Westminster Bookstore has a special deal on the DVD documentary: KJB: The King James Bible – The Book that Changed the World. This DVD is a first-rate and tells the story of the making of the King James Bible well.
I have reviewed the DVD in full here.
At 40% off the regular retail price, this may be the time to pick up this DVD. You can also compare the price at ChristianBook.com and Amazon.com.
Here is the trailer:
~cross posted from my group site: KJVOnlyDebate.com
Honestly, I’m not convinced about the fixation on the KING JAMES ONLY. To put the discussion in its proper context, the KJ is merely a translation, or estimation of the word of God. As we know things are always lost in translation, nonetheless, we memorize the scripture, as if this is how God spoke it or the language in which is was revealed. We see in Judaism and Islam, they seem to have a higher standard with their scriptures, they don’t really consider translations into various languages as the actual word of God. With that said, they have set up institutions to learn the ancient Hebrew or the Classical Arabic to read the Torah and Qur’an amongst the lay people. By virtue of this, even if they don’t learn or study the language, they develop a comprehensive list of vocabulary and terminology. Whereas for Christians the learning or studying of Greek is reserved for scholars and specialists.
In thinking about this, in my opinion, it could only be due to the disconnect with the fact that Jesus spoke a Semitic Language or languages, whereas the scriptures of the New Testament are in Greek. So we have no connection with the language that Jesus actually spoke, and what we have in Greek manuscripts are translations of what he spoke, but now we are relegated to argue about the superiority of a translation of a translation and if the more specifically if the translation of the translation’s old English is superior to the more modern English.
Hal, I am by no means King James Only. I do respect it as a translation and the history of its production is fascinating. It’s the conclusion of the drive to get the Bible into English and so it is a special thing.
Regarding translation, the Christian religion is built on the prinicple of translation. Jesus became man, God incarnated himself that is the basis of it. The New Testament uses the Greek Old Testament and considers it “inspired”. The message of the Gospel translates into numerous languages. Yes some of the content is lost through translation, but we don’t revere an aura or a single set of words as being the sum total of our belief. The resurrection of Jesus is the defining principle of Christianity. It is so much more than semitic language alone.
Hey Bob
“The message of the Gospel translates into numerous languages. Yes some of the content is lost through translation, but we don’t revere an aura or a single set of words as being the sum total of our belief. The resurrection of Jesus is the defining principle of Christianity. It is so much more than semitic language alone.â€
I would say in this day and time the “single set of words†or as I would call it scripture is the very thing that defines, who Jesus is as well as his purported resurrection. These aren’t two mutually exclusive things here, as the scripture defines the borders, and paints the picture. I would imagine you would revere the scripture that reveres the event, in which the scripture is the remnants of, and the authoritative evidence for. My comment was more direct towards our minds having a direct interaction and experience with the unadulterated word of God.
“Single set of words” was a bad word choice on mind, perhaps. I agree but think that the message is clear enough that translation doesn’t impact it. It isn’t so much a revered “holy book” that is what we’re about as the message of that book.
In Islam, the Q’ran is treated very much like Christians revere Christ, which is why translation is not possible or recommended. It’s not that the Q’ran compares to Holy Scripture, it is revered as an object of worship itself. That’s an important difference, I think.
Anyway, thanks for stopping by. I appreciate the interaction.
Thank you