Can A Translation Be Better Than The Original?

Genesis 1:1

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Revelation 22:21

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Notice:

There are 44 letters and 10 words in Genesis 1:1)

There are 44 letters and 12 words in Revelation 22:21)

Translations

Psalm 12:6-7

6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Whose job is it to preserve the words of the Lord?

The Seven Languages of God’s Words

1. The Original Hebrew Scriptures

2. The Aramaic Scriptures

3. The Original Greek Scriptures

4. The Syriac Scriptures

5. The Latin Scriptures

6. The German Scriptures

7. The English Scriptures

God’s Seven English Bibles

1. TYNDALE of 1525

2. COVERDALE of 1535

3. MATTHEW’S of 1537

4. GREAT of 1539

5. GENEVA of 1560

6. BISHOPS of 1568

7. AUTHORIZED VERSION of 1611

Word Study - “translate” and variants

Occurs 5 times in the King James Bible

Occurs 13 times in the New King James Version

Occurs 42 times in the Holman Christian Standard Version

Occurs 6 times in the New International Version

Occurs 10 times in the English Standard Version

Occurs 22 times in the New American Standard Version 1995 update

Common Objection from “Scholars”

“No translation can be inspired like the original manuscripts.” - many say this

THE Final Authority - AV 1611

“Translate” and variants occurs 5 times in the King James Bible

2 Samuel 3:10; Colossians 1:13; Hebrews 11:5

“translate”

2 Samuel 3:10

To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.

The translation is BETTER than the original!

“translated”

Colossians 1:13

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

The translation is BETTER than the original!

“translated” and “translation”

Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

The translation is BETTER than the original!

Inspired Translations

Genesis 42-45 Joseph in his reunion with his brethren. Egyptian to Hebrew

Exodus 4-14 where Moses confronts Pharaoh and speaks with him face to face. Egyptian to Hebrew

And when he had given him license, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, HE SPAKE UNTO THEM IN THE HEBREW TONGUE, SAYING..." Hebrew to Greek

When the New Testament writers would quote the Old Testament (Mt. 1:23; Mk. 1:2; Lk. 4:4; Jn. 15:25; Acts 1:20; 7:42; I Cor. 2:9; Gal. 3:13, etc.), they had to TRANSLATE from Hebrew to Greek, because the Old Testament was written in Hebrew, but THEY wrote in Greek. So, if a translation cannot be infallible, then EVEN THE NEW TESTAMENT IN THE "ORIGINAL GREEK" ISN'T INFALLIBLE, because it contains translations from the Hebrew text!

Which language did the Lord Jesus Christ speak while He was here on earth, Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic or a combination of the three? No one knows for sure, but we do know that He spoke to Paul in the Hebrew tongue yet His words were translated into Greek.

Acts 26:14

And when we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul. why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Conclusion:

Revelation 1:3

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.