How many Bibles are there?

[Topper]

In some of our debates here, Faithful Christians more often then Not Quote the Bible. But what Bible do they use? Is the one they use the right Bible?

I have counted at least 8 different versions of the Bible.

The Protestant Bible has 66 Books in it yet at one time it did have more.

The Roman Catholic has 73 books. The Anglican Chruch is a mix of Catholic and Protestant Bibles

The Greek Orthodox is much like the Catholic yet other books are added.

There is the Coptic and The Coptic (Bohairic) Bible

The Ethiopia Chruch Bible and The Syriac Chruch Bible

All have different Books and in some cases Books that are in one are not in the other. To Make Matters even more confusing in many of these different Bibles there are different Translations of the sames passages.

The King James at one time had more books it. I'm not sure why those books were dropped? Or by Who.

The Hebrew Bible is also much Different then what is presented in The King James version.

Translations and interpretations of the Talmud are still debated to this day by Jewish scholars.

Books were written in Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Aramaic, Egyptian and who knows what other languages? They were hand written by scribes and translated from one language to another and back again. There are changes in style of writing. meanings of words. Many now some think there are out and out forgeries in the Bible. Some of Paul's letters seem to contradict each other and have a different style of writing.

Now you need to also keep in mind that a great many books never made it into the Official Christian Bible that was canonized at the Nicene Conference. That book was also changed some years later.

We also now have the Gnostic gospels. Then there is the sticky subject of the Dead Sea scrolls. Many of the sayings and Quotes of Jesus are found there . All were written at least 70 years and maybe 200 years before the birth of Jesus.

So who has the right Bible?

[Topper]

I was hoping that some of the Believers here would make a reply to this thread. Maybe they can't come up with a satisfactory reply?

If the bible is the absolute word of God then how can there be so many different varieties of the the Bible?

[Love Hurts]

I was hoping that some of the Believers here would make a reply to this thread. Maybe they can't come up with a satisfactory reply?

If the bible is the absolute word of God then how can there be so many different varieties of the the Bible?

 

T,

 

Lets ask this question?

Has the story of Christ changed as He came to earth a babe and walked amongst men on earth …He told no man gets to the father but though the Son…. ?

 

He died on the cross and hence made salvation possible as He arose from the grave.

 

Salvation is the heart of the Bible if that is all we have … we have it all…

 

Truth is as men on earth do not believe in the Bible we do have….

To add to the word is a loss… Its only more to mock and call lies.

We have all we need. Any thing more is more to mock....

 

My thoughts on this topic.

[pricillia]

T,

 

Lets ask this question?

Has the story of Christ changed as He came to earth a babe and walked amongst men on earth …He told no man gets to the father but though the Son…. ?

 

He died on the cross and hence made salvation possible as He arose from the grave.

 

Salvation is the heart of the Bible if that is all we have … we have it all…

 

Truth is as men on earth do not believe in the Bible we do have….

To add to the word is a loss… Its only more to mock and call lies.

We have all we need. Any thing more is more to mock....

 

My thoughts on this topic.

 

 

 

Topper I think you have asked a very valid point, and the above reply was not answering the question but dodging it completely.

 

One can not go blindly in for you may choose the wrong path

Pricillia 1.1

 

here is some good information

http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-translations.html

[Gunny376]

In my reading, I seem to recall that there are 22 "offically" recoginzed versions, to include the ones you've listed, and to include such works as "The Word" (written in Modern Day English.

 

On a side note ~ there are 2600 recognized denominations of Christianty.

[Storyrider]

This is certainly a valid question. It is important to remember that just because there are different versions of the bible, doesn't mean all of them are invalid. In terms of translations, the aims are sometimes different. And some are almost certainly more accurate than others.

 

But here are some examples. There are children's bibles, written in simple language. They are more concerned with accessibility to the child than verbatim accuracy. Does this make them false?

 

In fact, if anyone has ever watched Veggie Tales cartoons, they change all the killing to silly stuff, like sending someone to the Island of Perpetual Tickling or throwing slushies at them. But they get the spirit of the stories across to small children. The central point of the story is expressed.

 

In a similar vein there are many Protestant bibles written in modernized or simplified language so they will be more accessible to the common reader.

 

On the other hand I have a copy of the Torah that is certified by the Jewish Reform board of rabbis as an accurate translation from the Hebrew to the English. Of course this is more appropriate for a scholarly study.

