Religion

[eric100]

Which language was the bible originally written in? and how can anyone be sure that the translations are accurate?.

[Jonathan R]

It was originally written in Hebrew. As far as the translation goes, I think people have always made the text say what they want it to, to benefit them or their view of how society should be. People are often saying that various parts have been wrongly translated which potentially throws into question most of the issues involved. I think a lot of the bible was not meant to be taken literally but more as a metaphor about how to live life. For example, I can't accept that transubstantiation (bread becoming body and wine becoming blood) was supposed to be taken as fact. Many Roman Catholics still think this actually happens each Sunday.

[Cetti]

Don't forget that the Bible is not one book - but sixty six - which makes it almost impossible to give a definitive answer as to the original language. The actual writings span hundreds of years, and to make it even more difficult the early Hebrew texts were destroyed when new ones were copied, and then some Greek texts have found to be older than the Hebrew ones - very confusing. In a very simplistic form it can be said that the Old Testament was mainly Hebrew, and the New Testament Greek and Latin. Your second Q wholly depends on Faith - you either believe it's true - or you don't!

[darth vader]

Your first question has been answered (more precisely it was ancient hebrew, as opposed to modern hebrew, hence the problems translating it). The answer to the 2nd question is that we can't - try comparing the Catholic version (King James?) with the Scriptures as translated by the Jehovahs Witnesses, for example - some minor discrepancies - some major one's (including a whole section in the catholic one about the holy trinity - which you won't see in any other religion's version)