Protestantism began by attacking the Catholic Church for using only the Latin Vulgate instead of making new translations in the vernacular languages (indeed, the Latin Vulgate was treated as almost "more inspired than the originals!"). And now what has happened? English Protestants have adopted the original Catholic outlook with their own "Vulagate" which is "more holy than the originals!" Does this mean translations into non-English languages must be made from the KJV and not from the originals?
"Holy translations" are nothing new. Every religion has them. The Septuagint was (according to the story) the work of seventy (or 72) translators who each went into a separate room and yet they all emerged with the exact same translation. Later the Aramaic Targums were held to have a measure of sanctity (which as a Noachide I acknowledge). The Syrians have the Peshitta, the Greek Orthodox use the Septuagint, and the Latins (until some four decades ago) used the Vulgate. What has happened now is that the KJV has joined this club of "holy translations." And I have heard preachers stumble reading the unfamiliar language of the KJV just as (surely) Irish and Polish peasants once occasionally stumbled over the Latin.
Admittedly I am unique here in that a)I am a Noachide rather than a chr*sitan, and b)I believe the most authentic Word of G-d exists in the scrolls that are written in the original and hand-written according to the Halakhah handed down from Sinai. In other words, if you want to read the Bible and not a translation of the Bible, learn Hebrew and read the original! And it isn't that hard to do (it's certainly easier than Greek).
I find myself often defending American Fundamentalist Protestants from their detractors and am happy to do so. But I must confess that the idea that the Word of G-d did not exist until the 5371st year of creation (1611) and that the original Hebrew was "written by Satan" (as some KJV-only people maintain) really burns my biscuits.
Translations of the Bible are not the Bible. Learn Hebrew (and Aramaic)!
Shakespeare!
I would agree that's the best way to truly get a flavor of what was written. I do think that the role of the holy spirit in Christians is to guide us into the truth...which may consist of using multiple translations and multiple sources of information.
“And it isn’t that hard to do (it’s certainly easier than Greek).”
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great post, ZC. I’m sorry I did not read it earlier.