Which Bible?

[David of Derby]

Hey everyone. I'm going to be buying a Bible pretty soon, unless someone in my family bought me one for Christmas, but that doesn't seem terribly likely. So I need to decide what version to get. I'd like the most accurate translation possible - unfortunately I don't read Ancient Greek or Hebrew so I need it in English - but I'd like to avoid modern language and simplifications if I can.

I tend to lean towards the King James Version but I understand there are some questionable translations in there. The famous phrase about not suffering a witch to live springs to mind. Can anyone offer me any insight or opinions on which way to go? I don't have any trouble understanding the thees and thous and so forth so no need to avoid that stuff.

Thanks everyone.

[OneLight]

I have a New King James Version, but I also use a concordance, a Greek and Hebrew dictionary that coincides with my concordance. Some swear by the KJV, but I do not. You may be better off understanding what you read then to be confused by words you never heard of.

OneLight

[Trusting Jesus]

I also use the New King James. I really like the King James (I usually use it when quoting the Bible) but there are some words that have changed their meaning over the years. I don't like NIV or the Living Bible or the Message. But it is important to understand the original meaning and intent of the words and I agree that a concordance is important. I like http://www.blueletterbible.org (it has a concordance that you can look at online). I also like http://net.bible.org.

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Nathele

[Fraught]

the new living translation (or nlt) is being touted as the most accurate translation yet. and in my opinion, it's very easy to read and understand. when i'm looking for cross-references thru-out, i like the nasb (new american standard bible)

try them both online at biblegateway. com

[OneLight]

You may also try Strong's Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon online.

OneLight

[Hunterpoet]

Hello David,

I like the KJV, but I have found other translations to be helpful along with the commentaries offered on the Power Bible cd.

I do not like the NIV.

The other day steve(in chat) suggested the Analytical Literal Translation (new testement only) becasue it has very good greek translations.

I can tell you from the short amount of time I have been studying that the greek and hebrew definitions are paramount regardless of what bible you use.

Your brother in Christ

[MrsSealedEternal]

My favorite bible study resource is e-sword. You can look into and compare various translations like the ALT, ASV, ESV, KJV, NASB, etc., along with the Hebrew and Greek with concordance references, and look at certain commentaries. Any resource that enables you to do that makes for a wonderful bible study resource. We have multiple translations of the bible in our home also, but the one I tend to use the most is the NASB Ryrie Study Bible. The NIV is especially controversial because of the use of paraphrases. I don't use it often, but we have the bible on cd's that are from an NIV translation. We bought that before we knew much of anything about the translation controversies.

[svnthdysthsbbth]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textus_Receptus

*Edit Google video*

[HeatherEljohari]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textus_Receptus

Thats what my pastor speaks of textus receptus and the authenticity of the KJV.

God bless-

Heatheroxoxox

[AndrewA]

Best way is to read different versions extensively and get the one you are most comfortable reading. King James is a slog to read for many people and reading the bible should not be a struggle. There is an updated new king James avaialble which you may find a little more easier to read. despite what some people will tell you it is perfectly fine to own a bible other than King James.

There is nothing wrong with the NIV for example. The so called missing verses in my NIV are not missing at all but are recorded as footnote with explanation that not all manuscripts had this verse in it. King James isnt that a perfect translation, no bible can give a perfect translation from the original Greek and Hebrew, which is why it is a good idea to have at least a couple of Bibles , preferably study Bibles as you can gain a wealth of info in the foot notes on most verses.

If you really want to get into perfect meanings then you need Strongs, this gives a reference number to each English word, you look this number up to see the original word it was translated from and gives a proper dictionary description of what that word can mean.

Peronally I have a Revised Standard Version, King James Study and a NIV Study Bible. I also use Esword which is alot easier when using Strong Numbers as you can simply click a link rather than spending ages thumbing pages.