Bible Translations

The Bible is the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. Meaning, it was pure as originally written by the prophets. However, since then, there have been various states of apostacy among so-called believers. As was the case in Jesus' Day. So, it can be well understood how there could be lost books, additions, and deletions or just uninspired misinterpretations and interpolations of scripture. It is plainly evident the scriptures reference many other books an prophesies which are lost.

Also, just look at how the KJV of the bible came to be. The books of the Bible were decided upon by the great Catholic councils (eg Trent, 1545). A few Catholics I've met argued that there was pure doctrinal harmony before the reformation. This is just not so as the many councils (eg Trent, Nicea) were necessary to determine what the official doctrine was to be. But these councils failed to establish unity because they do not recognize an important truth. Just because a majority of people vote for something it doesn't make it true. So, in response there arose the great protesters (eg luther, calvin, cromwell, wesley). During the reformation, other great Christian martyrs such as Whycliff translated the Catholic Vulgate Bible from Latin to English and then later Tindale translated the original Greek Pentateuch in English. Before this time the Bible could not be read by the average person. Tyndale is quoted saying to his fellow catholic priests, "I will make a boy that driveth a plow know more of the Scriptures than you do." The KJV contains about 85% of Tindale's translation. King James was not of himself a saintly person, but the many scholars who worked long and hard on the project did a fine job to whom we owe an enormous debt of gratitude. But the translation was of men and therefore, imperfect.

So, where do you go from there. The Bible itself contains the answer. The Bible says: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1). I think we need to turn to the scriptures but we should not forget to turn to God in prayer to seek personal revelation from him. Without the spirit of revelation any verse of scripture is up for argument.

EXAMPLE:"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt 16).

Personal revelation by prayer and the Holy Spirit of prophecy is the rock of which Jesus is speaking. "Would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! (Num 11).