About The Different Versions Of The Bible
There are hundreds of versions of the Bible, (e.g KJV, NKJV, NIV), but not all versions of the Bible are the True Word of God. Here I will explain the importance of reading and choosing the True Word of God. The Bible was originally written in three languages. Most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew except for parts of the books of Daniel and Nehemiah which were written in Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek. None of the original manuscripts of the Bible are now in existence, but some good manuscripts exist which are exact copies of the original. The versions are known as the translation of these copies from the original manuscripts.
From early times men saw the necessity of translating the Bible so everyone could read it in their own language. No translation is exact because no two languages are exactly alike. Some words used in the Bible do not even exist in different languages. For example, there is a tribe of Indians in Ecuador, South America, called the Auca Indians. When missionaries first contacted them, these Indians did not know how to read or write. There were no words in their language for "writing" or "book." The Auca Indians did have a custom of carving identification marks on their property. Since there were no words in their language for scriptures, writing, or book, when the Bible was translated for them it was called "God's Carving." This identified it as something belonging to God. This is just one example of the difficulties in translating the Bible into various languages.
There
are many different versions of the Bible. The word "version"
means a Bible written in a language different from those in which
God's Word was originally written. There are two main types of
versions of the Bible, Translation and Paraphrase.
TRANSLATION:
A
translation is an effort to express what the Greek, Hebrew, and
Aramaic words actually say. It gives as nearly as possible a literal
word by word translation. Extra words are inserted only when it is
necessary in order for the reader to understand the meaning.
PARAPHRASE:
A
paraphrase does not attempt to translate word for word. It translates
thought by thought. A paraphrase is a restatement of the meaning of a
passage. Paraphrase versions may seem easier to read and understand
because they are written in modern vocabulary and grammar, but they
are not an exact translation of God's Word. These are man made
versions.
When
beginning to read a Bible the best one to get is a translation
version rather than a paraphrase version, then you know you have the
closest word for word translation from the true Word of God. The King
James Bible, is a translation Bible, Many people shy away from the
King James Version because they think it is too complicated to read,
but it actually is a very interesting and more understanding than
paraphrase bibles.
There
are several reasons for this:
FIRST:
The King James Bible is the only translation Bible in the
world that is closest to the original transcripts, it is very
accurate and a good translation for serious study.
SECOND:
There are more study tools available for the King James version.
There are a large number of concordances, dictionaries, and
commentaries written for the King James text.
THIRD:
The King James Version is available in more languages than any other
version, it is important to have a Bible in your native tongue
because you think and understand it best in your own
language.
FOURTH: Every time a new version of the Bible
is reproduce they are required to remove at least 20% from the
original text in order to comply to copy right laws, that means that
the newer versions have even less of God's Word in it. Incidentally,
the King James Version is the only Bible not under copy write,
meaning people are welcome to reproduce it and sell it to others
without having to comply with those laws.
Translation
and Paraphrase Bible Verses
To
illustrate the importance of why we are to read a translation Bible
verses a paraphrase Bible I have listed two bible verses, Luke 4:8 and I John 5:7 in several versions from the oldest English versions to the newest.
It will prove that words have been taken away or added, leaving the
reader unknown to important key phrases and truths that God intended
for you to know. Sometimes one word is omitted or changed and it may
seem insignificant, but it is serious to God. Not knowing one key
word can literally be the difference between life or death. You will
be able to see how misleading and confusing these new versions can be
to new Christians.
Geneva
(1587):
Luke
4:8 - But
Iesus answered him, and saide, Hence from mee, Satan: for it is
written, Thou shalt worship the Lorde thy God, and him alone thou
shalt serue.
I
John 5:7 - For there are three, which beare
recorde in heauen, the Father, the Worde, and the holy Ghost: and
these three are one.
King
James Version (1611):
Luke
4:8
- And
Iesus answered and said vnto him, Get thee behinde me, Satan: for it
is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him onely shalt
thou serue.
I
John 5:7 - For
there are three that beare record in heauen, the Father, the Word,
and the holy Ghost: and these three are one.
King
James Version (1769):
Luke
4:8 - And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and
him only shalt thou serve.
For there are three that bear
record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these
three are one
Darby
(1890):
Luke
4:8 - And Jesus answering him said, It is written, Thou shalt do
homage to [the] Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.
I
John 5:7,8 - For they that bear witness are three: the Spirit,
and the water, and the blood; and the three agree in one.
Young's
Literal (1898):
Luke
4:8 - And Jesus answering him said, `Get thee behind me, Adversary,
for it hath been written, Thou shalt bow before the Lord thy God, and
Him only thou shalt serve.'
I John 5:7 -because three
are who are testifying [in the heaven, the Father, the Word, and the
Holy Spirit, and these -- the three -- are one;
New
King James Version (1975):
Luke
4:8 - And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me,
Satan! For it is written, ‘You
shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.
I
John 5:7 - For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
New
English (1980):
Luke
4:8 - And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You
shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'
I
John 5:7,8 - For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the
water and the blood; and these three agree.
New
International Version (1984):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God
and serve him only.'
I John 5:7,8 - For there are three
that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are
in agreement.
Amplified
Version (1987):
Luke
4:8 - And Jesus replied to him, Get behind Me, Satan! It is
written, You shall do homage to and worship the Lord your God, and
Him only shall you serve.
I John 5:7 - So there are three
witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and
these three are One.
Good
News Translation: (1992):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered, The scripture says, Worship the Lord your
God and serve only him!
I John 5:7 - There are three
witnesses:8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and all three give
the same testimony.
21st
Century King James (1994):
Luke
4:8 - And
Jesus answered and said unto him, "Get thee behind Me, Satan!
For it is written: `Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only
shalt thou serve.'
I John 5:7 - For there are three that bear
record in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these
three are one.
New
American Standard (1995):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE
LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'
I John 5:7,8 - For there
are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and
the three are in agreement.
Contemporary
English (1995):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say: 'Worship the Lord
your God and serve only him!'
I John 5:7,8 - In fact, there
are three who tell about it. They are the Spirit, the water, and the
blood, and they all agree.
GOD'S
WORD (1995):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered him, “Scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your
God and serve only him.’
I John 5:7 - There are three
witnesses: the Spirit, the water, and the blood. These three
witnesses agree.
New
Living (1996):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship
the Lord your God and serve only him.’
I John 5:7 - So we
have these three witnesses the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and
all three agree.
Common
English (1998):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered, “It’s written, You
will worship the Lord your God and serve only him.
I
John 5:7,8 - The three are testifying— the Spirit, the water, and
the blood—and the three are united in agreement.
The
Message (2002):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy:
"Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him
with absolute single-heartedness.
I John 5:8: - A triple
testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in
perfect agreement.
New
Century (2005):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered, "It is written in the Scriptures:
'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'
I
John 5:7,8 - So there are three witnesses: the Spirit, the water, and
the blood; and these three witnesses agree
Today's
New International Version (2005):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God
and serve him only.'
I John 5:7,8 - For there are three that
testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in
agreement.
Easy
to Read (2006):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the
Lord your God. Serve only him.’”
I John 5:7,8 - So
there are three witnesses that tell us about Jesus: the Spirit, the
water, and the blood. These three witnesses agree.
New
International Version (2011):
Luke
4:8 - Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship
the Lord your God and serve him only.’ “
I John 5:7,8 -
For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the
blood; and the three are in agreement.
