AboutMichael Kelley Expertise For a different viewpoint on Mormonism for your questions, try me. I am a staunch believer in the Book of Mormon and belong to another church (the Church of Christ)that is set up identically to the Biblical church. If there are things about traditional Mormonism that trouble you or you have questions about, just ask and you might find the answers from the Book of Mormon to be quite surprising. I have been studying the scriptures diligently for 16 years under the school of hard knocks... I may not have all of the answers but will sure go find them if I don`t. I`m strongest on Biblical and Book of Mormon doctrines, and am also somewhat familiar with Mormon history and archaeology.
Question Was the Bible originally written in Greek or Latin? Either way, since no one currently fluently speaks the language in its original form, isn't the Bible not completely accurate. I know it has been translated, but it can only be the translation/interpretation of the meaning, and the the exact words of God as it was meant to be read.
Answer Hi Jon,
I will be happy to answer your questions. Please note I am ex-LDS and belong to the original Church of Christ that believes in the Book of Mormon and Bible.
In answer to your question, the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament in Greek and Aramaic. You are quite correct, the Bible does have translational errors. Mostly these errors do no damage to the original intent and meaning of the scriptures, but in a few cases error can occur. Cases in point... Jesus says "it is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven". In Aramaic it says "It is easier to pass a rope through an eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven". Another case there is a single passage in Acts that mentions "Easter", yet Christians did not practice "Easter" until hundreds of years later, and the Jews certainly would not practice a Christian holiday anyway. In reality it was a mistranslation of the Greek word Pasha which means Passover, which the Jews did observe during that time frame. In reality Easter is a pagan holiday that predates Christ and worships Astarte... the pagan goddess of fertility and sexual freedom. This is where the eggs and bunnies came from... fertility symbols.
Nevertheless all important doctrines are repeated over and over again throughout the scriptures... so the gospel message... the "Good News"... still comes through clearly in spite of translational errors or the unintentional mistakes of men.
In the Book of Mormon similar problems occur because they wrote in a condensed Egyptian language in order to save space because of the difficulty in pounding out gold sheets and scribing them. One of the Book of Mormon authors laments over the inherent weakness of his writing (because of the Reformed Egyptian) and was afraid people would mock his words, because of this God tells him that fools mock, and that God's grace is sufficient for the humble, that they will not reject the words of God because of the weaknesses of men. I look at the Bible in the same way... yes it has it's imperfections, but God's truth still shines through.
I see this today, Scholars and so called "Professors" of religion will pick apart the scriptures and wherever they perceive some minor flaw, they reject the entire passage or entire book. Some don't even believe Jesus was born of a virgin, raised from the dead, or did many of his miracles. In reality humans make mistakes, but this does not mean it is excusable in rejecting the inherent truth that if found throughout the scriptures. On the other hand it is not logical to view the King James Bible as the perfect embodiment of God as some view it as. The scriptures are not infallible or without flaw. The scriptures are a tool God has given us to use, not God in of itself. Some tools get a little rust and get dulled in places, but are still perfectly usable tools. Some view pointing out these minor flaws is somehow pointing out flaws in God himself, and this is absolutely not the case. God uses men that has flaws... that's all. Others view the Bible as the ONLY tool God is able to give us for our instruction, in reality God is able to give us other tools such as the Book of Mormon that teaches the very same Gospel among a different people.
I hope this helps answer your questions, feel free to ask other questions if you like.
