Biblical Text: Original Language

[humblemuslim]

Couple questions:

Everyone should know the Bible was not originally written in English. All English Bibles are translations of the Hebrew OT and Ancient Greek NT.

Do you feel compelled to learn the ancient languages to better understand the Bible or would you just rather leave it up to and trust people deemed experts?

Do you believe the original language is less/just as/more important as the translation?

You could also replace the words with worse/equal/better if that helps in your response.

 

[drich0150]

Do you feel compelled to learn the ancient languages to better understand the Bible or would you just rather leave it up to and trust people deemed experts?

Even When you learn these languages, your still subject to "interpretations" of the experts.
The best way to sift some of the wheat from the chaff when it comes to discerning or the proper exegesis of scripture is to take a cross section of scripture from different sources, and get yourself a good lexicon. A lexicon will take every word in the bible, and give you the original words and some possible explanations or definitions of those words. You also should consider the history and culture of who your passage was written to. Sometimes this changes the meaning or can change your understanding of what is being said..

Do you believe the original language is less/just as/more important as the translation?

Where the original language is most important is when someone is trying to use scripture or the translation of scripture to change the gospel or place unscriptural restrictions upon God's people. Being able to go back to the original text places the questionable doctrine and it's teacher in a position to either retract the questionable teaching, or to be identified as a false "prophet."

Going back to the original text is a way to shed light on a possible dark teaching.. But if your not careful, the bible itself can become a false god of sorts. Remember the bible is away, or a tool to be used to find God. When we devote all of our time, mind, spirit and strength to scripture it can take the place of God, and can become just another academic exercise that we can use to glorify ourselves. Some of us fall easily into trying to worship God through the tools he leaves us to help us find Him. all the while missing the whole point and purpose of scripture. Like in all things we must find a balance.

 

[Chesterton]

Do you feel compelled to learn the ancient languages to better understand the Bible or would you just rather leave it up to and trust people deemed experts?

I have a desire to someday learn Greek but no, I don't feel compelled to learn it. There are many different English translations and according to experts the differences are fairly minor, so I'm comfortable trusting experts.

Do you believe the original language is less/just as/more important as the translation?

I believe the original language would have to be most accurate of course, but I'm not sure how you mean "important". Since the Gospel is intended for all men, and Christ said to go into all nations, it's necessary that the Bible has to be translated into many different languages.

 

[humblemuslim]

What I meant to ask is basically a personal rating of how the original stacks up against the translations. I did not word that question very well, but that is what I meant by the second question

 

[ephraimanesti]

Couple questions:

Everyone should know the Bible was not originally written in English. All English Bibles are translations of the Hebrew OT and Ancient Greek NT.

Do you feel compelled to learn the ancient languages to better understand the Bible or would you just rather leave it up to and trust people deemed experts?

Do you believe the original language is less/just as/more important as the translation?

You could also replace the words with worse/equal/better if that helps in your response.

MY FRIEND,

As long as the translation is done is good faith and is the result of honest effort, it suffices. The Holy Spirit does the important translating in the heart of the seeker anyway. The exception, of course, would be perversions of Scripture such as the Jehovah's Witness' "NEW WORLD TRANSLATION" which is a twisted rendering of the Word done will malice aforthought for the purpose of furthering the cult's agenda.

It is been my experience that those who are all concerned with "original languages" and "precise definitions" are missing the point--which is large enough, and obvious enough, through God's intent and grace, for a child to grasp.

ephraim

 

[DeaconDean]

Couple questions:

Everyone should know the Bible was not originally written in English. All English Bibles are translations of the Hebrew OT and Ancient Greek NT.

Do you feel compelled to learn the ancient languages to better understand the Bible or would you just rather leave it up to and trust people deemed experts?

Do you believe the original language is less/just as/more important as the translation?

You could also replace the words with worse/equal/better if that helps in your response.

When I was attending seminary, I was urged to study the Hebrew and Greek for just the expressed purpose that I could translate for myself what the language said.

I have not taken Hebrew yet, but studying in the Greek has been a great help.

In some cases, I have found that all "versions" are weak in some instances. And by weak, I mean that the translation of certain words from the Greek into the English, The English word just does not fully relate the original idea.

For example, in Rom. 1:1 (KJV) Paul calls himself a "slave". But if you actually look at the word (doulos) slave just does not fit the line of thought Paul was trying to say.

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,” –Rom. 1:1 (KJV)

In the Greek, it reads:

“pauloV douloV cristou ihsou, klhtoV apostoloV, afwrismenoV eiV euaggelion qeou,"

The word which concerns us here is the word “douloV"

In the Greek, this word can mean several things, but in Romans 1:1 the translators rendered it servant. As much as I like my KJV bible, in this instance, the KJV does not do Paul or that particular word justice. The Greek text points out that in this one instance, neither slave nor servant adequately describes Paul’s relationship to the Lord. In the KJV, as I’ve already shown, renders “douloV" as “servant. A servant is a person who for a limited time renders service to his/her master, much like a maid or butler for lack of a better description. A slave according to O.T. laws was one who had perhaps incurred a lot of debt and was unable to repay. The creditor, upon notice of failure to repay, could make the debtor a slave. A slave was one who was required to serve the master without question any work or service the master saw fit to make them do. According to O.T. laws, the slave was duty bound to render unto the master whatever was required of him/her for a period of seven years. At the end of seven years, according to O.T. laws, all debts were to be wiped clean and as a result slaves were to be set free. Some looked forward to this with anticipation, while other looked forward to this time with great trepidation. For while left on their own, they would in most likelihood run up debts as before, and may after a time be either without house or food. Upon consideration of their current situation, they would often come to the conclusion that they were treated fairly, had a place to rest, and food to eat. They would come to the conclusion that their current situation was better than their former. So at the end of seven years, they could express their concerns to the master and choose to stay as a slave. Upon hearing this, the master would take the slave to the temple and relate the choice to the high priest where the high priest would then take the slave and lead them to the door-post where he would take an awl and bore a hole in the earlobe, thus forever signifying the slaves change in status from slave to bond-slave. The hole in the ear would also serve to show the goodness of the master towards the slaves in his service. So that the slave now by choice chooses to forever be the property of the master.

