[–] 18848997? 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Try bible gateway . com. It has all the translations and is easy to switch back and forth and compare different versions.
However, I did some comparisons of some of the new translations and was shocked to find that many biblical verses were heavily edited to water down key concepts and alter the original meaning so I quit trusting those translations as worthwhile. KJV is an excellent translation but it has some issues as well but at least it's an honest attempt.
For example, the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill". Hebrew doesn't have that same meaning. It's more like, "Thou shalt not murder". Then there's the story of Genesis where God tells Adam that on the day he eats of the forbidden tree he will surely die. The Hebrew doesn't actually carry the same meaning. It actually says something to the effect that on the day you eat of the tree you dying will surely die. Or, to put it in modern English terms, you will start dying and this will end in your death. So, no chance of recovery or getting better. There's other misconceptions the bible can give someone if they don't carefully study. Such as Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt. Jesus referred to this event but he didn't say she was turned to a pillar of salt. He says she was "taken". Hebrew word used in the context of death. However, the same word with one misspelled letter renders it as salt. Now, to this day, there are people in the middle east who process salt into a pillar like form that can be transported on camels. They've done this for thousands of years. I believe the word used for that item may very well be the word that was used for salt. Just an idea but scholars have pointed these things out.
[–] 18850313? 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
there is so much to learn! thank you for the pointers.
[–] 18855877? 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Oh, for sure, I'm glad if I could help at all.
I want to say some things I noticed in the past when I used to attend churches. The Seventh Day Adventist church discourages personal study in order to retain their control over biblical concepts. They use "interpretation" styles much the same as the Catholic church. I didn't realize this until I left the SDA church and began listening to Catholic radio stations.
During bible study sessions in the SDA church they exclusively use a bible study plan booklet. The people are advised to use this booklet as a guide in their home study, fill it out like it's a child's homework assignment and then bring it with you for the church group studies.
Now, if like me you are a free thinking independent person and notice something you wish to discuss in the group, if it's outside the scope of the lesson plan it will be quickly brushed aside and the group redirected back to the lesson plan.
At all times the lesson plan directs the proper conclusions you should reach in your studies.
Any observations outside church doctrines will get push back from the study leaders.
2 Peter 1:20 King James Version (KJV) 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
The main thing I wish to convey here, churches should never be your arbiter of understanding scripture. It can and should only be obtained by honest, diligent searching on a personal level. There's so much there that the churches have hidden from the people.