 

In terms of entire books of the bible being included or excluded from the holy cannon, I think this is a matter that is open for debate.

 

I think Catholics and Jews have gotten something right in trying to rely on centuries of tradition to help include or exclude certain stories and concepts. However, I am skeptical of certain rabbinic interpretations that have been accepted due to tradition but don't make sense to me. For example, the biblical injunction not to eat a kid in its mother's milk has been broadly interpreted to mean you can never have milk and meat in the same meal. Chicken is included as a meat even though chickens do not lactate? The rabbis did it this way because they didn't want anyone to accidentally eat meat with milk because they thought it was chicken. This is just over the top IMO. (Well, I don't keep kosher anyway, but theoretically... )

[Topper]

Lovehurts, This isa tricky question. One that all Christians need to ask themselves. You have said time and time again that every last word of the Bible is correct and not just inspired by God But is The word of God written By God. That would mean that can't be any variation in what all these different Bible say. How can one Bible have more books then another? How can one Bible tell a slightly different story then another? How is it that 1000s of years after the facts, editors can change and or rearrange a some of the Books in one Bible but not in another?

[Love Hurts]

Lovehurts, This isa tricky question. One that all Christians need to ask themselves. You have said time and time again that every last word of the Bible is correct and not just inspired by God But is The word of God written By God. That would mean that can't be any variation in what all these different Bible say. How can one Bible have more books then another? How can one Bible tell a slightly different story then another? How is it that 1000s of years after the facts, editors can change and or rearrange a some of the Books in one Bible but not in another?

 

Apocrypha is it part of the word?

 

We have what is called the Cannon of Scriptures.

That means “Rule or Rules” and became known as the “ Rules of Faith”.

 

For a book to be genuine article of God. It had to come in the N.T. of the Apostles. And so anything not written by the Apostles was naturally spurious.

 

Well they said what rules or Cannon of scripture had to be based on not only that but three other points..

 

First…….inspired by God.

Secondly…….men of God respected and revered it.

Thirdly ……..the people of God collected and preserved it.

 

Now there were others who wrote books in the New Testament times and their books were not accepted as their books were not accepted as part of the Cannon or rules of faith of scripture and they became known as the Apocrypha books.

 

Jerome the Great Catholic Theologian realized the Bible didn’t contain theses books … Therefore when they were added to the Douay Bible. He called them the Hidden or secret books.

 

The protestant version of the Bible … The King James 1611 version contained the same Apocrypha but the Puritans were furious and had them removed in later additions.

 

Because they were not the genuine works of God. And Mohammed studied the Apocrypha books and got many of the false theories that he promotes about Christianity from these books….rather than from the genuine word of God.

 

So while they may be a form of some good reading while they may contain some good truths... They were never approved by the Church in what is called the Cannon of Scripture.

[Island Girl]

But here are some examples. There are children's bibles, written in simple language. They are more concerned with accessibility to the child than verbatim accuracy. Does this make them false?

 

Topper were you talking about translations?

 

I thought you were talking about versions - as in the verbiage has been changed to mean something different...?

 

I thought more believers would be answering this one.

[Island Girl]

Lovehurts, This isa tricky question. One that all Christians need to ask themselves. You have said time and time again that every last word of the Bible is correct and not just inspired by God But is The word of God written By God. That would mean that can't be any variation in what all these different Bible say. How can one Bible have more books then another? How can one Bible tell a slightly different story then another? How is it that 1000s of years after the facts, editors can change and or rearrange a some of the Books in one Bible but not in another?

 

I wonder the same thing but no one ever answers this.

 

It will be interesting to see if you can get a straight answer or if there is dodging that will be done...

[Island Girl]

They were never approved by the Church

 

Which church is it?

[Love Hurts]

Which church is it?

 

The Church of the Apostles

"Finally, the Church that issued from the commission of Christ to the apostles was necessarily apostolic. Christ founded the Church upon the apostles and in no other way: "Did I not choose you, the twelve?" he asked them (John 6:70).

 

The apostles of all people understood perfectly well that they did not set themselves up in their own little community, as we sometimes today see "gospel churches" set up in store fronts or in the suburbs. The New Testament teaches, "One does not take the honor upon himself" (Heb. 5:4).

 

Nothing is clearer, then, that the Church started out as "apostolic." The question is whether the apostles had the power and authority to pass on to others what they had received from Christ. ...That they very definitely did have this power and authority; the New Testament evidence is clear about that.

