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Do you see ANY Legitimate Need for any more versions/translations?

Discussion in 'Bible Versions & Translations' started by Yeshua1, Feb 21, 2013.

  1. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Don't we have enough already?

    Thinking of mainly English versions, know that we will aleways have a need to translate into other languages for missions work!
     
  2. go2church

    go2church Active Member
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    I suppose it's possible, but in ten, twenty, fifty years, sure why not?
     
  3. Gregory Perry Sr.

    Gregory Perry Sr. Active Member

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    Personally???

    In English? Personally....No. What we got will be fine all the way up to the "catching away" (the rapture!)...(pre-mil of course:thumbs:)

    Other Languages...most definitely YES...focusing mainly on languages that either don't have an accurate one or that don't have one at all.

    That reminds me...lets all remember to pray for Bro.John of Japan as he proceeds with the on-going translation work there in Japan!:praying:

    Bro.Greg:saint:
     
  4. Bronconagurski

    Bronconagurski New Member

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    I don't know, I thought that before the HCSB and the NET bibles but I like both of them and am glad they came out. I would like to see the versions that are out there update every 10 years or so.
     
  5. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Yes

    To assume we have enough English translations accepts the false premise that what we have cannot be improved upon.
     
  6. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    Sure..........................
     
  7. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    No, its to suggest that at the current state of textual criticism and knowledge, what we already have is about as good as it can get and is sufficient!
     
  8. Gold Dragon

    Gold Dragon Well-Known Member

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    All living languages (ones that are currently used by people either in speech or in writing) are changing. As long as english is a living language, there will be a necessity for more english translations.

    For every language, there are different levels mastering of that language as well as regional dialects, meanings and idioms. One translation in a single time period cannot capture all the different ways of communicating effectively that would allow God's word to be revealed to the myriad of different readers who need to hear His word.

    Finally, translation involves decision making of translators based on intense study of both the source language and culture as well as the target language and culture. A translator's or group of translators' understanding of both source and target can always be improved upon.
     
  9. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    As often stated, I'm just a layman. A layman with a question.

    Why is God left out of most of these discussions?

    It seems that most revolve around man's decisions on communications. First, His promise to preserve His word. Secondly, guidance from the Holy Spirit, when (if) He is present in the hearts of translators. It appears this isn't important enough to be mentioned in the "decision" making process very often. (Gold Dragon, I'm just using your post as a representative example. This is not intended to reflect on your choice of words personally.)

    Next: For those who argue that we need more translations to keep up with English language changes. (If memory serves, there's a new one about every 6 months.) Working on the premise that people with a highschool education can read any English Bible with standardized spelling and modern typeface, I chose to look up one of my favorite verses. Began with the Wycliffe.

    Proverbs 2:3-6

    Wycliffe:
    3 For if thou inwardly callest (to) wisdom, and bowest thine heart to(ward) prudence;
    4 if thou seekest it as money, and diggest it out as treasures;
    5 then thou shalt understand the dread of the Lord, and shalt find the knowing of God. (then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord/then thou shalt understand reverence for the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.)
    6 For the Lord giveth wisdom; and prudence and knowing is of his mouth. (For the Lord giveth wisdom; and understanding and knowledge cometh from his mouth.)

    1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
    3 For if thou inwardly callest (to) wisdom, and bowest thine heart to(ward) prudence;
    4 if thou seekest it as money, and diggest it out as treasures;
    5 then thou shalt understand the dread of the Lord, and shalt find the knowing of God. (then thou shalt understand the fear of the Lord/then thou shalt understand reverence for the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God.)
    6 For the Lord giveth wisdom; and prudence and knowing is of his mouth. (For the Lord giveth wisdom; and understanding and knowledge cometh from his mouth.)

    King James Version
    3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
    4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
    5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
    6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

    NIV
    3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
    4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
    5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
    6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

    NET
    3 indeed, if you call out for discernment—
    raise your voice for understanding—
    4 if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure,
    5 then you will understand how to fear the Lord, and you will discover knowledge about God.
    6 For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

    NASB
    3 For if you cry for discernment, [a]Lift your voice for understanding;
    4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures;
    5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God.
    6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

    If I counted correctly, I chose these 6 from a list of 43 translations.
    http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs 2:3-6&version=NASB

    Those chosen represent approximately 600 years. Is there anyone of you who cannot understand each of these examples? If you can read them, with understanding, how many more translations of this passage of scripture, in the English language, do we need? Who benefits the most when yet another version/revision rolls off the presses?

