apologetics column
In my senior English class in high school, I was required to read Beowulf, one of the cornerstones of English literature. I was also privileged enough that I was able to see a
pre-translation copy of Beowulf. As I studied the manuscript, I could not make out a word of it. It was English, but for all I could understand it, it could have been in Swahili. The English language has changed so much between the Middle Ages when Beowulf was written and now, that it is impossible for someone who does not know Old English to read it. All languages evolve over time, and 1,000 years is a great deal of time. The Hebrew translations from 1,000 A.D. were probably written and spelled differently from the Hebrew spoken and written during the time of Jesus. That is why the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient manuscripts such as the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate are so important because they give us the insight into the language that was used in Jesus’ time. Most Bibles are very good at documenting what their sources are, so check the margins for clues to where verses in question came from. If there is a difference between the Masoretic and another early text, it will most likely be noted. I pray that this column has given you some insight into how to respond to critiques about the translations and versions of the Bible. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please email them to editor@exemplify.com. Please put “Apologetics” in the subject line so they will be forwarded to the correct place.
Join us next month for one of my favorite topics in apologetics: How do we know the Bible hasn’t been changed?
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