 

The subsequent historical evidence is equally clear that they did pass it on to successors (the bishops). Indeed there are already references in the New Testament itself to the appointment of bishops by the apostles, as well as to the appointment of further bishops by them (Titus 1:5-9). [see below for what the Fathers wrote.]

 

When we ask where, if anywhere, is to be found the same Church which the New Testament tells us Christ founded, we have to reformulate the question to ask: What Church, if any, descends in an unbroken line from the apostles of Jesus Christ (and also, not incidentally, possesses the other essential notes of the true Church of which the creed speaks)? ..."

"To ask these questions is to answer them:

Any entity or body claiming to be the Church of Christ would have to be able to demonstrate its apostolicity by demonstrating an organic link with the original apostles on whom Christ manifestly established his Church. Nothing less than this could qualify as the "apostolic" Church which Jesus founded.

 

What is the unstated link?

Answer: Salvation makes the Church.

[Island Girl]

The Church of the Apostles

"Finally, the Church that issued from the commission of Christ to the apostles was necessarily apostolic. Christ founded the Church upon the apostles and in no other way: "Did I not choose you, the twelve?" he asked them (John 6:70).

 

Are you speaking of the Church of The Holy Apostles?

[Love Hurts]

Are you speaking of the Church of The Holy Apostles?

The Holy Apostles are the Church of Christ.

It has never died but goes on…still to today.

I too am of the Church of Christ.

Saved we are the Church.

[lonelybird]

What is the unstated link?

Answer: Salvation makes the Church.

Just love this

[Island Girl]

Wikipedia has:

 

4,194 versions of the Christian bible.

 

6,314 versions of the bible.

 

1,793 Hebrew versions of the Old Testament

 

only 582 version of the Koran.

 

I didn't even query the rest.

 

Wow I didn't know there were so many version of the Christian bible -- they encompass 2/3 of the versions listed.

 

It is supposed to be written by God for His people - and He clearly states it is not subject to interpretation. It is His word as He wants it followed.

 

So why so many?

[Topper]

LH I know the History of the New testament. What you have stated is what a devoted Catholic will tell you. That there is only one Bible and one Chruch and it is the Catholic Chruch. What you do not address is the very different Christian Bibles that are still in use. All Claiming to be the true Book.

Many scholars believe the King James Bible is a very poor translation from the Latin text. It is also interesting to note that King James was a Homosexual. We havea Book of God named after a homosexual? Seems rather odd.

If this is the absolute word of God. You can't have books added books dropped then replaced. This would mean that God changed his mind at some point. It also does not explain the many different variations of the Bible. So who is following the true word of God? Who are the Heretics?

[Love Hurts]

LH I know the History of the New testament. What you have stated is what a devoted Catholic will tell you. That there is only one Bible and one Chruch and it is the Catholic Chruch. What you do not address is the very different Christian Bibles that are still in use. All Claiming to be the true Book.

Many scholars believe the King James Bible is a very poor translation from the Latin text. It is also interesting to note that King James was a Homosexual. We havea Book of God named after a homosexual? Seems rather odd.

If this is the absolute word of God. You can't have books added books dropped then replaced. This would mean that God changed his mind at some point. It also does not explain the many different variations of the Bible. So who is following the true word of God? Who are the Heretics?

Are you certain King James was a homo? Many are certain Jesus had a family of children to some woman.

[a4a]

Are you certain King James was a homo? Many are certain Jesus had a family of children to some woman.

 

My devote Baptist friend made that statement on Sat...... King James was a homo/ pedophile.

 

She said it not me.

[Topper]

Yes, I am certain he was homosexual. There is a lot of available information on King James that was written in his time by people who were in his court. Diaries and journals written in his time often refer to his Homosexuality. he was known to kiss men in public. Also there are some references to young men in his court that prefer to wear women's dresses. he is also buried next to his gay Lover and not his estranged wife Queen Anne.

Still you dodge the real question here.

If The Bible is The absolute word of God how can there be so many different variations?

 

It is possible for Jesus to have had a family. Mary Magdalen may have been in fact his wife. In some early text she is referred to as his companion. Depending on how the original word is interpreted it could also mean spouse. There doesn't seem to be any definitive evidence one way or another on this. they are still finding early christian writing that somehow have survived. It was only in the 1950s that the Gnostic gospels were discovered. In more resent times The book of Judas has now been translated and published.

