Should they try to translate the bible further?

We have to remember that since the Bible was written in languages (Ancient Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek) that most of us do not understand, we have a need for translations. The translations are only as good as the translators. I was just looking in my personal collection of Bibles and I have The American Standard Version (1901) and The New American Standard Bible (1960). I have no problem with further unbiased translations, as with time and research we have a clearer understanding of the original languages, therefore we need the most accurate translations. A most glaring mistake of many new translations is the leaving out of God's personal name YHWH, Yahweh, Jehovah. Psalm 83:18 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 18 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, Are the Most High over all the earth. Notice the older translations: Psalm 83:18 American Standard Version (ASV) 18 That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, Art the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83:18 King James Version (KJV) 18That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Hi JenInTN Not from a religious view, but from a normal view, I think these texts should get updated (call it revised or anything) as per the times. The reason, I see, is simple - These texts are for the good of a human life and preach universal love, brotherhood and many more things in relation to how a person should lead his/her life. As times change, the basic needs of a person, and the meaning of life too changes. These texts should be so changed that they allow the simple living and following of things to make life what it should be. Though not from Bible, but an example - some religions dont allow women to work. They might have been right when these texts were written but in today's world, both husband and wife should be allowed to work so that in case anything goes wrong with one, the other can support the family. On personal note, I do not follow any religion but believe in doing my thing right - with a faith and trust that I am not harming anyone and doing the right thing. So I am not the right guy to answer the question but am providing my personal views.

its work for a lot o people alot of year just the way the King James version is wrote I would say leave it alone .

I thank G-d I am not Christian Because of things like this! I thought the Message was the important thing! Didn't Martin Luther open things up by making sure The Bible was not just in Latin? Why not make it easier to understand? Are they afraid of the essence of the message and that is why they want to keep it vague?Sorry, just thinking out loud. Since no two Christian groups are exactly the same why can't a church use a more plain version of the Bible? If there are one who disapprove, they can find a church that uses King James' version.

What can be scary about the thought of that is they might be changing it to what they think the versus mean and it might not mean that. When I was a kid I went to church all the time and when I was a teenager I stopped going because I would read the bible and couldn't figure out what the verse actually meant. I would hear people arguing all the time on what they thought a verse meant and it made me wonder who is right on what it means when everyone thought what they thought was right and the other people were wrong. It was very confusing for me to where I was questioning my faith because of it. When I got older I started getting my faith back and started believing again and just don't worry about what the word mean and just believe in trying to be the best person I can be and know that god is watching and being the best person I can be lets me know that it is the best I can be.Pray to god as often as I can and not just pray to him to ask for something. I pray to tell him how thankful I am or just to say I love him. I try my best to be as perfect as I can but no one is perfect and I try not to judge anyone because noone is perfect and everyone is different. This is a very good idea of a discussion. I hope you have a wonderful week.

hi dear Jen, here its the same with all the new translations of the Bible coming up. I personally find them a very good idea. First of all these new translations help people who have never read the Bible understand the basics. When they then want to go fromo there, other translations are available which are closer to the original text. I have several translations even a very new one of the New Testament made by young people in a way they can understand what the Bible says. That cooked up a storm with Evangelical Christians for sure but I think its great that these translations are available. I also think it does not mean tweaking the Bible if you put it into modern English, German, French, or whatever.

Personally the problem could be now a days too many people wanting to take out various parts of the Bible and rewrite it say something of their own, or to appease them. We could also have people who would then say certain things are not needed anymore, etc. to where it could be quite far off. Personally I think it is Best to leave things alone as God intended unless you are researching side by side to see what differences there might be as in studying. I do agree sometimes that the King James version is harder to read than some of the other ones out there, but it is the Original version so that is the one I have chose to lean on.

Hi, Jen - interesting question! The more we know about the original languages that the Bible was written in, the better the translations can be if the translators do their best to convey what the original scripture is saying. I went to watchtower.org and found an accurate translation there and also a search box. I did a search with "bible translations" and got some interesting articles about this subject. Why not make a search there right away? You will find a lot of information.. Well, if the research shows that the translation is not accurate and follows the original, it would of course be important to adjust the text. That is what has happened in some cases, and that is why some of the modern translations are using different words and expressions. Also the languages change and as you will find out on the wt site, the New World Tranlation is written in modern English. It also exists in many other languages.

