Question: Somewhere on the web, I found a page that told of what happened to some of the writers of the new Bible versions – it had said that a couple of them had lost their voice. Do you know anything about that?

Erma

Answer: Dear Erma,

I am aware of this type of report, though not this specific one. Some Christians believe that the Authorized, King James Version of 1611 is "God’s" version, that it is the only one that we should use, that all others are attempts to subvert the truth, and that all translations finished after 1611 are subtle attempts to undermine what God has revealed. Such thinking leads to comments like "if the King James version was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me" (while that comment is usually meant as a joke, it is unfortunately made in all sincerity by a few).

With such a presumption, stories then are circulated about the credibility of translators of more modern versions – some absolutely ludicrous. The interesting thing is that those involved with the King James Version are never subjected to the same scrutiny – for if they were, these kinds of charges would collapse.

God not only provided us with and inspired Scripture, but he continues to oversee its faithful translation. There are many translators at work today, as the Bible has not yet been translated into all of the languages of our modern world. There are a few "translations" which are absolutely erroneous, which are in fact not translations at all, but attempts to twist Scriptures and are fairly well known.

The translations that have been carefully done by teams of scholars from a variety of denominations and theological perspectives that are within the historic Christian faith are helpful and should not be discounted.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht