Christians how literal of a translation of the bible do you believe in?
827939
The Bible is very clear when the author is speaking in parables.  It will indicate that in the notes.  Other than that I do believe it is literal.  Many people tend to use the book of Revelation as proof that the Bible can't be taken "literally."  What we have to consider is that Revelation was written by a man in Biblical times who was seeing and trying to describe events of today.  He's never seen a plane or a helicopter or a gun or a laser.  There was no technology like we have today.  His vocabulary was limited to what he knew.  Can we take Revelation literally?  Absolutely.  But we have to dig a little deeper to try to understand what the author was referencing.  God will reveal these truths to us through prayer and seeking to know and understand.
1082446
The bible is 99% pure, however there still exist copyist errors which you most definitely have pointed out.  The first is a numbering copyist error and the second, one of the daughters is actually Merab.  However the christian faith does not rest on tiny pieces of data like these examples.  All of the questionable material of the bible has absolutely no impact on the doctrine of Christianity--they are all very minute details such as the ones you have pointed out.  The other 'supposed' contradictions out there commit several logical fallacies such as quoting out of context and juxtaposition, and do not look at hebrew or greek colloquialisms
375977
Don't you have that backwards? I've met many people who believe every word in the bible even if you can prove that it is a miss translation, or against known facts. The bible can be used to "prove" anything you like if you take it out of context and add your own spin.
165873
Bible Accuracy Verified\n\nAlthough the Bible is a very old book, it is noteworthy that many ancient Bible manuscripts verify it. There are literally thousands of these ancient manuscripts in libraries and private collections throughout the world. They prove that today’s Bible has withstood the ravages of time and has been accurately copied and transmitted down to our day.\n\nThis can be checked out. For instance, the long-existing Institute for New Testament Textual Studies in Germany has made about 95 percent of its approximately 5,300 handwritten copies of the Christian Greek Scriptures available for scientific study, either on microfilm or in picture form. Thus the interested visitor, whether layman or scientific expert, can be shown, under expert guidance, just how exact the transmission of the Bible text down to our 20th century has been. The interval between the time the Christian Greek Scriptures were originally written and the writing of the oldest extant papyrus manuscripts is very short, not more than 25 years.
857358
Sorry, I disagre with you.\n\nThe "Living Bible" is the most horrible translation I've ever seen.\n\nWhen I compared 8 texts I quickly threw the "Living Bible" out of the equation as just bring too off from the rest of the texts I was reading.\n\nAlso, have you studied Ancient Greek and Anceint Hebrew and looked at the scroll and Codex yourself!\n\nDo you AGREE with all the translators!\n\nIf the Quran shows us anything, it shows us how three different translators can't agree on the ancient texts!\n\nThey sometimes come close, but they don't fully agree with all the phrasings.\n\nI'd say the Judeo-Christain Bible can easily fall into the same conflicts!\n\nI came up with a ficitious Diary entry of a Girl in the late 1960s or early 1970s.\n\n"We went to the Dead show at Winterland and had a bitchen time!"\n\nNow, you translate that!\n\nLet's see just how well you know your 1970's trivia!\n\nTELL ME exactly What she said and meant.  DEFINE every word and phrase.\n\nI know the answers, but only Dead-Heads can translate that.\n\nNow, what do you do in 500 years!\n\nThe same exact thing applies to the Bible and Quran!\n\nYou sort of have to be there to know what was REALLY meant!
519572
The Bible is the most widely distributed book in the world. It has been translated into scores of language for people across the globe. As far as English translations, there are numerous ways to translate a sentence or phrase from one language to the next. Various people are going to have differing opinions on how to properly structure the wording of what the original Greek or Hebrew is attempting to convey. If one checks the various translations against one another it can be easily seen that they all say the same thing, only with varying verbiage. Choice of which to use comes down to personal preference (mine is NIV). I began using the NIV many years ago. At the time, it was the first translation to utilize ancient scrolls that were discovered since the time of King James. While those scrolls did not change the message of the Bible, they did help to clarify some areas where the wording was unsure (due to deterioration of parchment etc).  For the most part, it comes down to personal preference in readability...
777415
that depend on how you believe in the bible.