When we consider Paul’s life and service to Jesus, we must conclude that he was not a slave, and likewise, neither was he a servant. If Paul was a slave, then after a while he could free from his duties. If Paul was a servant, he was free to do as he pleased after a certain time. Paul was a bond-slave to the Lord. He committed a lifetime to Jesus. He just didn’t serve for seven years and quit. He didn’t serve just during the day. He committed a lifetime to the Lord. And God certainly was good to Paul. Paul’s own testimony serves to inspire us to be a “bond-slave” to Him.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” -2 Tim. 4:7

So I ask you:

Are you a “slave” to Christ? Free to leave Him after a certain amount of time?
Are you a “servant” to Christ? Serving Him only three or four days a week when you attend church?
Or are you committed to a lifetime of service to Christ and willing to be His “bond-slave?”

From a paper I wrote entitled "Are you a “slave,” “servant,” or ‘bond-slave?” after taking my Greek class.

Doulos means "slave", "servant" , or "bond-slave". And neither "slave" nor "servant" fully relate what Paul was trying to tell the Romans.

Studying in the Greek has been a great blessing to me personally.

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[Bible2]

humblemuslim posted in message #1 of this thread:

Do you feel compelled to learn the ancient languages to better
understand the Bible or would you just rather leave it up to and
trust people deemed experts?

Greetings.

A Christian doesn't have to know ancient Hebrew or Greek in order
to sufficiently understand the ideas that the Bible teaches, because
the ideas that the Bible teaches can be, and have been, translated
into every language. If there is ever a question whether the
translation of a verse in the Bible correctly expresses the idea of the
original Hebrew or Greek, there are plenty of interlinears (both printed
and online) which show what the original Hebrew and Greek says, and
plenty of dictionaries (both printed and online) showing the meanings
of the ancient Hebrew and Greek words.

humblemuslim posted in message #1 of this thread:

Do you believe the original language is less/just as/more important
as the translation?

The original Hebrew and Greek of the Bible is more important than
any translation, for the original Hebrew and Greek was inspired by
God and is infallible in doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16). But this doctrine
can be translated into any language, and what is important is the
doctrine, not the language. The only reason the Old Testament was
written in ancient Hebrew was because that was the most common
language of believers during the time of the Old Testament, just as
the only reason the New Testament was written in ancient Greek
was because that was the most common language of believers
during the time of the New Testament. Today, the most common
language of believers is English, so if God were to inspire the writing
of a Newer Testament today, he would probably have it written
down in English. But there is no need for a Newer Testament, or for
God to inspire it in English, for the Old Testament and New
Testament already contain all of the doctrine that is needed for
Christians to be saved and to be perfect (2 Timothy 3:15-17). And
the doctrine of the Old Testament and New Testament has already
been translated into English, not to mention every other language,
so that all people throughout the world might know the whole Word
of God for themselves (Matthew 4:4).

 

[ebia]

Couple questions:

Everyone should know the Bible was not originally written in English. All English Bibles are translations of the Hebrew OT and Ancient Greek NT.

Do you feel compelled to learn the ancient languages to better understand the Bible or would you just rather leave it up to and trust people deemed experts?

I pick up little bits and pieces, and I would quite like to learn Koine Greek at some point, but I also have to recognise that languages are not my forte and I'll always be reliant to a high degree on expert translators. The study required to fully understand an ancient language and all that goes with it is immense. I'm more interested in learning the basics so I can follow the detail of the arguments where translation is somewhat contraversial.

Do you believe the original language is less/just as/more important as the translation?

Clearly the original is what matters most, but for most people a translation is what is needed. The reality is that people are better off reading a translation they can properly understand than the original that they cannot.

 

[Sketcher]

Learning the original language isn't really a conviction-changer. I've looked up the original Greek and Hebrew for various passages, and it has shed some additional light, but it's not as if the originals say A and the translations say B.

I also prefer having a faith that is for every people, tribe, nation, and language rather than having to learn an old language in order to get the "true" Scripture.

 

[drich0150]

What I meant to ask is basically a personal rating of how the original stacks up against the translations. I did not word that question very well, but that is what I meant by the second question

There is enough "God" to be found in most main stream translations to successfully start and maintain and bring others to a very strong relationship with Him. But there is also enough that can be misinterpreted to send you and all who choose to follow into bondage of the law, or into service and worship of scripture. It all depends on the person and what He/She is looking for. If you are looking for God you will find him, if you are looking for religion and tradition and adherence to the law, you will find it.. or on the other end of the spectrum if your looking for popular christianity (Freedom to do anything or to turn God into your own personal wishing well.) You will find that as well..
Knowing the original texts or your interpretations of the translations will only fortify what it is you seek in scripture.

The Bible is a tool, and will help you build whatever is in your Heart.

 

[humblemuslim]

Thanks everyone. I see some good thoughts here on the subject.

 

[DeaconDean]

As a licesened preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I owe it to those whom I preach or teach to be sure that what I preach/teach is what the scriptures say.

For one day, I will have to stand before God and answer for it.

That is why I study the Greek in the New Testament.

God Bless

Till all are one.