Thursday, October 7, 2021

The English Bible

 
Burning At The Stake High Resolution Stock Photography and Images - Alamy
 
On this day, October 6, 1536, William Tyndale 
was strangled to death and his body burned at 
the stake for the crime of translating the Bible 
into English. Remember that as you read your 
English Bible today. 

As he was dying he yelled out his final 
prayer, "Lord, open the king of England's 
eyes!"

A true HERO of The Faith!  Sadly, nowadays, all 
too few Christians recognize what great men 
these were and how much we are indebted to 
them for their courage and for their contribution 
to our now being able to easily access the text of 
Scripture. 
 
Since Tyndale's English translation in 1526, translators and publishers have created approximately 900 different English Bibles, making it hard to know what God really said.

Example: Psalm 12:6-7

Geneva 1599: The words of the Lord are pure words, as the silver, tried in a furnace of earth, fined sevenfold. Thou wilt keep them, O Lord; thou wilt preserve him from this generation forever.
What does "him" refer back to?

KJV 1611: The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
"Them" refers back to the words of the Lord.

NIV 1978: And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked.

Notice all the word changes of the NIV version. Why did the publishers change so many words?  Answer: Publishers cannot get a copyright (and make more money) unless at least 10% of the words are different from the original.

No need to choose, simply go to Strong's Concordance and see what the original word God inspired to be written. Do not blindly trust ANY translation of the Bible. Always check the original Hebrew and Greek words to get the true meaning and intend.