I actually see this both ways, but do agree about some of the things being changed since some who do the translations seem to take liberties with the wording. I have heard over the years, "it's how you interpret the words", but most is as plain as plain can be. When I was a teen there was a "version" out called "God Is For Real, Man" and remember having a copy and thinking that it was written in "modern" English and much easier to understand. I haven't noticed if that version is still around and I have long since gotten rid of the one which I had. But at the time, I do think that many more read the Bible, even if the wording may not have been the original. I do think that if it is "translated" too many times, there will be vital things that are changed or twisted somehow.

Gheez, you should see me. Ringing my hands and wondering how I should say this. I think you know by now but I am agnostic. I question religious things from the Bible to catholic fancy pants. How much are they going to translate it before it is totally a 'translation'? Not the true word but what a bunch of guys that think they know more than anyone else take to be true. I can give you a whole snoot full of what I think is the truth of the matter but I don't want the Mylot server to quake and burn. Ah, yes. I will say it one more time. Keep translating until it has no real facsimile to what it started out to be.

I have yet to finish reading the bible, so I can't really answer this question. But it reminded me of the time in my art history class when my professor told us that they thought Moses had horns on his head because of a mis-translation. Even from reading literature, I wonder often how the original language version differs and changes the feel to the stories.

" a book that people follow as a religious reference " Which people are you talking about Jen? Is it ever possible to read the bible which I am told contains 181,253 words - the New Testament that is. Whether it is translated or kept as it is makes no difference to the common man as most Christians go by what they were taught by their parents and/or priests. I have not read the bible.

The Bible has been written in ancient languages. Genesis was written in Hebrew, and the Gospels in Aramaic and ancient Greek. I heard about people who are working at a new Bible interpretation inside the Catholic Church. I don't know how far are they with their work. To understand the Bible is not simple. Jesus has talked in parables and their apostles could not understand him, then he explained his parables. For many Saints was not easy to understand word of God and they needed to pray. Anyway, before reading the Bible it is necesary to be prepared. Maybe is more important to have an intuitive grasp than replacing old terms by modern ones.

I am also interested in Bible translation. I have read from an internet site that King James Version is the only correct translation? It says the NIV had deleted many important words so I bought a King James and compared in to NIV and I found the difference. Changing the wordings but keeping the same idea is not bad for me but deleting some words? The first time I read KJV I dont understand it but when I use TEV, the bible seems easy to understand. Wish I could find the most reliable version of the Bible..

I think the aim is to make it relevant to new generations of readers. If people can relate more to the stories, then it may be that the teachings of the stories are easier to follow. I agree that it has lost much through the ages and so, I don't put much stock in it but I appreciate that many read, learn from and take comfort in the Bible. I believe the messages have been twisted, bent, skewed and some totally changed, so the real message is lost somewhere in the translation or just obliterated altogether.

No I don't think they should of translated it for the English language any farther than the KJV as well I think this is the best representation of the Bible and it also sounds cool when you read it. If they where going to do a translation I would like to see the Bible done in Binary form that would be the only translation I would pick up.

Maybe it's the American Standard that I am thinking of, but I believe it's something called the New International Version? I do not like that version of the bible, it's too literal, and I feel it looses some translation. I like my KJV and will continue to read it. I read it a few times if I don't understand, or ask people older then who,or a preacher if I do not understand it even then. I feel like newer versions bring false prophecies, maybe that's a silly way to think about it, but I guess that's just how I feel.

The Word of God says, His Word will never change, God is and His word is the same yesterday as well as today. No matter what they do to it The Word will remain the same. I have bibles with different translation ( The New Century Version, Living Bible version and of course the King James version). No matter which of the new version I use I always use my King James version to back them up.. I also have the Life Application Study Bibe, it is in the King James version with commentary foot notes.

For me no it is never remain the same because the true knowledge of Jehovah God if you have holy spirit in him the bible change into new world translation because we are in the modern world.

I am also for tweaking the translation so that it would remain relevant. I'd rather have everyday people relating to it, than having a religious reference that would be lost to scholars that only study past literature. My only problem with translation is, who would be doing it? As I'm sure personal agendas could be inserted into it.