Peace and thanks for replying so quickly OneGod
Your arguement makes some sense, except for one very important point that must be admitted by me here, and which is also part of the reasoning behind the various translations of the Bible available to read.
1. Did you ever ask yourself why so many translations exist in the first place? I mean, wouldn't it seem far simpler to keep the Biblical text in one language and expect all believers to learn that language?
The answer on the surface would be yes, of course it would. However! There is a problem here. You see, the early texts of the bible were given not to one man, but to many men and in their own language and cultural world view.
So, even to look at the original language is not enough when reading the manuscripts. You need to look at the original meaning as displayed in the world view for the people the text was written for.
With the Qur'an you have one text by one man and it's easy to trace that one man's life and his searchings by seeing what he has written at certain stages in his life.
I am in the process of typing out the different OT books and when they were written. The history books and the corresponding other OT books of prophets, psalms and teachings to enable everyone to see how certain books were given in revelation during certain eras of Israel's history.
2. The idea of Bible Translation is to use the early manuscripts and to produce a text which speaks directly to the heart of people in their own language and frame work. I would be the first to admit, I don't always like the end result of some of the translation work myself, however, God still maintains His honour in all translation as it's His word which is being translated and the goal of translation is to give the MEANING OF THE VERSE IN IT'S CLEAREST POSSIBLE SENSE.
All translation work is done in order that people should hear and respond to God's word in their own language and in a way they can understand.
Now please take time to read
http://www.gospelcom.net/ibs/bibles/tra ... /index.php
This link compares the passages relating to Jesus being in the form and nature God. It also shows the difference between a paraphrase and a translation. You will see that in some of the translations there is a tendency to try and explain the verse rather than just translate it.
The only way to really understand the verse and let it speak for itself without anyone telling you what it means is to see it written in all these different fashions.
I personally use the NIV version, but have many other versions in my home and when I study the Bible, I use those versions, as well as dictionaries which have the original Greek, Aramaic or Hebrew words. I was taught at Bible College by a professor who read not from an English Bible, but directly from his Hebrew OT and Greek NT.
3. Is there a safe guard against wrong translation?
Please now type Isaiah 9:6 into here
http://www.gospelcom.net/ibs/bibles/compare.php
and click on any of the translations you please.. do type in American Standard Bible and see it doesn't say God-hero at all, it actually says this
(1) child will be born to us, a (2) son will be given to us;
And the (3) government will rest (4) on His shoulders;
And His name will be called (5) Wonderful Counselor, (6) Mighty God,
Eternal (7) Father, Prince of (8) Peace.
Now, whether you translate Mighty God in any other way, you are still left with the fact that Isaiah declares this child who is to be born
1. The Government will rest on His shoulders.. He will be a king
2 He will be a Wonderful Counsellor
3. He will not be A MIGHTY God or A STRONG God.. but will be called MIGHTY GOD/STRONG GOD
4. Regardless of how you translate the first part about His Deity, He is still Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.
So what is this verse saying in all those translations? Exactly the same thing.. this coming baby will be unique, will be God and will be recognizably so.
Now look at this link
http://www.geocities.com/bible_translation/
and see just how involved this whole process is involving not just a handful of people, but many thousands around the world, all working with the aim of making God's word readable and understandable to all people's.
Translations do have difficulties, but are constantly revised and by comparing and contrasting translations, poor translations are soon found and work done to rectify that translation.
Always in the background are the original manuscripts that preceeded even Jesus (such as the dead sea scrolls). Any of us can say something has not been translated correctly, but we have those manuscripts, which are still referred to in the translation process and totally available for comparison, and God is true to His word. yes, the translation may not be the best, but the meaning behind the words are living and as sharp as any sword, teaching us how to live and behave and relate to God.
I'll handle the other part of your question/comment in the next post relating to the past/present discussion of "his name will be called".