Versions of versions of the bible

[ted]

I like the 'ol "scraight up" KJV with a cup of coffee for keeping the brain alert.

Although I'm liking this ESV more and more as a cross-reference.

At the moment I'm knee-deep in Matthew Henry's Commentary, too.

t.

[other one]

You might give thought to a computer program instead of a book.

PCstudy Bible by BibleSoft is something to check on if you do your studying at home or on a laptop.

Mine has:

KJV-NKJV-NASB-Transliterated hebrew and greek testaments-ASV-New Living Translation - nasb updated - NIV - Wuest Expanded New Testament

Concordance that works with all the different translations

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Nelson's Bible Dictionary

New Unger's Bible Dictionary

Wuest's Word Studies

Nave's Topical Bible

Spurgeon's Encyclopedia of Sermons

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Barnes' Notes

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary

Matthew enry's Commentary

wuest's Word Studies

Greek - Hebrew interlinear Bible with both Nestle and Textus Recptus manuscripts that can reference either or both.

Strong's by number

Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon

Vines Expository Dictionary of Old Testament

Thyers Greek Lexicom

Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Strons's Greed/Hebrew Definitions

Englishmen's Concordance

Vines Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words

Vine's Expositor Dictionary of New Testament Words

Thayer's greek Lexicon

Charles Spurgon "Morning Evening" bible readings

Maps of Holy Land through different time periods

Pictures of the Holy Land

among others....

[Guest sonofpaul6]

My wife and I are looking at bibles today. I would like advice on a study guide bible. Which do you prefer and why? Mymom suggests the Open bible, my inlaws suggest life application, I've had thompson chain reference for years. I'm looking also at blackaby and scofield.

help!

tim.

I always use the one I started with KJV nelson, sometimes I use the study bible sometimes no study helps i always make my own notes I have noticed when i read prayerfully God directs me and when I run into controversy the HolySpirit has always revealed the truth through the scriptures

[The Servant]

I switched about a year ago from 20 yrs of reading the NIV which is a dynamic equivalent translation to the ESV ( English Standard Version) an essentially literal translation. I have not looked back. I think the esv is the most readable word for word literal translation on the market today. Some argue that the NASB is perhaps a bit more literal but it does not read well in my opinion.

[LadyRaven]

I like the 'ol "scaight up" KJV with a cup of coffee for keeping the brain alert.

Although I'm liking this ESV more and more as a cross-reference.

At the moment I'm knee-deep in Matthew Henry's Commentary, too.

t.

Most of the time other people's notes I find distracting, this is why I like the Inductive Study Bible, there are almost no notes, only the maps and stuff. The sides are very wide, good for writing your own.

When I want other people's notes I use the Reformation Study Bible, and I do take that one with me for Sunday School since the notes are helpful in that context. But when I'm trying to study "objectively" having the notes and chain references and whatnot is distracting.

If you want a study bible which matches your theological perspective, then ask at your christian book store which bible would be right for you. I remember when I went in search of a bible for my son, all I wanted was one of those non annotated bibles, just a bible,nothing else. I had the worst time trying to find one. But the Christian bookstore had a chart by the Study Bibles telling you if you were so and so theologically this study Bible would be appropriate. It even got into which translations were most compatible with which denomination. I was suprised.

But if you want notes and such, that would be a good way to find out that the notes in your Bible won't suprise you.

I still think that you should most of the time do it yourself and if so, either a plain 10$ bible and notebook or an inductive study bible is the best idea.

[ted]

I wouldn't trust 99% of the current "Christian" bookstores out there to give me accurate directions to the local Dairy Queen, never mind any kind of theological direction.

But that's just me.

I'm not much for commentaries. The only ones I have read so far are Halley's and I'm in the middle of Henry's now.

I like the standard KJV's without the fluff, but I do own a Scofield Bible for some notes.

I don't think there's going to be one commentator that has all things right, but it's cool to see what others have published to get different perspectives.

That said, I won't be rushing out to buy any "Benny Hinn Walks Through the Bible" series books anytime soon, though.

t.

[sierra21]

1. Get a KJV... not NKJV or any other version.

2. Stay with the Thompson chain reference bible. You are not lacking at all without study notes.

Let the Holy Spirit teach, not the notes in the bibles. Every time you read, your eyes will search for the authors interpretation of the verse, which may or may not be true. Every bible I have used has some error, sometimes a lot. They will have some parts right, but other verses can be way off if there has not been enough study in that area before it was written.

Jimmy Swaggart will be biased to Assembly of God type theology.

McArthur is definately biased

Matthew Henry... no

Scofield is of the dispensational thought and will not give as much study notes as you are probably searching for

One person suggested Spirit filled life bible, the Full Life Study bible is of the same thought, but more accurate in notes.

I have a friend that likes Max Lucado's bible, but I find him to be more for newbie Christians .... rather shallow.

When you collect all the verses on a particular doctrine, subject, idea.... and have reviewed the surrounding area on each, God himself has said what he means. The KJV has a scaffolding effect within the wording as God intended. God did not leave us needing to interpret these things ourselves. However, for most people who are not able to understand language, words, study, you would need to get some outside works concerning the people and culture to whom the various books were originally written.

Most study bibles are also written by gentile Christians and so just because of that, there will be extremely important interpretations, understandings, views, that will be lacking and therefore misinterpreted.

and also.... if you get a Jewish bible, they don't totally comprehend grace and what all Jesus means.

If you have questions, pick your pastor's brain.

"I have a friend that likes Max Lucado's bible, but I find him to be more for newbie Christians .... rather shallow."

Just a suggestion- the sentence you used here implies that "new Christians" are shallow. Might want to rephrase that as it could hurt some peoples feelings. And I think the last thing we want to do is offend a new Christian- they are our babies (SUPER PRECIOUS!).

[Anne]

I like the 'ol "scraight up" KJV with a cup of coffee for keeping the brain alert.

Although I'm liking this ESV more and more as a cross-reference.

At the moment I'm knee-deep in Matthew Henry's Commentary, too.

t.

Henry and Scott's commentary on the Holy Bible, is excellent, I've also got Matthew Henry's individual study commentary's too!

[LadyRaven]

"I have a friend that likes Max Lucado's bible, but I find him to be more for newbie Christians .... rather shallow."

Just a suggestion- the sentence you used here implies that "new Christians" are shallow. Might want to rephrase that as it could hurt some peoples feelings. And I think the last thing we want to do is offend a new Christian- they are our babies (SUPER PRECIOUS!).

[Guest tpintsch]

Lawyer,

I was laughing when I read your post. My bible for the past 18 years has been a Thompson Chain Reference KJV. I know it very well. My wife and I went down to the bible book stores yesterday...

The New King James was picked because that is what they are using in church. For our purposes and reinforcement of the messages on Sundays. Our pastor uses the New King James, and so we wanted to be inline with that.

My wife and I come from two very different Protestant Christian flavors. That being said, I have found that I like Scofield and my wife has found that she likes the Life Application bible. I like the seeming neutrality and yet excellent inline references of the Scofield. Tanya likes the Life Application because it is inline with the bible she grew up with.

We found that neither bookstore we visited had the bibles we exactly wanted, so we wound up ordering online.

I hav found many people to have thier own flavors and own takes on what works best for them. Everyones different, even my wife and I. Thanks for the input guys.

tim.