[Love Hurts]

Yes, I am certain he was homosexual. There is a lot of available information on King James that was written in his time by people who were in his court. Diaries and journals written in his time often refer to his Homosexuality. he was known to kiss men in public. Also there are some references to young men in his court that prefer to wear women's dresses. he is also buried next to his gay Lover and not his estranged wife Queen Anne.

 

Still you dodge the real question here.

If The Bible is The absolute word of God how can there be so many different variations?

 

It is possible for Jesus to have had a family. Mary Magdalen may have been in fact his wife. In some early text she is referred to as his companion. Depending on how the original word is interpreted it could also mean spouse. There doesn't seem to be any definitive evidence one way or another on this. they are still finding early christian writing that somehow have survived. It was only in the 1950s that the Gnostic gospels were discovered. In more resent times The book of Judas has now been translated and published.

 

My precious Jesus is Holy and did not have children with M.M. yet alone sex. As far King James being homo… men today are the same as yesterday… they too had an enquirer magazine of some sort to defraud the character of others.

 

Look Elvis was supposed to be in an incest relationship with his mother.

I do not believe all these things…

 

Well I put my thoughts in on this on the earlier post… as far as so many other variations. Of Bible I read from the KJV and if you look at the studies of the original KJV 1611 the changes are more for spelling errors and print type. I heard this before and found a link on the net… that the changes are not so grate we could be mislead.

 

As for so many other variations of bible some are language translations, and then of those you know we can have many different Bibles, I four diff versions of KJV myself,

-The Way…

-Billy Graham Training center Bible

-The Good News Bible

-And a childrens Bible

 

As we looking at translations to other languages and then the simplified versions of Bible for those individual languages…for easy reading the number of Bibles will increase. Then consider cult religions that take segments of the KJV and create their own Bible.

 

http://www.av1611.org/kjv/kjvupdt.html

 

We have the KJV its all we need…

[Member3]

Mary Magdalen may have been in fact his wife.

 

Yeah, she was. I totally got on that chick.

[Storyrider]

If there were only one translation of the bible, it would mean that people of one mind set had overseen one translation that never branched off. How could that be the case when we have Judaism and all the different sects of Christianity? It is an impossibility. We live in a pluralistic world, thank goodness, and the bible reflects that.

 

There are things we can learn from having so many different translations. As literate, thinking individuals, we can determine which translation we prefer.

 

We can also see which themes, messages, and words are consistent throughout the various translations, and from that, get a fix on what aspects are most essential and indestructible.

 

BTW, it strikes me that on this thread and the other recent religious threads, it is easy to provoke those who read the bible literally, get them riled and then knock them down. That is easy because their positions are so extreme. The idea of taking a complex piece of literature and taking it word for word literally is so silly.

 

It would be like taking a poem with allusions and allegories and metaphors, and insisting on reading it literally. Shakespeare said "all the world's a stage," and that we are all actors. Wouldn't it be easy to argue down someone who insisted he meant the world is literally a stage with a wooden floor a red velvet curtain, spotlights, and makeup?

 

So is it easy to argue with those people and knock them down? Of course. "Oh the world is a stage? Really. Well tell me this. Where is the curtain? Tell me that, huh???!!! See, Shakespeare sucks. He's full of sh*t. He has nothing to tell us."

 

Is this a sound conclusion?

 

And what S. was really trying to say about life, about what is real and what is an illusion, about whether life has meaning and purpose or not, all that gets totally missed because you're arguing about a non-existent red velvet curtain.

 

It is silly to interpret it that way and almost more silly to argue with it, IMO.

[a4a]

Yeah, she was. I totally got on that chick.

 

Hey big J good to see you again!

 

I got some issues in another thread perhaps you could help me out there.

 

*****************************************

 

I thought the KJV was the most widely used?

 

I don't know 'bout that stuff.

[Topper]

So you dismiss the Bible used By the Coptic chruch, The Eastern Orthodox Chruch, and the Catholic Chruch? That is just to name a few. They are all very different then the King James Bible. Are you saying that the Eastern Orthodox and the Catholic chruch are Cults? They are the two oldest Christian continuous Christian Churches.

The things said about King James were not in some "Tabloid." In that day and age publishing anything like that would have resulted in losing your head. Reputable historians agree King James was Homosexual. There is no other explanation for his behavior and or being buried next to a man and not his wife.