If the language of Jesus was Aramaic...then why aren't we using a version of the bible DIRECTLY translated from it. Each time anything is translated, it loses some of the original meaning. (Some words just don’t translate well into English). I don't trust the Greeks or Romans as ambassadors of truth. Nor do I believe the God needed Constantine as an editor (excluding certain books) for the inspired words of the Divine.

Is there Aramaic-English biblical references available prior to Constantine (Council of Nicea) tampering? Please give me direction.

Thanks,

In Love and Light, Brenda

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2000

Answers

Aramaic is a Semitic dialect. Christ spoke Galilean Aramaic which was very detectable. Remember as Peter warmed himself by the fire as Jesus was being questioned the young girl recognized his dialect as Galilean. I would recommend The New Unger's Bible Dictionary for a quick study of "Languages of the Bible". The most popular translation for English speaking people is the King James Version (1611). This is called the "Authorized" Version because King James authorized its translation into English so that his subjects would be able to read the Bible for themselves. The New King James Version is the result of a work began about 1980 using the origonal documents as the KJV with new discoveries since that time such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. We can use any good translation of the Bible in our studies as long as we depend upon the Holy Spirit as our final teacher. Study, to show thyself approved of God. Blessings

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2000

By the way, I like to use a Hebrew Bible for many of my Old Testament studies. The "Tanakah" is more direct than the KJV. For examples the KJV says that Adam "knew" his wife Eve, whereas the Hebrew Bible says that they had sexual relations. Sometimes the KJV is obscure for a novice student.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2000

Sister Sutton, I found some more information for you. The Torah was in Hebrew at first. When the Jewish population came under the influence of Hellenism (Greeks) the Greek language replaced the Hebrew because Hebrew was no longer commonly understood. The Old Testament translated from Hebrew to Greek is the Septuagint from which most of our Christian Bibles are translated. For the Aramic speaking Jews, the Hebrew was translated into Aramic and know as the Targums. The Septuagint and Targums are the oldest translations of the Bible (Old Testament). Hope this helps. God Bless Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2000