Does Bible's formality interfere?

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fabiopavan

fabiopavan

Junior Member
Nov 8, 2017
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I have been thinking about this: in Brazil, whose language is Portuguese, many Bibles use too formal language and uncommon pronouns, conjugations and adjectives; could this interfere on the people's interest on the Bible? Or could this be a barrier for their reading?
 
This sounds like a parallel problem to that many English-speakers have with the King James bible. It's 400 years old, and the language has changed a fair bit since 1611.

I would suggest finding a translation written in everyday Portuguese. Biblegateway.com lists five versions in Portuguese.
 
Dino246 said:
This sounds like a parallel problem to that many English-speakers have with the King James bible. It's 400 years old, and the language has changed a fair bit since 1611.

I would suggest finding a translation written in everyday Portuguese. Biblegateway.com lists five versions in Portuguese.
Click to expand...

Just agreeing with this post.
 
My question is though... does getting an easy to read, informal language translation.. end up messing with what the original meaning is intended?

The formal language in the likes of KJV also allows closer matching to original Greek and Hebrew..
 
fabiopavan said:
I have been thinking about this: in Brazil, whose language is Portuguese, many Bibles use too formal language and uncommon pronouns, conjugations and adjectives; could this interfere on the people's interest on the Bible? Or could this be a barrier for their reading?
Click to expand...

i like the older less modern translation

and strongs concordance

but God did a great job preserving His word
i have met people who read more modern translations who have learned the same things i have for the most part


and people who read the same translation as me who got a completely different message


as long as the translation isnt adding to or taking from the truth in a way that makes it a lie there shouldnt be any issue
 
fabiopavan said:
I have been thinking about this: in Brazil, whose language is Portuguese, many Bibles use too formal language and uncommon pronouns, conjugations and adjectives; could this interfere on the people's interest on the Bible? Or could this be a barrier for their reading?
Click to expand...

To answer your questions more directly, yes, highly-formal language can be a barrier to those who aren't as familiar with it. Again using the example of the KJV, it is contemporary with the works of William Shakespeare. Some can read both Shakespeare and the KJV with ease, understanding the more archaic words and phrases as written. Others, who may not have done so well in high school English, can read modern translations with ease, but struggle with the English of the early 1600's.

If the goal is to get people to read the word of God, then a translation in "their" language is best. Forcing a Bible-newcomer to read only the KJV is, in my view, insensitive and unwise, if the person doesn't grasp it easily. Give the people the truth in simpler language first, and let those who are so inclined move to a more formal translation later. The New Testament was written in koine (everyday) Greek, not classical Greek... for good reason.
 
wattie said:
My question is though... does getting an easy to read, informal language translation.. end up messing with what the original meaning is intended?

The formal language in the likes of KJV also allows closer matching to original Greek and Hebrew..
Click to expand...

The KJV is not a formal language, its an antiquated language.

If somebody wants a literal translation but in a current language, NASB can be the choice, even though I think that literalism is not always the best thing. It leads people without an ancient cultural background to believe in various sorts of things (flat earth etc).
 
trofimus said:
The KJV is not a formal language, its an antiquated language.

If somebody wants a literal translation but in a current language, NASB can be the choice, even though I think that literalism is not always the best thing. It leads people without an ancient cultural background to believe in various sorts of things (flat earth etc).
Click to expand...

Very true. The Elizabethan language used in the KJV was a very relaxed and informal language for that day. The sad thing is that some people really DO think it was formal, and they want to use it for just the opposite reason it was used back then. They want to speak formally. That's a little laughable.

And I honestly do think there are some people who will swear it is the kind of language God, Himself, authorized because it is in that version that He supposedly said is the only REAL Bible.
 
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