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Danville Enlightener VOL. VIII, No. 32
Which Bible to UseWhich Bible do you use? This question is not uncommon because there are many translations in existence today. From the old King James Version to the New International Version one seeking to know the Will of God must make a choice, and not all choices are identical. Today we often think that all Bibles (translations) are created equal. Anyone who wants a copy of the Bible can easily obtain one. Such has not always been the case. Using forty human writers covering a span of more than 1600 years God gave the world His Word. Beginning with the Ten Commandments (Exod 31:18) until the completion of the New Testament (Eph 4:3-4) God intended for His Word to be written down and preserved. The Bible is that Word but not all translations rightly present that Word. OLD TESTAMENT The O.T. was first written in Hebrew, with some smatterings of Aramaic (parts of Daniel, Ezra and Jeremiah), which was a kindred language of Hebrew. Those O.T. books were entrusted to the Jews (Rom 3:2). It is believed that the O.T. was assembled by Ezra sometime around 400 B.C. regardless, the O.T. was firmly established by the time of Christ. He quoted it or referred to it about 200 times. NEW
TESTAMENT The
N.T. was
first
written in
koine
Greek.
Koine
Greek was
the
common, or
the man on
the street
Greek as
opposed to
Classical
Greek. The
27 books
of the N.T.
were
written
between
the period
of 50 and
100 A.D.
By the end
of the
first
century
all the
N.T. books
were in
existence
but
probably
in the
form of
letters to
individuals
or
congregations.
These
letters
were
considered
inspired
by those
who wrote
and
received
them
(1
Tim 5:18;
2
Pet
3:15-16)
and
they
were
to
be
read
and
respected
(1 Thess 5:27).
Also, they
were to be
exchanged
and copies
made (Col
4:16; Gal
1:1-2; 1
Cor
1:1-2). THE
ORIGINALS None of the original writings exist today either of the Old or New Testaments. This does not mean we cannot know the mind of God. Despite not having the originals we have the complete Bible. Remember Jesus promised: “My words will by no means pass away.” (Matt 24:35). Thus through the providence of God we have His Word today! But how did we come to have God’s word since there are no original writings of the apostles and prophets? MANUSCRIPTS
AND
TRANSLATIONS A manuscript is a copy. To produce a manuscript a scribe would take the original and then make a handwritten copy in the original’s language; this copy was called a manuscript. Handwritten copies (manuscripts) of the N.T. involve a period of about 1400 years, from the first century until the invention of the printing press. Manuscripts took two forms, the “roll” (scroll) and the “codex” (book). These copyists were extremely careful in their work. Mistakes were made but those mistakes can be compared and corrected. For example, if a word showed up in one manuscript but was not found in thirty others, it is safe to conclude the addition of the word was a mistake made by a copyist. The number of manuscripts for the N.T. alone total almost 5000. These are copies of copies of copies and so on. In addition to complete copies there are many fragments of copies. Through a careful comparison and analysis it can be determined with complete accuracy what the word of God is. A translation is the changing of words into a different language. A translation is also known as a version. The first translation of the Bible was used by Jesus. It was the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew O.T.). This translation was completed around 200 B.C. and was in use during the lifetime of Jesus. Our interest is in the English translations of the Bible. For centuries the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church kept the Bible from the hands of the common man. The only translation permitted was in Latin. This was because the “clergy” and the upper classes were trained in Latin and much of the rest of the population was illiterate. With written material available only in manuscript, even those able to read Latin had little access to the biblical text. The general population received instruction from the clergy and only what the Catholic Church wanted them to know. Sometime between 1380 and 1384 friends and colleagues of John Wycliffe (1330-1384) produced a very literal English translation of the Latin Vulgate which was circulated in manuscript copies. This was the beginning of the end of keeping the Bible from the masses. The Bible in the hands of men and women opened minds to learning the pure, precious word of God. Language (in our case, English) changes as it gets used. Expressions that were once used are no longer used today, or expressions or words change in their meanings; some words drop out of usage altogether, such as froward. The word “stink” once meant “aroma,” but today it means an unpleasant aroma. The only language that does not change is the language no longer used (dead). So long as English continues to be used, there will be a need for updated, fresh translations of the Bible. CHOOSING
A
TRANSLATION Today you can choose between many English translations (versions) of the Bible. In choosing a Bible translation find out “who” produced it. This is usually found in the preface of the Bible. Take time to read it. Prefer “committee translations” to one man translations. Always be cautious and even skeptical of marginal notes and footnotes. Furthermore, select a translation and never a paraphrase.
Choose a good translation and read with an open mind and receptive heart and you will learn the will of God. -- jrb |