From: muehlhau@en.ecn.purdue.edu (John Muehlhausen)
Subject: Re: Choosing a Bible translation
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 23:07:12 GMT

In article <fWVg9JC@quack.sac.ca.us> pharvey@quack.sac.ca.us (Paul Harvey) writes:
>In article <1992Dec21.074533.4832@en.ecn.purdue.edu> 
>muehlhau@en.ecn.purdue.edu (John Muehlhausen) writes:
>>somebody writes: (saved w/out header - sorry)
>It was I, myself and me:

Sorry...

>>>Do
>>>you really consider this being strict? What does the Christian
>>>Revelations 22:18-19 say again? Or does this not apply to translations
>>>of the original Bible languages? Are you really this lax with THE WORD?
>>>Is this the essence of Christianity? If it's good enough for King James
>>>it's good enough for me? And what has become of that search for the
>>>truth? How have you been led astray?
>>Personally, I would love to have a perfect translation - but this is not
>>possible.  As I said, this is the type of thing that should be scribbled in
>>the border if you really care about the discrepancy, which I have done.
>>It is not something to ditch a translation over, and yes it is minor.
>>Whether it was meant to say "young woman" or "virgin" has absolutely no
>>bearing on my relationship with God.
>
>Then you are ignoring the words of Revelations 22:18-19 because to
>translate the Hebrew word for "young woman" as "virgin" is to add to the
>text.

Unless "virgin" was indeed meant.  If you were to take the following verse
literally, then there could be no such thing as a translation - everyone
would have to learn the original languages, which of course includes learning
the original cultures.  These are very useful skills, but mandating it is
somewhat contrary to the Great Commission.  I agree that anyone taking on
such a task had better ask themselves what their motives are! (translating,
that is)

>Rev 22:18(KJV): For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of
>the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God
>shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (19) And
>if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
>God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the
>holy city, and *from* the things which are written in this book.

>>My own personal conviction is that IF the Bible is REALLY the word of God, He
>>can manage to keep it meaning what He originally meant it to mean.  There is
>>no such thing as absolute meaning even given a perfect translation, as the
>>_real_ meaning is the form it takes in the reader's head.  Enter the Holy
>>Spirit, which will allow a person to believe the truth, even as love would
>>dictate.  Don't ask me what that means, I just typed it in a daze as it is
>>2am.  
>
>Then your Christianity does not come from the Bible. You have been
>possessed of something you call the Holy Spirit which guides your life
>and the _real_ meaning, the _absolute_ truth is the form it takes in
>your head. Though you are no doubt being quite truthful on your Buddhist
>quest, these types of things are generally against the bulk of Christian
>dogma.

OK, if God wants to keep the script meaning what He wants He certainly can,
but it is fairly obvious that no matter what it really says different people
are going to read it different ways.  Some are incorrect - that is, those
without the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I will be the first one to admit
that I have misinterpreted scripture, and it was because I was not listening
to the Spirit.  The absolute truth is _not_ the form it takes in my head
_unless_ I am truly listening to God's leading.  Truth is truth, whether I
like it or not!

John M.
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc