Bible Frustration

[Van]

When asked what frustrates Bible readers, not understanding it ranks quite high, about 15%.

The four mostly read versions were the KJV, NKJV, ESV and NIV.

Kinda makes you wonder whether ambiguity to preserve a possible range of meanings is such a virtue?

Bible readers have a range of faults, including a desire to instant understanding rather than studied understanding. But I am looking at how we might improve the translations, rather than the readers.
BTW, I am not trying to make one translation look less frustrating than another, I am looking at how all translations might be improved to provide greater understanding of the readers.

 

[Van]

What would you say is the most significant frustration when it comes to reading the Bible?

33% Not enough time
13% Language is difficult to relate to.
7% Cannot find the verse or story of interest.
7% Do not understand background or history

Not enough time sounds to me like a rationalization. IOW, an excuse for lack of engagement.

Language is difficult seems to target archaic words and idioms (i.e. ESV, KJV, and NKJV). But vague or obscure verbiage would also be in view, i.e. work of God rather than work God requires of you.

The inability to find something seems to reflect on the age of the respondents, i.e they do not know how to use computer search engines or an Exhaustive Concordance.

The lack of understanding of background or history could be filed under "you can't please everybody all the time." On one side we have those who want to bridge the gap by rewriting scripture to make it sound like it was written for today's audience, and on the other side, people who want it to say what it actually says, and let us through study figure out how it would apply to us.

 

[Van]

Genitives are often translated as "of something" which is ambiguous. Does "Love of God" refers to God's love for something or someone, or does the phrase refer to someone's love for God. Ditto for "work of God." Does it refer to God's work, or someone's work for God.

 

[Revmitchell]

When asked what frustrates Bible readers, not understanding it ranks quite high, about 15%.

The four mostly read versions were the KJV, NKJV, ESV and NIV.

Kinda makes you wonder whether ambiguity to preserve a possible range of meanings is such a virtue?

Bible readers have a range of faults, including a desire to instant understanding rather than studied understanding. But I am looking at how we might improve the translations, rather than the readers.
BTW, I am not trying to make one translation look less frustrating than another, I am looking at how all translations might be improved to provide greater understanding of the readers.

It's not possible to just sit down and read the text and fully understand it. It requires research and knowing the background that is not given in the text. Understanding the culture and ideas of that time it was written requires seeking knowledge of that. People seem to get offended when this is mentioned. Lazy is the word of the day,

 

[RipponRedeaux]

I'd say the top four English translations being used at the latter end of 2023 in America are the New International Version, NLT, ESV and CSB.

 

[37818]

Genitives are often translated as "of something" which is ambiguous.

How is an accuracy ambiguous? Belonging to whom is not specific?

 

[Van]

It's not possible to just sit down and read the text and fully understand it. It requires research and knowing the background that is not given in the text. Understanding the culture and ideas of that time it was written requires seeking knowledge of that. People seem to get offended when this is mentioned. Lazy is the word of the day,

Yes using study aids, such as provided by books on the culture of the time, are useful. But just sitting down and reading the text for understanding should also be encourage.

 

[Van]

How is an accuracy ambiguous? Belonging to whom is not specific?

I provided four examples of ambiguity. Love of God could mean two things, Work of God could mean two things. See post 3.

Assuming only one message is intended by God, translating such that two or more messages can be understood is not accurate. Only one message is accurate.

 

[Revmitchell]

Yes using study aids, such as provided by books on the culture of the time, are useful. But just sitting down and reading the text for understanding should also be encourage.

I don't know what to do with this. It is impossible to understand it without understanding the context. Context comes from knowing what I have talked about. Can't do it without it.

 

[Van]

I don't know what to do with this. It is impossible to understand it without understanding the context. Context comes from knowing what I have talked about. Can't do it without it.

Post 7 provided the context.

All these personal incredulity posts are needless, we are able to be led to Christ by scripture. And the less ambiguity in scriptural translation, the better the translation serves the purpose of God.