89 lines
9.7 KiB
HTML
89 lines
9.7 KiB
HTML
<html><head>
|
|
<title>Since All Bible Translations Are Imperfect How Can We Speak of an Inerrant Bible?</title>
|
|
<script src="../../js/basepath.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/nav.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainHeader.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
|
<img CLASS="mast" src="./gifs/nav/masts/donStewart.jpg" border="0"><br>
|
|
<div class="head">Since All Bible Translations Are Imperfect How Can We Speak of an Inerrant Bible?</div>
|
|
<div class="main-left"><div class="pad2030">
|
|
|
|
<p>Admittedly there is not translation of Scripture that is perfect. Each has its deficiencies. Those who translate the Scripture recognize this. Yet the meaning of the passages can be adequately communicated from one language to the next. For example, a simple comparison of good English translations of Scripture will show that the meanings of each passage will be shown to be the same even if the wording is different. The message of Scripture comes out crystal clear.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b>Translations Have More Things Right Than Wrong</b></p>
|
|
<p>With respect to the major Bible translations that have been done there is much more right with them than things that are wrong with them. The things that are wrong do not affect the message. Consequently people can read these translations with confidence.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b>A Lesson from the New Testament and the Septuagint</b></p>
|
|
<p>An example of how an imperfect translation can still be the inerrant Word of God is found in the Septuagint—the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. The New Testament quotes the Septuagint one hundred and sixty times. Thirteen of those times it calls it Scripture. These quotations are as follows.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si1" onClick="return mV('Mat',21,42);">Mat 21:42</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>Jesus cites the Septuagint when speaking of His predicted rejection by the people.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes?'" (<a id="nbi1273-si2" onClick="return mV('Mat',21,42);">Mat 21:42</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>This cites Psalm 117:22-23 (<a id="nbi1273-si3" onClick="return mV('Psa',118,'22-23');">Psa 118:22-23</a> in English translations).</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si4" onClick="return mV('Luk',4,18,19,21);">Luk 4:18-19, 21</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>The Septuagint was cited when Jesus said that He had fulfilled the Scripture at that very day.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor...Then he [Jesus] began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (<a id="nbi1273-si5" onClick="return mV('Luk',4,18,19,21);">Luk 4:18-19, 21</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>Jesus is citing <a id="nbi1273-si6" onClick="return mV('Isa',61,1,2);">Isa 61:1-2</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si7" onClick="return mV('Jhn',13,18);">Jhn 13:18</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>The Septuagint was quoted when Jesus said the Scriptures predicted His betrayal by one who was close to Him.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me' (<a id="nbi1273-si8" onClick="return mV('Jhn',13,18);">Jhn 13:18</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>This cites <a id="nbi1273-si9" onClick="return mV('Psa',40,9);">Psa 40:9</a> in the Septuagint (<a id="nbi1273-si10" onClick="return mV('Psa',41,9);">Psa 41:9</a> in English translations)</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si11" onClick="return mV('Act',8,32,33);">Act 8:32-33</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>The Ethiopian eunuch was reading the Septuagint translation about the prediction of God's suffering servant.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth" (<a id="nbi1273-si12" onClick="return mV('Act',8,32,33);">Act 8:32-33</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>This is citing <a id="nbi1273-si13" onClick="return mV('Isa',53,7,8);">Isa 53:7-8</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si14" onClick="return mV('Rom',4,3);">Rom 4:3</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>Paul quotes the Septuagint when referring to the faith of Abraham.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness" (<a id="nbi1273-si15" onClick="return mV('Rom',4,3);">Rom 4:3</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>The passage cited is <a id="nbi1273-si16" onClick="return mV('Gen',15,6);">Gen 15:6</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si17" onClick="return mV('Rom',9,17);">Rom 9:17</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>Paul cites the Septuagint when speaking of God's reason for raising up the Pharaoh of Egypt.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth (<a id="nbi1273-si18" onClick="return mV('Rom',9,17);">Rom 9:17</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>Paul is citing <a id="nbi1273-si19" onClick="return mV('Exd',9,16);">Exd 9:16</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si20" onClick="return mV('Rom',11,3,4);">Rom 11:3-4</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>The Septuagint is cited when referring to Elijah's complaint that all the prophets had been slain.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me." And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal" (<a id="nbi1273-si21" onClick="return mV('Rom',11,3,4);">Rom 11:3-4</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>Here Paul is citing <a id="nbi1273-si22" onClick="return mV('1Ki',19,10,14,18);">1Ki 19:10, 14, 18</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si23" onClick="return mV('Gal',3,8);">Gal 3:8</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>Paul quotes the Septuagint in the passage that says Gentiles would be blessed through Abraham.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you" (<a id="nbi1273-si24" onClick="return mV('Gal',3,8);">Gal 3:8</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>The passage cited is <a id="nbi1273-si25" onClick="return mV('Gen',12,3);">Gen 12:3</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si26" onClick="return mV('Gal',4,30);">Gal 4:30</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>The illustration that the promise of the inheritance will come through Sarah, rather than Hagar, is quoted in the Septuagint.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>But what does the Scripture say? "Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman" (<a id="nbi1273-si27" onClick="return mV('Gal',4,30);">Gal 4:30</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>Here Paul is citing <a id="nbi1273-si28" onClick="return mV('Gen',21,12);">Gen 21:12</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si29" onClick="return mV('1Ti',5,18);">1Ti 5:18</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>Paul quotes the Law of Moses in the Septuagint version.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain" (<a id="nbi1273-si30" onClick="return mV('1Ti',5,18);">1Ti 5:18</a>)</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p><a id="nbi1273-si31" onClick="return mV('Deu',25,4);">Deu 25:4</a> is cited here.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si32" onClick="return mV('Jam',2,8);">Jam 2:8</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>James cites the Septuagint with respect to loving one's neighbor.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (<a id="nbi1273-si33" onClick="return mV('Jam',2,8);">Jam 2:8</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>James is citing <a id="nbi1273-si34" onClick="return mV('Lev',19,18);">Lev 19:18</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b><a id="nbi1273-si35" onClick="return mV('Jam',4,6);">Jam 4:6</a></b></p>
|
|
<p>James quotes the Septuagint concerning God blessing the humble.</p>
|
|
<blockquote><p>But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (<a id="nbi1273-si36" onClick="return mV('Jam',4,6);">Jam 4:6</a>).</p></blockquote>
|
|
<p>The passage cited here is <a id="nbi1273-si37" onClick="return mV('Pro',3,34);">Pro 3:34</a>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b>Citing Scripture</b></p>
|
|
<p>Each of these passages cites the Septuagint and in each passage it is clear that the Scripture is being cited.</p>
|
|
<p>The New Testament teaches that the Septuagint, a translation, is Scripture. Since all Scripture is divinely inspired then the Septuagint, along with other Bible translations, are divinely inspired in the sense that they convey God's truth.</p>
|
|
|
|
<p><b>Summary</b></p>
|
|
|
|
<p>The imperfections of Bible translations are used as an argument against an inerrant Bible. Since all translations are different how can anyone speak of an inerrant Bible? However the problems with translations have nothing to do with the original. It is admitted that all translations have their problems. However the message still comes through loud and clear. The real issue is the text behind the translations. Is it error free? The evidence says that it is.</b></p>
|
|
<p>In addition, the New Testament cites the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, and calls it Scripture. Therefore it is a biblical idea to call a translation of the Bible "Scripture."</p>
|
|
|
|
</div></div>
|
|
<div class="return"><a href="./faq/nbi/index.html">Don Stewart FAQ Contents</a></div>
|
|
<script src="./js/MainFooter.js" type="text/javascript"></script> |