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FightingFat
Guest
Has the Bible been chopped and changed out of all recognition or are the different version due solely to different scholars translations? Does the Church still hold the original text?
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DuMaurier
Guest
Some are very poor translations like the ones the Jehovah’s witnesses use. It was translated by one of their members who had a very limited understanding ancient greek. This gave rise to all their strange beliefs.
Officially sanctioned bibles can have a more literal translation but which makes understanding the the idioms of ancient greek more difficult. Or you can have a more dynamic translation which isn’t quite a literal translation word for word but which more accurately reflects what the ancient writers were trying to say in contemporary language.
Unless you have studied ancient greek then you have to settle for these translations which has often given rise to misinterpretations. This is why the Catholic Church has the teaching authority to insure that the faithful understand the points the ancient writers wanted to convey and not warp the words by looking through modernist lenses.
Officially sanctioned bibles can have a more literal translation but which makes understanding the the idioms of ancient greek more difficult. Or you can have a more dynamic translation which isn’t quite a literal translation word for word but which more accurately reflects what the ancient writers were trying to say in contemporary language.
Unless you have studied ancient greek then you have to settle for these translations which has often given rise to misinterpretations. This is why the Catholic Church has the teaching authority to insure that the faithful understand the points the ancient writers wanted to convey and not warp the words by looking through modernist lenses.
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Servant1
Guest
What DuMaurier said is good. Pay attention to that. Also see longer answer in the other thread about the Bible that you started.
The Church NEVER held the originals of the older parts of the Bible. Think how long before the Church existed the early books of the OT were “written”. Bear in mind that for eons, the passing along of these traditions was oral, not written. Originals of the Gospels are not/were not in possession of the Church. Faithful copyists produced many copies that were passed around, etc. Perhaps the very early Church had some originals of the epistles.
The early Church compared the written documents with the oral traditions faithfully passed down through the ages. What was consistent and consonant was deemed to be scripture. The rest was dross.
Do some searches on the history of the Bible. Catholic Encyclopedia online has some excellent articles. Paul told people he wrote to to hold fast to the oral traditions as well as the written. Scripture itself says the CHURCH is the pillar and ground of truth, not the Bible.
The Bible is an invaluable treasure. But don’t get too hung up on some of the details - they can be red herrings. The Church is also there to guide you regarding the Bible. And the Church is to be trusted.
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