Who determined which books were God's words? Why is it that some translations are much different than others? Why is it that some versions have more or fewer books than others? Is it possible for any one man to say that anyone translation or version is the only "right one"? Can you, or anyone say, that God would not find that funny? How is it that a MAN claims to know what God would find offensive? Is there only one "true" religion and if one is not a member of that "one" does he go to hell automatically?
I was taught different than you. I have my beliefs, you have yours. That's life.
Wow.....those are some heavy duty questions and comments that you've made. I am a maturing Christian and by no means an expert but here are some of my thoughts to your questions for what its worth.
Who determined which books were God's words?
First an illustration: Take a pen and write your name on a piece of paper. Ask yourself the question, who wrote your name, you or the pen?
Answer:
The pen does not have power to write on its own.
I am the force or spirit behind the pen.
In the same way God is the force behind the prophets who wrote the Bible.
That being said, the Bible was written under “Inspiration” from the Holy Spirit. The word inspire is dervived from the latin word “inspirare” meaning “To breathe upon or into something”. God revealed Himself through individuals to speak to a much larger audience. In the same way some one would pick up a pen. The pen would becomes the tool in the hand of the writer, the prophet is God’s pen in revelation.
How were books in the Bible affirmed to be God’s word?
From the time of the exodus out of Egypt, God told Israel that he was going to communicate with them through prophets. People who would speak for God and represent Him to the people.
This was in response to the request from Israel who was afraid when God spoke to them directly from Mt. Sinai, the people pleaded for Moses to speak for God to them rather then God speak to them direct so they don’t die. God was pleased with their request. (Exodus 20:18-21)
Why is it that some translations are much different than others?
Although the exact choice of words or sentence structure is different in each translation, the meaning is identical. The view that each translation of the Bible conveys a different message is also incorrect. There is only one Bible message that has been translated into hundreds of different languages. The message is always the same.
Why is it that some versions have more or fewer books than others?
These extra books appear in the Old Testament of the Catholic Bible and are called the “Apocrypha.” They were not generally accepted as part of the Bible’s “canon” (list of included books) until the Council of Trent (a Catholic council held between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563). At that time, the council pronounced the Vulgate translated by St. Jerome to be the “official” Catholic Bible. (Jerome’s Vulgate was a Latin version of the Bible that included these extra books.) Since the Council of Trent, all Catholic editions of the Bible have included the Apocrypha.
However, we know from the writings of Josephus (A.D. 37-c.100) that no book was added to the Hebrew scriptures after the time of Artaxerxes who reigned after Xerxes.[1] Therefore, we know the Old Testament was completed by 424 B.C.[2] and has not changed since that time. The Apocrypha were written centuries later. For that reason and others, most Protestants did not accept adding the Apocrypha to the Bible canon during the Council of Trent. They did not necessarily believe that these extra books were “bad,” they just knew that they did not belong in the Bible. The Old Testament of most Bibles printed today follow the original Hebrew canon, matching the Jewish Tanakh (the scriptures used by the Jewish religion).
Is it possible for any one man to say that anyone translation or version is the only "right one"?
God's pure, inerrant, infallible word IS ON THIS EARTH and He wants YOU to have it (Psalm 119:130)! You should question those things and listen when God speaks to your heart.
Is there only one "true" religion and if one is not a member of that "one" does he go to hell automatically?
Yes and Yes.
John 14:6 (NIV)6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Matthew 11:27 (NIV) 27"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
If you say you are a Christian I am surprised with the questions you have asked.