Subject: How do we get our Bible? |
Bible Note: Greetings Gary! I agree with you my friend that one can read the KJV and not be led astray. One of the points I have continually stressed is that the differences in the manuscripts do no impact any major doctrine. While there may be major changes in a certain passage, for instance Acts 8:37, the truth of that verse is taught many other places. But, I would disagree that poplularity alone means that a particular translation has been 'orchestrated by God' in some manner to be the most popular. I say this because there is one very simple reason for the popularity of the KJV (I should say primary reason). For about 300 to 400 years, it was the only choice anyone had. :-) My purpose in this post was not to promote any particular translation, but simply to expose Christians to how we actually get the text of our Bibles. Too many seem to believe that there is a 'complete and offical' text lying around out there somewhere and that translators simply take that 'text' and translate it. Then, whenever there is a change in that text, obviously someone has 'taken away' from God's Word! Right? Wrong. The 'text' of the Bible is in a sense an evolving thing. The more manuscripts which are discovered, and the older the manuscripts are which are discovered, the 'text' of the Bible is becoming more accurate and true to the originals. For those hearing of these concepts for the first time, I urge you to go out and purchase a good book on the history of the Bible and how the text is arrived at. I know that at first it makes it sound like there is much 'doubt' regarding the text of the Bible. Yet, in fact, there is less doubt now than there has ever been. Surely, God is a work protecting His Word. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |