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UNDER DEVELOPMENT

Difference Now that Looks the Same"1

 One of the most common arguments I have heard people use in discussing "Bible Translations" is that it is a matter of preference, and that one 'translation' is as good as another.  I have heard even vehement arguments among church members, who argue from the heart that their dearly treasured 'choice' of Bibles is the Word of God, and perfectly o.k. or even superior to the others.  Others argue that there is not a dimes worth of differences between bibles.  These arguments of "Which Bible"2  are sometimes so heated as to split churches.  The argument is really exacerbated by the fact that some argue 'which bible is best' while others argue 'which is the real bible'.  The following myths and misunderstandings about Bible translations are often propounded:

MYTHS & MISTAKES ABOUT BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

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1.  All Bibles are translated off the same texts

2.  All translations are basically the same given a word or two.

3.  The small differences do not matter or change doctrine

4.  The new bible translations are easier to read.

5.  The new translations come off the 'best and oldest' texts.

6.  All new Bibles are literal translations.

7.  We shouldn't argue about translations because it's divisive.

8.  "King James'ers are mostly uneducated about text-transmissions.

9.  My Pastor says it doesn't matter; it's a non-issue.

/kjvrose.html#10">10. Most scholars use the new Bibles

11. No original Bible exists, so all are mere translations

12. 

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WHICH BIBLE?

Major Points
  • Bibles today come from mostly one of four "text families":I,II,III or VI.

  • King James, Geneva, Luther's German Bible and the Spanish Bible are all translated off the "Received" text, textus receptus.

  • Most Modern Bibles come from the
  •  "Nestle-Aland" texts, based upon Westcott and Hort's Greek and Kittl's Stuttgart Hebrew.
  • Small word changes such as death instead of blood for the word 'hemos' make large doctrinal differences.

 

  • Bibles in the King James Family are not bound by copyright; all others are.
  • When tests such as "Kuder-Richardson" are applied, the KJV actually has an easier readability level than the newer versions, even with the 'thous', eths, and thines.1
  • Best & Oldest texts does not apply to the Tischendorf texts of the mid 1800s, but to the complete texts and earliest piece of manuscript evidence which supports KJV (textus receptus)2
  • Newer bibles are more likely to be interpretations instead of direct translations.  KJV is a direct translation
  • Division can come from a wrong spirit, or from truth and error.  Truth has to be held to in the Church, even if it means division.
  • The Issue Matters:  The Issue is: Which Bible is the Word of God, not which do you prefer.
  • Most scholars compare versions, even KJV'ers. But what is counted on for doctrine is where many scholars err.
  • Whle the Bible formed in inclusion in written form since 2000 years ago (the Torah since at least 3500-4000), the Word which it records has not changed. Therefore the mode of conveying that original Word must be as close as possible, with no errors, because God has promised preservation.  Only the KJV succeeds directly from the original Gospel and Letters.
 
NOTES & REFERENCES

1 From song by John Hartford, "Natural to be Gone".

2 There is even a "Which Bible Society".