Trinitarian translations
Translating the Bible—with its more than 1,100 chapters and 31,000 verses—is an imposing task. However, over the centuries, devoted translators gladly took on the challenge. Their hardship was not only limited to the task itself, but also to the enormous opposition they have faced from the Church, with Pope Gregory VII saying: "It pleased Almighty God that holy scripture should be a secret in certain places."
Today, thanks to the effort of determined Bible defenders, the Book of Books has been distributed to more than 90% of mankind, in thousands of languages. However, another challenge to the Truth appeared, as many Bible translators have often used their works to propagate their own doctrines through their translations - notably, the omitting of the divine name "YHWH" from their versions, although it appears close to 7000 times in the original scriptures (more than any other name).
Similarly, there are a number of verses that Trinitarians bring up when defending the doctrine of Trinity. These verses, they claim, clearly refer to Jesus as God, or give him names and attributes that are exclusively Jehovah's. Although the Bible does not restrict the title of "God" to Almighty God, this text will examine the consistency of Trinitarian translators in rendering those verses.
Now, it would be understandable for non-Trinitarians to translate verses such as John 1:1 in a way that suits their own beliefs, as Jehovah's witnesses have often been accused of doing. But if such translations had no concrete grammatical basis, then we can certainly expect all Trinitarians to translate it in the same way - Just like all versions have correctly translated, for example, John 3:16.
I claim to speak neither Hebrew, nor Greek, nor Aramaic. But I hope the following compilation of how Trinitarians translate the following key verses will help us heed Jesus' call when he prayed to his Father: "that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ" (John 17:3).
Psalm 45:6
King James Version Thy throne, O God
Louis Segond Your throne, o God
Tyndale Bible Thy seat (O God)
Revised Standard Version Your divine throne1
New English Bible Your throne is like God’s throne
The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text Thy throne given of God
John 1:1
Darby and the Word was God
New American Bible and the Word was God
Revised Standard Version and the Word was God.
The Emphatic Diaglott and a god was the Word
The Bible—An AmericanTranslation and the Word was divine
Das Evangelium nach Johannes and godlike sort was the Logos
John 8:58
Messianic Renewed Covenant before Avraham was, I AM.
World English Bible before Abraham came into existence, I AM.
The New Testament, by G. R. Noyes. From before Abraham was, I have been.
American Translation “I existed before Abraham was born!”
Das Neue Testament Before Abraham was born, I was already the one that I am.
1 Timothy 3:16
King James Version God was manifest in the flesh
World English Bible God was revealed in the flesh
Louis Segond he who was manifested in the flesh
Messianic Renewed Covenant He Who was manifested in the flesh
Revised Standard Version He who was manifested in the flesh
1 John 5:7
King James Version For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Ostervald For there are three that testify in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy-Spirit, and those three are one.
Louis Segond For there are three who render witness
Messianic Renewed Covenant And it is the Spirit Who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth
French Darby For there are three who testify
2 Peter 1:1
World English Bible in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ
Messianic Renewed Covenant in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Yeshua the Messiah
Louis Segond in the justice of our God and of the Savior Jesus Christ
Revised Standard Version in the righteousness of our God and [the] Saviour Jesus Christ
Revelation 1:11
King James Version Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book
Ostervald Saying: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last; what you see, write it in a book
David Martin Saying: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last: Write in a book what you see
Louis Segond that was saying: What you see, write it in a book
Messianic Renewed Covenant saying, "Write in a scroll what you see
Please note that even the incorrect translations of some of those verses do not disprove God's being distinct of Christ, and superior to him (Isaiah 42:1-4, 1 Corinthians 11:3, Revelation 1:1), nor prove that the Son and the Father are co-equal and/or co-eternal. But the fact that some Trinitarian translators have chosen to translate such verses the way it fits them is very revealing as to how scriptural their doctrines truly are.
Thank you, and may "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory," sanctify us all in His Truth. (Ephesians 1:17)
Alain Alameddine
www.geocities.com/our_struggle
1This verse, Psalm 45:6, is quoted in Hebrews 1:8. Notice that despite the Revised Standard Version translation of Psalm 45:6, it renders Hebrews 1:8 in the following way: “But of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God …”, despite their belief that the Psalms do not say that about the Son.
Tags: bible—with its, translating, trinitarian, translations, bible—with