Foundations: Bible Versions

Foundations
Christian Beliefs, Teachings, Doctrines, Christian Living, Christian Ethics

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them ...
is like a [wise] man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundations on a rock:
and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it:
for it was founded upon a rock (Luke 6:47-48)

Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay that is laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10b-11)

Articles

The Bible Versions Debate ~ Part 3a: Matters of Fact (Spring 2008)

"Joan could have wheeled out many excuses for not reading her Bible. ... She grew up in England in the 1540s, a time when Bibles were expensive, ... [and] when it had been illegal for well over a century to own an English Bible. ... She was born blind [and had] to find people who were literate enough to be able to read it to her ... she was sometimes able to get the Bible read to her for free - provided she braved a stinking gaol. ... But often she had to pay ... and she was restricted to just knitting and rope-making to earn the money. Nevertheless, ... she had memorized large portions of the New Testament by the tender age of 21. Ought we not to have the same kind of commitment to God's Word that Joan demonstrated?..."

The Bible Versions Debate ~ Intermission: Mountain of Preconceptions (Spring 2007)

"I've just been through a remarkable experience. I was asked at the start of the year to participate in an Internet 'bulletin board' ... on the subject of the three Bible Versions Debate articles [above]. ... [This] discussion made it clear that some folks today have so many preconceptions about the topic of Bible versions that a number of such souls are literally unable to to put these things to one side and approach material on this topic with a truly open mind. ... Here are four central principles with which I hope every sincere reader can agree:..."

The Bible Versions Debate ~ Part 2b: Magnitude of Problem (Winter 2006)

"The rubber has officially hit the road. It's time we came to the nitty-gritty where I repay the investment in time and effort the reader made with Part 2a. ... In the previous piece we learned that some English translations of the Bible are largely based on family 'B' while others are rooted in family 'A'. ... people often argue that the differences between these families can safely be ignored, particularly when it comes to the published Greek texts behind actual Bible versions available today. Here are seven common justifications folks offer for this position, along with some observations about them..."

The Bible Versions Debate ~ Part 2a: Addendum (02 September 2015)

"The following, developed in conjunction with a colleague, is an addendum to Part 2a: Materials of Value (please see above) of this series of articles entitled 'The Bible Versions Debate'."

The Bible Versions Debate ~ Part 2a: Materials of Value (Autumn 2006)

"Among other things, the British Coronation ceremony famously describes the Bible as 'the most valuable thing this world affords,' and I encourage the reader to keep this in mind as they explore the following. In Part 1, ... we looked at the two ways of translating Scripture into English: dynamic equivalence and word-for-word translation. But the issue of how best to translate a document obviously assumes there is no argument about what the original document said. Unfortunately people are far from agreed on the original text of the Bible, and this is why I have penned the article you are now reading..."

The Bible Versions Debate ~ Part 1: Methods of Translation (2004)

"Christians rightly believe they should promote the acquisition of, and obedience to, the truth. They also believe that the Bible is God's truth given to man as a means to guide us in the way He would have us live. Throughout the centuries the Bible has been translated from the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek languages in which its various parts were originally written, into every major language on earth. The most prolific translations have been into English. The question obviously arises, which English Bible version or versions should we use? Which are the most reliable? Do they all give the truth? If not, which do - and how can we tell? Which would God have us use?..."

The New Testament ~ A Quickie History (March 2003)

A short summary of the manuscript history of the New Testament: 1st-4th Centuries / Constantine / The Dark Ages / The Protestant Reformation / The Catholic Counter Reformation / The King James (Authorised) Bible / 19th Century / The Present Day / Which Stream? / Does It Matter? / A Remarkable Parallel.

Sacred Scripture and Tradition (2002/2013)

"As we discuss in our article The Love of the Truth [yet to be uploaded], Christ magnified the scriptures. He declared they are Truth and Life. He emphasized their inerrancy and permanence. He promised blessing to those who studied and obeyed them. And He rebuked those who hid, or corrupted, or did not believe them. Thus He expected His People to know the scriptures, and He showed their importance by repeatedly quoting them. According to Roman Catholicism's Second Vatican Council:..."

Why Should I Use the Authorised Version? (July 2001)

With so many modern and up-to-date versions on the market today, this is an oft-asked question by many Christians.

Thus saith the LORD,
Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls
(Jeremiah 6:16)