The Bible Translations Essay Discussion

The Bible Translations Essay Discussion

What is your reaction when one Bible version translates a verse almost completely different than another? In other words, how would you know which translation to believe?

INSTRUCTIONS: Your Reflection Paper is to be between 500-750 words in length (about 1-2 pages) following MLA format and submitted as a Microsoft Word compatible document (.doc or .docx). If you cite source material, include a Works Cited page, but do not include the Works Cited in the total requirement for the assignment The Bible Translations Essay Discussion.

Which to Believe

With so many different Bible translations that have significant differences, choosing the best one may be a challenge. However, it is important to know that a Bible translation is presented in three ways. First, as a ‘thought for thought’ translation that conveys the main theme/idea with a focus on easy reading that may not be very accurate. Second, as a ‘word for word’ translation that precisely and accurately matches the original language that could be in Greek, Aramaic or Hebrew. Third, as an ‘idea for idea’ translation that focus on paraphrasing to get the idea across with clear language. The original Bible texts were written in ancient languages and translation is required to bring equivalence into modern language. Each translation is the result of scholars deliberating, authenticating and translation these ancient texts. Irrespective of the translation, there is a concern that verses may be different between translations thereby creating a need to identify which one would be most believable and readily accepted in terms of readability and accuracy The Bible Translations Essay Discussion.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

Choosing the best Bible translation to believe can be an overwhelming experience. This is especially true for persons who are new to Christianity and know very little about the Christian faith. They would question the many different translations that present different versions. It is important to know that the different translations came about because Christians are global with many dialects, cultures and language. Even among the English speakers, there are many different ways of using the English language. For instance, England and USA both use English language, but speak in slightly different versions. In addition, the different versions are relevant in addressing the different ways in which the Bible is used. For instance, it can be used for reading, academic study, teaching, devotional purposes, and personal study. One translation may be good for academic study but not good for devotional purposes. Besides that, there are wide ranges of Christian denominations and traditions that may prefer one translation over another translation. Case on point, the Messianic Christian community may prefer that God’s name be maintained in its Hebrew characters as they believe that God’s name should remain a mystery, while the non-Messianic Christian community may not have such preference. Furthermore, the Bible translation is an ongoing activity with scholars learning and gaining new understanding of the original language used for the Biblical books. Some of the translations need to be revised and updated. For example, a revised standard version of a Bible translation is simply a revision of the previous translation The Bible Translations Essay Discussion.

The reality is that no single translation can capture all the nuances of the original language used for the Biblical books. This does not imply that the translations are bad or inaccurate. Rather, it means that the translation from the original languages in not perfectly accurate for any one Bible version. However, the translators continue to work in understanding the original languages and improving the translation readability and accuracy such that readers are able to understand what the original Biblical books say without understanding the original language. Rather than trying to choose a single Bible version as being the best, perhaps it would be better to choose a version that aligns with how the reader plans to use the Bible. If possible, it would be better to have as many versions as possible to compare them and get a better sense of the nuances that would have been found in the original scripture languages The Bible Translations Essay Discussion