Looks interesting. Let's see how folks answer.
You may remember I believe the earthly task of preservation is given to the priesthood, which is believers. The Word is perfectly preserved in Heaven as anyone would agree. But in translations for every people group? Anyone?
I would ask how practical it is to preserve God's word only in heaven when it is folks down here on earth that need to hear them? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.
Why do the scriptures have to be written in every language to be preserved? There was never a time when the scriptures were written in every language.
What we do see from scripture itself is that a translation is called scripture, as the text the Ethiopian eunuch was reading.
Acts 8:32 The place of the
scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same
scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
I think we can learn important lessons from this passage. Does this translation of Isaiah 53 agree word for word with the original scripture in Hebrew? No, but it conveys the accurate meaning of the original.
It is also important to note that this Greek translation was called scripture by scripture itself.
But I am getting off topic. It is not necessary that the word of God be translated into every language, although that is certainly desired. What is important is that men go and preach and teach all nations from the accurate word of God, teaching them what the scriptures are truly saying.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore,
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
It is not necessary to have the written scriptures in every language, but we are to go and preach and teach the word of God to all nations. And of course, you want to preach and teach that which is accurate, what the scriptures are truly saying.
John, I commend you for going to the Japanese to do this very thing. :thumbs:
Now, the problem I personally have with the MVs is that I do not believe they convey the same meaning as the KJB. I have pointed out several differences in the past, Matthew 5:22 is a good example of this difference;
KJB- But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
NIV- But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
The NIV and other MVs omit the phrase "without a cause" giving a very different meaning to this verse of scripture. The KJB implies that it is OK to be angry at someone for a legitimate reason, while the NIV gives the impression it is sin to be angry at someone else for "any" reason. That is a HUGE difference in meaning.
