Naomba kwanza tuziangalie aya hizi hapa chini kisha ndipo tuingie kujadili matatizo yaliomo kwenye versions za biblia.
1 Yohana 5:7-8:
Wapo mashahidi watatu: Roho, maji na damu; na hawa watatu wanakubaliana
Swahili New Testament
Naye roho ndiye ashuhudiaye, kwa sababu roho ndie kweli. kwa maana wako watatu washuhudiao [mbinguni, baba, na Neno, na roho mtakatifu, na watatu hao ni umoja kisha wapo watatu washuhudiao duniani] roho, na maji, na damu; na watatu hawa upatana kwa habari moja.
1 Yohana 5:7-8 (biblia yenye itifaki, toleo la 1997, swahili union version)
For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
New American Standard Bible
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8: And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one
King James Version
Jesus—the Divine Christ! He experienced a life-giving birth and a death-killing death. Not only birth from the womb, but baptismal birth of his ministry and sacrificial death. And all the while the Spirit is confirming the truth, the reality of God's presence at Jesus' baptism and crucifixion, bringing those occasions alive for us. A triple testimony: the Spirit, the Baptism, the Crucifixion. And the three in perfect agreement.
The Message
For there are three that testify:
the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
New International Version - UK
For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and these three are in agreement.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
There are three that give witness about Jesus. They are the Holy Spirit, the baptism of Jesus and his death. And the three of them agree.
New International Reader's Version
For three be, that give witnessing in heaven, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost [For three be, that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, or Son, and the Holy Ghost]; and these three be one.
And three be, that give witnessing in earth, the Spirit, water, and blood; and these three be one.
(Wycliffe New Testament)
So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One; and there are three witnesses on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides].
The Scriptures
Tatizo la Kutafsiri
Wataliano wana usemo usemao "Wafasiri ni waongo". Msemo huu una ukweli ndani yake na umetokana na uchunguzi makini. Kuchukua kitu fulani kilichoandikwa katika lugha fulani na kujaribu kukiingiza katika lugha nyingine huwa inaleta matatizo kwa sababu mara nyingi wafasiri hupambana na maneno katika lugha moja ambayo hayamo katika lugha nyingine. Neno jingine badala yake lazima litumike na matokeo yake ni kubadilika kwa maana.
Agano la kale mwanzo kabisa liliandikwa kwa Kiebrania, lakini lilitafsiriwa katika karne ya tatu kwenda katika lugha ya Kigiriki kwa ajili ya Wayahudi waliokuwa wanaishi nje ya Palestina (ambao walikuwa wanaongea Kigiriki - badala ya Kiebrania). Tafsiri hii iliitwa "septuagint" na ilitumika sana hata na wakristo wa mwanzo.
Agano Jipya liliandikwa katika lugha ya Kigiriki lakini maadam Yesu mwenyewe alitumia lugha ya kiaramaiki, hii ina maana kwamba maneno yake yalilazimika kutafsiriwa na hivyo kusababisha uwezekano wa makosa.
Tafsiri ya kigiriki iliyokuwa ikiitwa Septuagint iliunganishwa na maandiko ya Agano Jipya yaliyokuwa katika lugha ya kigiriki katika karne ya nne. Maandiko haya yaliyounda Biblia kamili sasa hivi yanaeleweka kama "Codexsinaiticus" na "Codex Vaticanus" na hizi ndio nakala za maandiko ya zamani kabisa zilizopo leo. Hakuna maandiko ya mwanzo kuliko haya yaliyonusurika kutupiliwa mbali.
Katika karne ya nne, Biblia ilitafsiriwa kwenda katika lugha ya Kilatini na Mt. Jerome. Na hii ilibakia kuwa lugha ya Biblia hadi karne ya kumi na sita ambapo watu wa Mageuzi kama John Wycliffe, William Tyndale na Martin Luther walipoifasiri Biblia katika lugha mbalimbali za watu - jambo ambalo lilikuwa haliruhusiwi kabisa na viongozi wa kanisa wa wakati ule na ili kufanikisha lilimgharimu Tyndale maisha yake. Walifanya hivi ili kuwazuia watu kuyasoma, kuyaelewa au kuyahisi maandiko yao Matakatifu - haya yalifanywa makusudi na viongozi wa kanisa.
Tafsiri nyingine zilifuatia ndani ya muda mfupi. Karibu na mwisho wa karne ya kumi na sita kulikuwa na tafsiri za lugha mbalimbali na tafsiri mbalimbali za lugha moja ambazo zilileta malumbano na mabishano makubwa jambo lililomfanya Mfalme James I wa Uingereza kuteua kamati ya wanazuoni hamsini na nne ili kuandaa toleo "rasmi" na litakalotambulika na mamlaka. Watu hawa (kamati) walizisoma tafsiri zote zilizokuwepo wakati ule na, mnamo mwaka 1611, walitoa toleo lililoitwa "King James Versions of the Bible" yaani toleo la Biblia la Mfalme James - ambalo lilikuwa ndio toleo rasmi miongoni mwa Wakristo kwa mamia ya miaka.
Tatizo la uharibifu na upotoshaji lililoambatana na kutafsiri liliisha mwaka 1611, kwa kupatikana toleo la King James Versions of the Bible, tatizo la marudio... "kuiboresha" au kuifanya kuwa ya "kisasa" limeikabili Biblia leo hii.