> So what it means to have an exact or original copy of a biblical text, I'm not exactly sure; I'm inclined to think that, for religious folks (which I'm not), it's the divine guidance they find as they read that's more important than the exact phrasing or meaning of particular words. Personally, literary, critical and textual approaches to the bible are some of my favorite subjects, but I don't think they necessarily have much bearing on the religious significance of a particular text.


Depends on the religious folks you're talking about. There are plenty of people out there who will tell you in no uncertain terms that the word-for-word language in their English-language Bible is exactly what God intended, in no uncertain terms. Witness, for example, the right-wing Christians who latch onto the word "abomination" in Leviticus in regard to homosexuality, and use that as their justification for anti-gay attacks, never mind that that isn't a proper translation/ interpretation of the line.

This is why it's important for people to understand, whether or not they choose to use the Bible for religious guidance, that the Bible *is* a work that has come to us through many editors and translations over much time.

-- Trip