250888
I would warn anyone who says that it should be literal.\n\nWe don't sell our daughters into slavery (or at least we shouldn't - those on the Jerry Springer Show might)\n\nAlso, Jesus says "If your right eye offends you, and causes you to sin, pluck it out, for it is better to enter the Kingdom of Heaven blind than not at all".  Do you really think that he meant that literally?   If so, then Christians would be a bunch of blind people (he says a similar thing about your arms and tongue).\n\nThere are parts that are literal, and parts that are figurative.  Best judgement will generally tell you which is which.
714723
I can attest that the KJV does mistranslate a lot of words. My trusty NIV holds up pretty well, I think I've only found two slight errors, but the KJV is definitely shaky at best. And no, the "thee" and "thou" parts of the KJV are not problematic, that is simply the language of the day and it doesn't matter if you translate, "thou art happy" or "you are happy", its the same thing. I love Greek.
1168440
That's because parts of it seem contradictory or counter-intuitive if you take them literally, or out of historical or literal context.  After all, the Bible is a set of books written by different people in different languages thousands of years ago.  It is only reasonable that there would be something lost in the translation, especially given the ambiguity of the English language.  It may also require a great deal of research to resolve the issues you confront them with, and they satisfied themselves of what they believe and do not remember how to explain it to you.  Ignorance and laziness are also sometimes reasons, but there are some people who are able to explain those issues to you.  If you really want good answers to your questions, you should try a few apologetics websites.
401300
:}\nThe Bible is G-d's word.\nI guess you are saying can one accept the Bible as an allegory and not as the word of G-d.\n\nThe answer is: They can and do!\n\nMany liberal churches today, do not believe in the literal accuracy and inerrancy of the Bible but pick and choose which parts are to be understood as literal and which as allegory\n\nThey have a form of righteousness but deny the power thereof.
369238
I tell people that if the King James Bible could not make holy people after 400 years then the other version will not either.  Jesus said in Luke 16:17 "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, then one title of the law to fail."  Well what is a title?  Smaller then lice, even smaller.  Jesus also said in Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pas away, but my words shall not pass away."  Why are we looking for a new bible that is missing over 4,000 words and scriptures twisted?  The simple reason is because Christianity today and from the time the apostles left have been seduced, and bewitched by these soph called bible scholars.  People in the churches are sick and gettting sicker with no truth no bible just socials, holidays and funny teachings and funny bibles outside of the truth the King James. \n\nThe bible says in Galatians 1:6-9 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; butt there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (The King James Bible) But though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed.  As we said before, so I say now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you then that which ye have received let him be accursed."  Today we are stuck with the same serpent that deceived Eve in the garden the same slick subtile teachings in all denominations, TV, Radio, Internet ministries.  And God and Father of Jesus gave them strong delusions to believe a lie because they refuse the love of the truth 2nd Thessalonians 2:10 "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them a strong delusion that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the love of the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."  This is what the churches today have pleasure in unrighteousness.  Jesus said in Luke 8:14 when he talked about the parable of the seed and the sower of the different ground that it would end up on. "And that which fell among thorns are they which, when they have heard, go forth and are chocked with cares and riches and pleasure of this life and bring no fruit to perfection."  The problem with Christianity today is that they don't bring forth fruit unto perfect but unto death.  These new bibles that are out are worse.  Things that the church never endorse 25-30 years ago when the King James was around and a little truth of still around, (Not the whole as man still perverted the bible back then as well) the churches are endorsing all types of sin and iniquity.  Why? 2nd Cor. 11:14-15 "And no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."  Christians are so seduced by the devil who transformed himself as an angel of light bewitching the people the Greek was wrong or the Hebrew or the whatever was wrong, so he has bible scholars to seduce people not to believe the bible.  The devil's workers will always go opposite of the bible, as a matter of fact they don't read the bible any more and they tell people a lie not to worry about the bible and give them a sermon like Eve had in the garden of Eden.  Yes the devil know his bible but he doesn't want you to know your bible because he got kicked out of heaven.  \n\nRevelation 22:18-19 "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:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of th
408941
Regarding translation and the Word of God.  To say, in general, that I "question" something is not saying that I disagree with it.  I try and question much in translation.  There was a time when I questioned the Word of God.  I have since been convinced of the veracity of God's Word, but I still question translation and try to derive as much as possible from it by reading many different concordance references and multiple versions.  I would say, all in all, general bibles like the NIV and ASV are pretty good translations.  I would definitely get one with a good concordance, explanations, and references, and use them.\n\nOn fundamentalism and the Evangelical movement in America.\n\nThis is a loaded question.  There is 1. A fundamentalist faction.  2. an Evangelical movement and 3. the Moral Majority faction.  These are not one in the same, though members of each may cross over into the other and become affiliated with the other now and again.  NONE OF THESE ARE MILITANT.  Do they feel that America has diverged from a "wholesome" path... absolutely.  Do they feel that they want to be able to let their kids play outside again.... absolutely.  Do they think that God is the answer to the problems with America..... absolutely.  Do they think that their vote can make a difference... they know factually that it can.  But, few support Jerry Falwell for any public office... I believe his call is for evangelism... not politics, though he has a right to voice his opinion when someone asks him.  Is it good for the Republican party?  Well, I guess it would be... considering their "conservative" agenda.  Moreover, I think that is bad for the Democratic party than good for the Republican.  The Democratic Party is now appearing to stand against Christianity and Christians, in general.  Considering there is only one kind of Christian (whether fundamental or liberal) this is a bad progression of events for the Democratic party.  I think that they need to review their stance, or another party needs to creep up.
