Bible Question:
How do you know which bible translation to use and which one is the true word of God? |
Bible Answer: Many, such as the KJV-Only advocates, are scared to death that they're going to get hold of a poor translation that will somehow deceive them into committing apostasy or heresy. Consider this. Any doctrine that depends solely on one verse of Scripture -- especially if it depends on only one verse in only one particular translation -- any such doctrine that is so inadequately supported isn't much of a doctrine to begin with. The inspiration of the Bible, the deity of Christ, the incarnation, the atonement, God's plan of salvation, the Second Coming of Christ, etc. can be proven using the KJV, NKJV, NIV, ASV, RSV, NASB, NEB, or any number of other translations. (The single exception would be the New World Translation produced by the Jehovah's Witnesses which is better classified as creative writing -- fiction.) This idea that the same passage in one version will be translated to have an opposite meaning in another verison is pure nonsense. I see no need for people to become hysterical in their fierce opposition to this or that translation. Moreover, the differences in the wording of various translations is due more to the aim of the translators (to produce a word-for-word or thought-for thought translation) than to differences in the underlying Greek texts. |