Why do Christians tend to only read the Bible in English?

Question

Most Jews are taught to read the Tanakh in Hebrew, and most Muslims to read the Qur'an in Arabic, so why do Christians tend to read the Bible in English?

Why haven't the Christians kept this as tradition?

I only mean this to Christians from English-speaking countries, of course.

Peace.

Answer 1

you must not be white....looking for a gauge   EH

Answer 2

Many of the original texts stored in the Vatican are either in old Aramaic or in Latin, both of which are 'dead' languages which very few people from English speaking countries understand, whereas both Hebrew and Arabic are 'live' languages, spoken by millions of people.

Answer 3

They don`t christians do not know there own religion if they did they would stop saying God loves you

Answer 4

The Tanakh is the Jewish Bible. In other languages it simply would loose its holiness, and all its different meanings and interpretations.

The Qu'ran - well , actually many Muslims are taught at a young age to KNOW the Qu'ran , by heart , in Arabic. I think it's rather admirable actually.

Christians - well , they don't see the point of reading their bibles in the original. Don't forget , to them faith matters more than anything.

And let's look at history. Jewish boys have always been taught to read Hebrew since the age of 3. Muslims have also often educated their children well. While in many Christian societies, education was limited to Church clergy only.

Answer 5

The English reformation followed by the King James Bible.

European reformations took the power away from Rome and the Catholic Church so Latin translations were abolished in favour of those in the native language. The Bible was not originally written in Latin so blame the Pope for that. The original text of the bible was was written in Hebrew and many other, dead languages; Aramaic, Koine Greek etc.

Answer 6

Same reason you ask this question in English

Answer 7

Because God's in America now, d**n it.  He should speak English.

(Just to clarify, that was sarcasm mocking American conservatives.  Thanks.)

Answer 8

Because we don't know another language. Or we would read it in both or more.

Answer 9

Some read it in french or their native language

Answer 10

Interesting question.  I understand that the Bible was never published in Hebrew (that's only the Tanakh), but early editions (300AD) were Greek and Syriac, followed by Latin.

The Protestants (1500s) produced vernacular (local language) editions and that has continued ever since.  The most famous being the King James' Version.

In other words there has been a tradition of translating the Bible pretty much since it first properly existed as canon.  But as for why, perhaps a Bible scholar will have an answer to that one.

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Answer 11

the bible was translated into latin at one stage and most people couldnt read or understand latin also the priest at the time some were corrupt and used certain parts of scripture for thier own means but certain learned men knew that the word of god had to be spread and taught to others and they started programes of educating people on the bible using english translations . it was the same with germans french dutch norwegians russians ect . many translators were persecuted for translating the bible into other languages inc english and some died as a result of teaching people to read  the bible because the catholic church at that time had more power then than they do now . lutherans mormans amish protestants and many other denominations were persecuted in europe that why lots fled europe and settled in usa and started translating more bibles in more than just european languaes . at one stage people were killed in this country for owning a bible and the bible stated that gods name would be made known and that his name would be made sanctified to all the inherited earth

Answer 12

laziness mainly....

Answer 13

Good question..

Maybe it has something to do with the diversity in Christianity?

(I'm disregarding your "English-only countries" idea.)

Idk.. :]

Answer 14

The Bible was written in different languages - Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek... so it would be difficult to learn all three.

But trained theologians often are scholars in Ancient Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.

And remember, until recently, the Roman Catholic Church held all services and readings in one common language Latin... and I'm not sure but I think the Orthodox churches hold it all in Greek...

I know certainly the Ethiopian Orthodox Church holds all literature and services in the language of Ge'ez which is essentially a dead language otherwise.

Answer 15

    My pastor teaches Hebrew and Greek and interprets the sense of the scriptures. For example. "Be filled with the Spirit." My pastor says that it should read like this, " Ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit."

       Another one is, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." My pastor says it should read, " I can do all things through Christ who keeps pouring His power into me."

    Now, to come up with that on my own may not be the same because I don't know how to interpret other languages in the proper way but I do study Greek and Hebrew words as a means of study sometimes..

Answer 16

I know MANY who study it in Hebrew, or use Hebrew aides like a Hebrew/English Lexicon.

Answer 17

Most English-speaking protestants base their faith on the Authorised Version of the Bible.

The idea that anyone can 'authorise' a Bible (ie: tell God what he should have written) seems strange at first. But when King Henry VIII of England began English protestantism, he made himself head of the new church.

For English-speaking protestants the king of England has the same authority and power as the pope has for Roman Catholics.

So when an English King (King James I) decided that there would be one true translation of the Bible into English - and all the other translations would be wrong - English-speaking protestants had no choice but to accept the King James version as more correct than any other translation (and possibly more correct even than the original).

You can see this idea in several of your answers here, where posters claim that they can trust their favourite translation and that they have no need to read the Bible as it was originally written.

....

True Christians will care enough about the Bible to learn at least Koine Greek (to read the New Testament), and probably Hebrew for the Old Testament as well.