463614
If you count all the different translations to different languages there are a lot more. :-)\n\nBasically, the original text is in ancient hebrew or greek.  Translating from one language to another is very hard -- in fact there is no translation without interpretation. There are idioms (sayings) in any language that don't translate.  If someone called you a cabbage in French, it would be sweet and endearing.  In English it's just rude.  Then consider translating from one time to another.  The world is different, and English has changed from the time of King James to now, and sometimes the words don't carry.  For instance the word "suffer" used to mean "allow" so when Christ said "Suffer the little children to come unto me" in KJV, he wasn't suggesting that the kiddies be hurt.\n\nSo, in interpretation one can either be "literal" or "meaning preserving" or somewhere in between.  If somone asked Jesus when evil could be done in heaven and he said "when pigs fly" (I am just making this part up) then one interpreter could say "on the day that pigs fly in the sky" and the other could say "that would neve happen!".   Two interpretations, both correct.  This provides some of the division.  NAS is more literal, NIV is more meaning-preserving. \n\nOkay, to make it a little harder: when the early translations by Tyndale and the like were made, they only had a limited set of ancient copies to work from.  Since then, there have been more found, and older ones.  When you look at a modern translation (CEV, NAS, NIV) they are based on a wider collection of older manuscripts.  That probably means that they're more accurate.\n\nThen finally there are paraphrases like the Living Bible or the Amplified Bible, which are not translations from original manuscripts but a retelling of an existing translation in modern english, perhaps with more text added to get the point across better.\n\nSo the answer is to read a few of them.  It's a perfectly acceptable thing to get a paraphrase or a very modern easy-to-read translation (The Message, The Living Bible, etc) for your first read-through so that you become familiar with the overarching story line and the characters. You might like to get a chronological bible which orders the books in timeline order (most Bibles are ordered by category like law, history, wisdom, prophesy, life of Christ, early Christian church history, and then letters from disciples).  A chronological bible would help you see the story as it unfolded.\n\nThen, if you like, get a parallel bible so that you can see two, three, or four translations side-by-side and compare them. \n\nOn one hand, the real bible would be the original manuscripts or their most faithful reproductions in Hebrew or Greek.  \n\nBut if you are willing to look at it this way, the REAL bible is the events that happened, not any one recording of them by a particular author. If you see it this way, then reading any of them, or (better) several of them is the way to get the REAL bible. \n\nBut equally important are some small little tidbits: If one wants to know God then one must first believe that He exists, and secondly that He rewards those who honestly seek Him.  Secondly, that his word is never wasted.\n\nI hope this helps you.
803877
The Bible is very reliable and the message has not been changed with new translations.\n\nThere is contradictions in the Bible but I would like you to ask specific contradiction so we would be able to help ou to understand.\n\nThere is very big change that the Bible will not make any sense to you if you do not let Holy Spirit in your heart to guide you.\n\nThe Bible is written by men but inspired by God.Feel free to contact me personally....and if you ask specific contradiction questions here, you will get great answers.\n\nGod bless.
571814
Total Christian. I believe in the Holy Bible 100%. No errors, no flaws, no mistakes of any sort.
85773
I've studied both Hebrew and Greek (the original languages of the Bible), and I've seen that most translations are correct. Yes, there are "different" Bibles, but most say basically the same thing. Minor differences in word style occur any time you translate a document. \n\nThis doesn't include translations that are done with a particular slant, like the New World Translation, for example. But the King James, New King James, New International Version, New American Standard, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, etc are all good.