    Where is God in this picture?
     
  10. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    that is why I personally see no need for any additional new versions today, just updates to be done, as we needto keep getting those bibles out into languages not published yet and fulfilll Great mandate!
     
  11. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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  12. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    Even printing the KJV is all about money then. It was #2 in dollar sales in 2012.
     
  13. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    There is nothing wrong with a company making an honest profit selling the King James Bible. They have to pay for their labor and materials, and even the Bible teaches you shall not muzzle an ox, a worker is worthy of his hire.

    But that is not what James White said, he said he cannot think of a single reason for another English translation, especially a "major" translation, than MONEY.

    Go back and listen, that is what he said.

    All the modern versions have done is introduce confusion and division. There is not one advantage to them. And James White indirectly admits that when he says our grandparents did not have to deal with this issue of many various translations. When there was only the King James there was no division, and no confusion.
     
  14. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    Weak arguement.

    The KJV scriptures are not under US copyright. Thus anyone can print them for sale. Additional information that is not in public domain can be added and carry a copyright. Maps, drawings, etc.

    Thus revenue is spread out among a number of different publishers. Various publishers elect to print the KJB because it is still in demand. The market still exists.

    Not the same story with modern versions that do carry a copyright on particular translations. The revenue stream for the NIV goes to the owner of that copyright. When the market share drops for, again for example, the NIV what does the publisher do to rekindle consumer interest?

    BTW, a side note: All publishers, excluding some not-for-profit, expect to make a profit on any Bible version they produce. When market share for xyz drops below a certain level, printing ceases, because the number of copies sold cannot generate enough revenue to cover production costs plus a percentage of profit.
     
  15. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    There is nothing wrong with a company making an honest profit selling the ESV, NIV, NKJV, ad infinitum. They have to pay for their labor and materials, and even the Bible teaches you shall not muzzle an ox, a worker is worthy of his hire.

    James White is wrong- it's ALWAYS about money. No one prints Scriptures for free. Not even those who print them to give away. SOMEONE HAS TO PAY THE BILLS. If the money does not come in they will go broke- it is as simple as that.

    We were recipients for many years of Bibles for our ministry in Mexico through BEAMS, and were and are grateful for their ministry. But someone had to give the money, not only for the printing, but also for the office expenses and salary for the staff, etc.
     
  16. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

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    That's why KJV printers print only ONE type of the KJV, right?:rolleyes:

    Nope, there's the Defined KJV, the Commemorative Edition of the KJV, the KJV Defender's Study Bible, the KJV Archaeological Study Bible... there's over 100 different styles/types of KJV Bible on Christianbook.com alone.

    When the market share drops for the KJV what does the publisher do to rekindle consumer interest? Print a new KJV Bible with new notes or something.

    Folks, it's ALWAYS about the $.
     
  17. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    That's why I included a copyright qualifier with regards to the KJB. ;)

    FWIW, it's an interesting side note that as modern electronics and printing methods grew, so did the number of "flavors" of the Bible increased. Amazing how much "copy/paste" has enhanced major publishers efforts to maintain market share & profit margins.

    Sometimes this oldtimer reflects on the days of carbon paper and wet photocopiers. (The water in the tray had to be warm when the paper "sandwich" was dunked.) Ever work with the correction fluid needed when manually correcting typo's in mimeograph masters? And/or produced copies manually using that machine?

    Wish I had the link handy that has a listing of dates and English Bible versions produced. Started out as a trickle, relatively speaking. As time progressed, the trickle turned into a flood. If memory serves, on another link, on this subject, the average time between new editions/versions/translations releases is now about 6 months.

    How does that relate to the time lapses between discoveries of ancient recordings of God's word, and other such happenings that would have a valid impact on that collection of books called the "Bible"?

    You're right. So much of this is about $. While we may disagree about other things, on this we can agree!
     
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