The Bible-Why So Many?

Why are there so many different version or translations of the Bible today?  Do you view new versions as a help or a hindrance to Bible understanding? Learning about their origins can help you to assess them wisely.

First, though, who originally wrote the Bible, and when? 

THE ORIGINAL BIBLE

The Bible is normally divided into two sections.  The first section has 39 books containing "sacred pronouncements of God."  (Romans 3:2) God inspired faithful men to write these books over a long period of time-about 1,000 years from 1513 B.C.E. to sometime after 443 B.C.E.  They wrote mostly in Hebrew, so we call this section the Hebrew Scriptures, also known as the Old Testament. 

The second addition has 27 books that are also "the word of God."  (1 Thessalonians 2:13)  God inspired faithful disciples of Jesus Christ to write these books over a much shorter time-about 60 years from about 41 C.E. to 98 C.E.  They wrote mostly in Greek, so we call this section the Christian Greek Scriptures, also known as the New Testament.  (note: which we are suppose to follow both old and new, not just one or the other.(

Together, these 66 inspired books make up the complete Bible-God's message for mankind.  But why were additional translations of the Bible made?  Here are three of the basic reasons. 

* To allow people to read the Bible in their mother tongue.

* To remove errors made by copyists and thus restore the Bible's original text. 

* To update archaic language

Next time: The Bible-Why So Many? - THE GREEK SEPTUAGINT

From the jw.org publications