(This is an archived correspondence at The Path of Truth. We have sent notification to the correspondent.)
Why use all of these different bible translations? Compare the "Our Father Prayer" in the KJV to the MSG. I've noticed that all of these different translations are watered down, leave certain words out or are completely out of context compared to the KJV. I know that your website is meant for good but false teachers use many translations 2 contribute to their own agenda.
Why use all of these different Bible translations?
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Paul Cohen
Re: Why use all of these different Bible translations?
Hi Joseph,
Read Is the King James Authorized Version the Perfect Word of God? and you'll see that the King James Version is far from perfect. One's faith shouldn't be in the KJV or any version of the Bible, no matter even if it were errorless.
Seeing how we only have many different imperfect Bible translations and paraphrases (which is what the MSG is), we quote selectively from different versions to best present the meaning intended by the Author for each occasion. Know that the key to properly using and benefitting from the Bible isn't having a perfect version, but is in having a perfected understanding through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:1-3 KJV
(1) Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
(2) Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
(3) It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
By the grace of God and light in His Son, Jesus Christ, we too have “perfect understanding of all things from the very first,” and are thereby able to present His Truth to others. No saint of God is dependent on the Scriptures to know Him, but knows the Scriptures by knowing Jesus Christ.
Also read How We View and Use the Scriptures.
If using a translation to support a false doctrine makes the translation evil, then we also shouldn't be quoting from the King James Version according to your thinking. For example, many use the KJV to support the blasphemous doctrines of Never-ending Torment and the The Trinity (God Is Three Persons).
One can't automatically conclude that a Bible translation is false or evil because false teachers use it to support their corrupt agendas and doctrines. They do that even when quoting Bible verses rendered properly. Consider how the Pharisees had the untainted Scriptures in their original language and still they abused them and the Lord:
Mark 7:6-9 MKJV
(6) But He answered and said to them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
(7) However, they worship Me in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
(8) For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the dippings of pots and cups. And many other such things you do.
(9) And He said to them, Do you do well to set aside the commandment of God, so that you may keep your own tradition?
Thus we hear Peter speaking of the religious who pervert the original and pure Scriptures:
“And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation (as our beloved brother Paul also has written to you according to the wisdom given to him as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction)” (2 Peter 3:15-16 MKJV).
Peter wasn't warning believers about bad Bible versions (don't get us wrong, we know there are those), but was warning believers about the bad men who twist the Scriptures. In watching out for false prophets as the Lord also exhorted us to do (“Beware of false prophets…” Matthew 7:15), we need to watch men's translations and their interpretations of the Scriptures.
Can you tell us of any Scriptures we've quoted that are in error, Joseph? We would appreciate any specifics you could give us. There can be possibilities we've overlooked and would value your pointing them out.
Paul Cohen
www.ThePathofTruth.com
Read Is the King James Authorized Version the Perfect Word of God? and you'll see that the King James Version is far from perfect. One's faith shouldn't be in the KJV or any version of the Bible, no matter even if it were errorless.
Seeing how we only have many different imperfect Bible translations and paraphrases (which is what the MSG is), we quote selectively from different versions to best present the meaning intended by the Author for each occasion. Know that the key to properly using and benefitting from the Bible isn't having a perfect version, but is in having a perfected understanding through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 1:1-3 KJV
(1) Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
(2) Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
(3) It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
By the grace of God and light in His Son, Jesus Christ, we too have “perfect understanding of all things from the very first,” and are thereby able to present His Truth to others. No saint of God is dependent on the Scriptures to know Him, but knows the Scriptures by knowing Jesus Christ.
Also read How We View and Use the Scriptures.
If using a translation to support a false doctrine makes the translation evil, then we also shouldn't be quoting from the King James Version according to your thinking. For example, many use the KJV to support the blasphemous doctrines of Never-ending Torment and the The Trinity (God Is Three Persons).
One can't automatically conclude that a Bible translation is false or evil because false teachers use it to support their corrupt agendas and doctrines. They do that even when quoting Bible verses rendered properly. Consider how the Pharisees had the untainted Scriptures in their original language and still they abused them and the Lord:
Mark 7:6-9 MKJV
(6) But He answered and said to them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
(7) However, they worship Me in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
(8) For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the dippings of pots and cups. And many other such things you do.
(9) And He said to them, Do you do well to set aside the commandment of God, so that you may keep your own tradition?
Thus we hear Peter speaking of the religious who pervert the original and pure Scriptures:
“And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation (as our beloved brother Paul also has written to you according to the wisdom given to him as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction)” (2 Peter 3:15-16 MKJV).
Peter wasn't warning believers about bad Bible versions (don't get us wrong, we know there are those), but was warning believers about the bad men who twist the Scriptures. In watching out for false prophets as the Lord also exhorted us to do (“Beware of false prophets…” Matthew 7:15), we need to watch men's translations and their interpretations of the Scriptures.
Can you tell us of any Scriptures we've quoted that are in error, Joseph? We would appreciate any specifics you could give us. There can be possibilities we've overlooked and would value your pointing them out.
Paul Cohen
www.ThePathofTruth.com