Yes, the Bible is THE authority, but only for those who believe.
Brothers, the Bible is a collection of writings that the early (ancient) Christian church decided to make their standard of truth. They (the ancient Church) inherited the Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures (translated in Egypt by Greek speaking Jews in the BC period) and the holy apostles sometimes quoted from these Greek scriptures and sometimes from the Hebrew originals when they wrote their letters to the first Christian communities (Rome, Corinth, Thessalonica, Colossae, Ephesus, etc).
This early church was mostly Greek speaking Jews and non-Jews, and a minority of Aramaic speaking Jews and non-Jews. Because the Greek language was in those early times like the English language is today, the ancient church decided that the Bible which they put together would only include writings in the Greek language.
That ancient collection of original Greek language scriptures is still used by the Orthodox Church, which is the modern day continuation of the ancient church. All the different versions you are asking about are translations from that ancient Greek Bible. That's why there can be many versions, because many people in all the countries have translated these writings into their mother tongues. If their intention was to translate faithfully, then the translations can be trusted.
But we always must go back to the Greek Bible to check on any disputed point, and ask those who speak the Greek language (not modern Greek, but Bible Greek, which is still spoken by many Greeks and other nationalities) what the words mean. You will discover, if you do this, that most disputes melt away, except when those who question are not interested in really understanding the truth, but only in building themselves up and creating factions based on their private interpretations.
This is why there are so many sects. But the churches that have the Greek Bible and accept it, even though they are many nations, all believe the same way, practice the one faith as handed over from ancient times, and do not fight with each other over doctrines and teachings. This group is called the Orthodox Church, and in Africa it exists from ancient times in Egypt and Ethiopia, and in modern times it has become native in countries like Ghana, Cameroun, Uganda, Kenya, Madagascar, and other places.
If you want to hear the Greek Bible being read in the original language, visit my blog, Η Καινή Διαθήκη (i kaini dhiathiki),
http://i-kaini-dhiathiki.blogspot.com/If you want to find out about the Orthodox Church look for it on the internet, or write me a message and I will answer you. I speak English, je parle français, yo hablo español, and of course, Greek.
I am a Greek Orthodox Christian, and I witness for Jesus. We do not argue, but patiently try to explain the Bible and the faith of Jesus Christ, and we welcome all people to become disciples and have faith in God's Son, who is the savior of the whole human race, but especially of believers.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Why? Because He loves us, and more than we love ourselves. He invites us to live in His Word, which is the Bible, and to make it our home, to speak its words, to think its thoughts, to let it take us apart and put us back together again. Sin has broken us. Jesus has come into the world to fix us. He was dead but He alive again and is with us at this moment. He is the most active person in the history of the world. Trust in Him.
| Posted: at 28-12-2010 06:19 AM (14 years ago) | Newbie |
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