and Hebrew Translation standards were used, etc.)

Scott Holmes


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the different versions of the bible

Holmes wrote:

So I'm thinking that whatever the 'intent' was of the various translations, it probably, maybe, possibly wasn't to 'edit' out inconvenient texts? Laughing out loud

KING JAMES VERSION
Passage Isaiah 45:7:

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

Passage Isaiah 45:7:
I am the one who creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.


Holmes
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the different versions of the bible

Finish the context: all of Isaiah 45: 1-7 has to do with God's commission to Cyrus (a nonbeliever) to in a sense, sack Babylon? in order to return the Jews to Jersusalem.

The verse in question reasserts Sovereignty of a Omnisicent God. Much like Job, which points even the Accuser is subject to Him.

Scott Holmes