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What about the Bible?

 

Continuing with examining the bible …

 

Collectors, interpreters/translators, editors, and copiers can have a profound effect on what we read. 

Translators: If you compare Matthew 5:3-11 from a literal translation (such as the NRSV) with a paraphrase (such as the Message bible) you can get a very different understanding.  Paraphrases are good for giving different insights, but they are the translators’ interpretation of the original meaning and can bind you to that interpretation – while a literal translation says ‘here are the words – you interpret.’  Even there, though, some literal translations are more literal than others.  If you compare the NRSV with the ESV, the NRSV will say ‘humankind’ vs ‘mankind’, and ‘brothers and sisters’ instead of ‘brothers.’  In these instances, the ESV is more literally faithful to the original, while the NRSV is intentionally trying to emphasize that this applies to both men and women, not just men.  By the way, the “Red Sea” in Exodus chapters 13 & 14 is probably a mis-translation – the original Hebrew documents are thought to say “Reed Sea”.

Editors: Editing can have a profound effect on what is read.  Sometimes, editors have brought different sources in and placed them side by side.  For example, if you compare Genesis 1:1 to 2:3 against Genesis 2:4 to 2:23, you get very different accounts of creation – one on a cosmological scale, the other on a human scale.  Sometimes, editors have interleaved differing accounts together.  For example, read through the samples from scripture contained in the Appendix attached below. 

  • 1st: 14:1-4, 8-10, 15-18, 21-23, 26, 28-29; 
  • 2nd: 13:20-22, 14:5-6, 13-14,19b-20, 24-25b, 27,30-31, 15:20-21;
  • 3rd: 13:17-19, 14:5a, 7, 11-12, 19a, 25a;
  • 4th: 15:1-19.
  • Full: Exodus 13:17-15:21

Embedded in the one story can be found four versions, edited together in quite an astounding way.

 

Copiers don’t usually have major effects on the bible other than grammar, but they can.  The Wicked Bible, sometimes called the Adulterous Bible or the Sinners' Bible, was an edition of the Bible published in 1631, meant to be a reprint of the King James Bible. The name is derived due to Exodus 20:14, where the word "not" was omitted – which drastically changes the meaning. 

 

Collectors decide what is in the collection and what is not.  This was historically done by the broad community, with the result that what was ‘in’ and what was ‘out’ was rather vague.  Christian and Jewish leaders wrestled with this so that the Jewish scriptures (what we call the Old Testament) became fixed in the 100’s (the second century) AD., while the Christian leaders added their own writings (the New Testament) and fixed what we know as the bible in the 300’s (the 4th century) AD.  Excluded were documents such as the Gospel of Thomas, The Acts of Pilate, the Gospel of Peter, the Apocalypse of Peter, and the Gospel of Mary.  Documents were usually excluded because it was felt they were not accurate as to what they claimed, or the authors weren’t close enough to Jesus and his apostles (the epistles of Clement of Rome, for example, while very instructive and worthy, were left out).  Though I stated the bible became ‘fixed’ in the 4th century, it has still been (and continues to be) re-translated and adjusted.  For example, there are differences in the bible between Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant versions – for a quick summary and explanation, you may wish to refer to https://www.catholicenquiry.com/topics-faq/scripture/frequently-asked-questions/284-why-are-there-differences-between-the-protestant-catholic-and-orthodox-bibles.

 

Next, we shall discuss the final stage of Inspiration.

 

How would each of Collectors, interpreters/translators, editors, and copiers be inspired by God?

 

Share your thoughts with others you trust.

 

+David