An Argument with LCers on Bible Versions

[DistantStar]

I just thought I'd add this while it is on my mind.

Before I get started, I have to say that I always use the King James bible. I'm no expert on the different translations, but from what I've gathered it seems to be the best. It is not my intention to start a debate here on Bible versions. I just want to share this experience.

One day, a week or so after I left Christians on Campus, while I was walking on campus with the intention of going home, I walked into two members.
Since I didn't come for the small Bible study that week, they asked if I wanted to do it with them in their office. I said yes. In my heart I knew I was done with this society, but they did not realise it yet.

We did a reading on Colossians 1. They read from the Recovery Version while I read from the KJV. While they read the verses I could see definite differences compared to the KJV. I decided to see what they would do if I pointed out these differences.

One verse stood out: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him

So in an offhand manner I said I liked that verse because principalities and dominions are political concepts and as I study politics, it was interesting to note that God is the author not only of physical things, but of political ones as well.

Compare it with the Recovery Version: Because in Him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or lordships or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and unto Him.

When I said this the one guy got really quite. He looked at me with very distant eyes and said: "The Recovery Version does not say that".

The other guy then asked me if I knew on which manuscript the KJV is based. I said the Authorized Text. He then told me that the majority of Bibles are based on the majority text. I simply responded that majority opinion means nothing. Now it could well be that the majority text is correct. I merely questioned his logic. They then said that they did learn a bit of Greek. I thought by myself that this is very insignificant. They are basically saying that by learning a bit of Greek on their own, only attending classes by other members who themselves studied it at their own, they are more knowledgeable on the Bible than the actual translators.
They implied that their knowledge of the Greek is better and therefore they are right and I am wrong.

What is their logic here? So the translators of the King James knew more than they do, (they admitted this by saying that they know only a bit of Greek) but they claim they are right because they know more than I do?

He then told me that (in spite of them being based on different texts) the verse I quoted is in both manuscripts identical. I said that that is impossible. The differences are not mere synonyms or word order. I know almost nothing of Greek, but I know Afrikaans and English, and at university I studied Spanish and German. And in my spare time I've tried to learn a bit of Russian. Now I understand that Greek is a unique complex language, but I thought that I at least have some idea of how languages can work. But admittedly, they knew more than I do. One of them then took out his cellphone on which he compared, in Greek, the majority text with the authorized text. They were clearly different. The symbols were clearly different. I said that unless synonyms are used or the word order changed, these two verses are not identical.

They didn't say much after that. Before I left they said that issues such as Bible differences shouldn't take away our focus from Christ. That we shouldn't be distracted. I agreed in principle, but there are verses which matter. After that discussion I had the feeling that I appeared to them to be a heretic. They didn't say it, but from the look of it they didn't expect me to stand my ground.

After I left I realised something: They started the discussion. They were the ones that got distracted.

What bothered me during this conversation is that airily, distant look in their eyes. Like ghosts. I've seen this in a number of them.

P. S. Like I said initially, it is not my intention to debate the KJV. I am aware that other Bible versions may also have different meanings to "principalities" and "dominions". I just wanted to test them. Perhaps it was wrong, but at the time I didn't care for their feelings.