But English protestants are really a faith of their own - not Christian, and not anything else either. (For the fate of English protestants in the endtimes see Revelation:3:16).

Answer 18

Christians come in all colors & tongues. I am a Christian but I am also Cuban & have a Bible in Spanish if that helps.

Answer 19

Think about what you just said. If the Christian lives in a non-English-speaking country, they will read the Bible in their own language.

French in France

Spanish in Spain

Japanese in Japan

and anyone who speaks those languages can have access to the Bible in their own language. I live in Spain so I have both and use them interchangeably.

But all of my Spanish speaking Christian friends read the Word in their own language, not English, because they Don't Speak English.

The whole idea is for people to be able to read the Word easily and learn from it and apply it to their lives. This is much better accomplished by having it available in your own language, rather than having to study a language that is not your own for years before you can reach the treasures in the Word of God.

Answer 20

If a Christian, uses a Strong's Concordance, which is a book that takes words from the bible and takes them back to their ORIGINAL LANGUAGE (Hebrew, Greek, Chaldean, etc) and translates them to English, they will get the true meaning of the bible. Otherwise, they are mislead as so many are these days that believe what some man teaches them, instead of studying it for themselves.One good example is the word 'h**l' which is used so wrongly by many, many Christians. When the word 'h**l' is taken back to its ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, it translates to the word GRAVE, not some eternal hellhole, that's man's teachings, not Gods. However, there is a lake of fire and perdition(death) which only one soul has been sentenced to, and that is satan. Notice that it says DEATH, NOT some eternal burning hellfire that so many preach wrongly on here!

Answer 21

Christians generally read the Bible in their own language.  It is what it says, rather than what language it is in, that is important.

That being said, anyone who wants to analyze the meaning behind a particular passage needs to examine the original text. There is often a certain level of meaning left out when translating from the original language to English, or to any other language.

Answer 22

Well, it seems that nobody is taught the language so that they can read it is Aramaic and Hebrew and Greek and Latin.

Answer 23

You can read the Bible in any language you want to. God understands all languages.

Jews and Muslims need to learn only one language. A Christian would have to learn two - Hebrew for Old Testament, Greek for New Testament.

Answer 24

I see no point of real comparison here.  While Jews in other countries still speak the Hebrew language and Muslims anywhere still speak Arabic to be able to read the Qur'an, Christianity is made up of various cultures and come from varying language groups, so they have to use the translated bible for their convenience.  But Christian scholars from all over, not to mention many ordinary people sometimes yearn and actually read from the original sources of the bible to gain fresh insights into the real words of God.

Answer 25

If you're English speaking - which language would you suggest you read the Bible in?????

Would the rest of you class this as as silly question?

Answer 26

Not true. However, it is great some people study Biblical languages. I might do it too.

Answer 27

The Bible is made up of books of several different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek), so to read the Bible as it was first wrote, would require fluency in many different languages.Some do study the Bible in its original languages.

You also need to remember that most Jews naturally speak Hebrew and most Muslims speak Arabic.

Answer 28

I find it incredible that people still come up with simplistic answers such as "the bible means the same in any language" Most often translations from the original Hebrew bare no resemblance to the original especially Christians decide to use a quote as a "proof text"

Most scholars, as opposed to religious fundamentalists do take the bother to learn both Hebrew & Greek in order to derive a greater understanding of he texts.

Answer 29

you can thank King James for the translation as well as the ecclesiastics of the catholic church for going from hebrew to latin to english

James felt the people should be able to read the wisdom for them selves but most never learned latin of the schools & church! so James had them translate it for the common people!

Answer 30

Waste of time.

Unlike other texts, the Bible says the same thing, no matter the language.

Answer 31

If God could only translate Hebrew or Arabic he would be a pretty poor God wouldn't he?

God's word is forever and it is translated to all languages.

You should have more faith in God.

Why only to English speaking countries?

How is this a tradition the New Testament was written in Koine Greek?

Wouldn't you expect Jews to learn Hebrew and Christians to learn both Hebrew and Greek?

It is obvious you are a Muslim and think God incapable of translating his word.

He's God for crying out loud!!! He created the entire world how is he suddenly incapable of getting his word to you?

Your prophet was illiterate does this mean that he could not hear from Allah????

If your prophet could not know Allah then why would it matter the language you studied the Qu'ran in?

Angel, where do you get that I have a hatred of Muslims?

I dont have respect for Islam I have no hatered of Muslims.

Angel I assumed you to be Muslim immediately it is generally a Muslim idea that God's word is easily corrupted by man and we need original documents to know the truth.

I didn't mean to seem aggressive but my point is God is God he can get his word to everyone who seeks his truth.

Last Edit

Perhaps it is because the Christian religion is not local as is the Jewish and  Muslims tend to be of Jewish and Arabic races...Christians are many nationalities as answerers here have dmonstrated German Chrisitans read the word in German, Spanish Chrisitans read the word  in Spanish.

Chrisitians also believe in a real God capabale of tranlating his word to ANY language and to ALL peoples.