How Many More?

[Bit Brush]

My question is simple. How many more versions of the bible will there be before we one right? Seems every time a scholar thinks they have a better version to correct the problems with the previous versions they publish it? How many English bibles do we have now? Now some of the reasons to publish include readability, better scholarship on older witnesses, making a more accurate thought for thought or word for word version, etc, etc.

One last question. Should there be a super committee formed of all the current and soon to be bible scholars who have or will soon have versions published? Where they all agree to peer review everyone's work? Where all such works are condensed into two final works being one thought for thought and one word for word? No individual work will be published. No versions need be published other than these two version for many many years or until the language significantly changes again. What do you think?

I see such a work unifying all the churches, promoting memorization again, increased study, understanding and individual reading. A good thing right?

[Steve]

Seraphim: I guess I could have left off the "all on their own".  But you prove my point.  It's not that the Scripture is the authority, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit expound them properly, as you seem to indicate.  Rather, the Scriptures are a divinely inspired treasury of imagery.  They are a tool of the authority, not the authority themselves.

The question is not, "Is it properly translated?"  (Although it certainly helps!)  Rather, the question is, "Does the translation accord with the Faith once delivered to the Saints?"

In other words, the question of translation is qualitatively the same as the question of canonicity, and has the same answer.

See here for more: http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2012/01/

[Marv]

Be nice!! 

;-}

Seraphim said:

the only point is that the orthodox can set up strawmen as good as the other traditions. if you're going to mis represent sola scripture as if it's solo scriptura then I might as well start a thread about your goddess the virgin mary and how you worship her....

Steve said:

Seraphim: I guess I could have left off the "all on their own".  But you prove my point.  It's not that the Scripture is the authority, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit expound them properly, as you seem to indicate.  Rather, the Scriptures are a divinely inspired treasury of imagery.  They are a tool of the authority, not the authority themselves.

[Bit Brush]

A word for word for those who like them and thought for thought for those who like easy to read stuff.

James Gibbons said:

But why two and not one? If we’re looking for the absolute correct bible, why not one?

Bit Brush said:

Why two versions? We are in the business of accommodating people's preferences aren't we? Someone suggested we wold be inviting confusion with two. What do we have now with hundreds? The two versions would be produced at the same time by the same people so they should not confuse. 

Found an interesting article from a year ago.

[Bit Brush]

OK, thanks, will take a look.

As far as translators go they are supposedly all fallible, right, as I've been reminded. We can never know because the "originals" don't exists anymore. Even Jesus was a product of this problem growing up hearing the Greek translation of his day. However, and you nailed it, we have to trust the Holy Spirit. God has promised to preserve and protect his word. However did God promise to protect each and every book that dares call itself the word of God? How many are someone's prefered interpretation? Are we guilty of that when we do our own private interpretation?

Even with these online resources, all these bibles to choose from, why do we see congregations that are growing large, but not growing deep? Seems we'd see more pastor thrown out of the church if the elders were able to spot the heresy we can see as outsiders.

Seraphim said:

But your preposition is that the translators can thwart the Word of God and keep us from said Word. I trust the Holy Spirit will preserve and protect His Word. But seriously your question? How many of us? in this day and age just about anyone, especially if you have an internet connection!

Check this out: http://itunes.apple.com/us/institution/center-for-study-new-testame...

and it's FREE!

[JRKH]

I Bolded a section below to ask for clarification. 

How could Jesus "be a product of this problem..." When Jesus did not grow up "hearing the word", but rather grew up BEING the Word... It would not matter what "translation" Jesus heard, He knew what was truth. 

Your statement below on this point troubles me. 

Peace

James

Bit Brush said:

OK, thanks, will take a look.

As far as translators go they are supposedly all fallible, right, as I've been reminded. We can never know because the "originals" don't exists anymore. Even Jesus was a product of this problem growing up hearing the Greek translation of his day. However, and you nailed it, we have to trust the Holy Spirit. God has promised to preserve and protect his word. However did God promise to protect each and every book that dares call itself the word of God? How many are someone's prefered interpretation? Are we guilty of that when we do our own private interpretation?

Even with these online resources, all these bibles to choose from, why do we see congregations that are growing large, but not growing deep? Seems we'd see more pastor thrown out of the church if the elders were able to spot the heresy we can see as outsiders.

Seraphim said:

But your preposition is that the translators can thwart the Word of God and keep us from said Word. I trust the Holy Spirit will preserve and protect His Word. But seriously your question? How many of us? in this day and age just about anyone, especially if you have an internet connection!

Check this out: http://itunes.apple.com/us/institution/center-for-study-new-testame...

and it's FREE!

[Daniel]

I think statements like "Jesus being part of the problem" because he used a translation assumes a LOT that is not in evidence.  WHY assume that is a problem?  If it WAS a problem, wouldn't Christ have known it and warned against reading a translation?

[Ryan]

Don't worry Steve, I can't see the difference between sola and solo either.  Mathison himself has a hard time distinguishing.  In both cases it ends up ultimately being between you and the Holy Spirit.

Seraphim said:

the only point is that the orthodox can set up strawmen as good as the other traditions. if you're going to mis represent sola scripture as if it's solo scriptura then I might as well start a thread about your goddess the virgin mary and how you worship her....

Steve said:

Seraphim: I guess I could have left off the "all on their own".  But you prove my point.  It's not that the Scripture is the authority, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit expound them properly, as you seem to indicate.  Rather, the Scriptures are a divinely inspired treasury of imagery.  They are a tool of the authority, not the authority themselves.

[Ryan]

Ser, you just picked on Steve for failing to see the difference between sola and solo.  I don't see the difference either. Do you?  I want to be on the side of Truth.  If I'm wrong, show me.  But attacking my motives or my character isn't going to further bringing me to your understanding of Truth.

[Marv]

The circle is smaller and there's a little squiggly line running down the right side of the a in sola. The o in solo is bigger and doesn't have the squiggly line. You're not 45 yet, are you? Too young for reading glasses.

Ryan said:

Ser, you just picked on Steve for failing to see the difference between sola and solo.  I don't see the difference either. Do you?  I want to be on the side of Truth.  If I'm wrong, show me.  But attacking my motives or my character isn't going to further bringing me to your understanding of Truth.

[Ryan]

+1 for Marv.

[Marv]

No I am.

Ryan said:

+1 for Marv.

[Marv]

Though I do have to admit, I'm no fan of the sola/solo distinction. Mostly because I think it is a dumb way of expressing it. But also I keep forgetting what it's really supposed to mean.

Ryan said:

+1 for Marv.