Versions of the Bible... Which one...?

[Bowhunter2394]

Another good Online Bible source would be -------> https://www.blueletterbible.org/ it has many different Bible translations, you can read, also access to Strong's Concordance which will give you the Hebrew and Greek definitions of the Word of God as you rightly divide the Word of Truth. May His Spirit and Wisdom direct you into Truth.. indeed!

 

[crossnote]

ESV is the (my) overall pick between a balance in accuracy and ease of reading.

 

[Angela53510]

My personal choice is also ESV. I don't agree with everything totally, but when I took Hebrew and Greek, we compared to various English translations what the original languages said, and ESV was the top translation in about 95% of the cases.

But it is a bit more stilted, because it is word for word, not dynamic. Thus it follows the words, and doesn't do the thoughts or phrases.

The Message is a paraphrase, like the NLT. That means more of less that the translator reads the original language, then thinks about it a while, then writes in English what he thinks it means to him. In addition, the Message was translated by only one man, Eugene Peterson, so you are definitely going to get a bias towards his thinking and theology.

While committees may not be perfect, at least there are a variety of opinions, and some compromise on translating the words.

But at this point, I think the OP just needs to dig into a version, and be consistent about reading. God will lead the OP to different versions as time progresses which will add him in his spiritual growth.

 

[Makahiya2028]

If you want a good Bible, conservative, word for word in translation, in more modern language (though a bit more stiff, for being more literal than many), you can't go wrong with an NASB.

Word for word translation of what ?

There are over 24 reconstructed (Christian, Catholic, Cult) N.T. Greek Texts

which do not match in content, volume or doctrine.

 

[RickyZ]

I'm going to try to start reading the Bible more. However, there are numerous Bible versions to choose from. I literally can't stand the KJV OR the NKVJ. I like an easy read, and they aren't one... At least for me; I don't want to argue on whether or not they are easy to read because this is obviously relative.

I really like the NLT. I was wondering if this is accurate? Does it fall in line with the teachings of the KJV? If not, is there any other version that is easier to read but still accurate and of God's Word?

The trick is to not read just one. I always studied with a bunch of them around me. One might err here or another be hard to read there, but if you have a number of witnesses to draw on you'll usually find the truth somewhere in the middle of them all.

 

[Makahiya2028]

The trick is to not read just one. I always studied with a bunch of them around me. One might err here or another be hard to read there, but if you have a number of witnesses to draw on you'll usually find the truth somewhere in the middle of them all.

That's ridiculous !

There are over 300 (Christian, Catholic, Cult) English bibles

which do not match in content, volume or doctrine.

 

[Makahiya2028]

ESV is the (my) overall pick between a balance in accuracy and ease of reading.

Accurate, what is the ESV accurately translated from ?

 

[passing_through]

Source: Is the King James Bible harder to read
The site has useful knowledge.

 

[Makahiya2028]

computational linguistics, that's what I'm talking about

 

[Makahiya2028]

The trick is to not read just one. I always studied with a bunch of them around me. One might err here or another be hard to read there, but if you have a number of witnesses to draw on you'll usually find the truth somewhere in the middle of them all.

KJV Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself ?

 

[posthuman]

The NLT is not a translation. It is a paraphrase.

i meet with some others to study Romans every week, and most of them prefer the NLT - one version or another of it. from studying together with them, we've discovered that there are several versions of it - often three or four people will have slightly different phrasing of the same verse, all reading from the NLT.

i gotta confess i don't like it. i just don't like any paraphrase bible - i want to read as close to what the original Greek / Hebrew literally says as i can (man, i really need to make it to seminary some day and learn to read those languages for myself ).
but we have found ourselves all in agreement about the message of the scripture, even though we are reading it from different translations. truly, it is one Spirit that lives in us and teaches us from the word, and although isolated from each other, we might be deceived by paraphrases, when we come together in His name with a right heart to understand His message to us, God's will is done. understanding comes from Him.
i love that.

 

[passing_through]

There are 5200 manuscript that agree with the text of the KJB, making up 95% that agree. There are 45 manuscripts that support the modern versions which were spawned in Alexandria.

 

[Makahiya2028]

The N.T. manuscripts of the KJV Holy Bible

predate the existing 45 Alexandrian manuscripts

and the reconstructed Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus.

 

[RickyZ]

KJV Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself ?

Once you step in off the ledge we'll discuss it.

 

[oldhermit]

i meet with some others to study Romans every week, and most of them prefer the NLT - one version or another of it. from studying together with them, we've discovered that there are several versions of it - often three or four people will have slightly different phrasing of the same verse, all reading from the NLT.

i gotta confess i don't like it. i just don't like any paraphrase bible - i want to read as close to what the original Greek / Hebrew literally says as i can (man, i really need to make it to seminary some day and learn to read those languages for myself ).
but we have found ourselves all in agreement about the message of the scripture, even though we are reading it from different translations. truly, it is one Spirit that lives in us and teaches us from the word, and although isolated from each other, we might be deceived by paraphrases, when we come together in His name with a right heart to understand His message to us, God's will is done. understanding comes from Him.
i love that.

Yes, I avoid all paraphrased versions. To me they are as unreliable as they are varied in their interpretations. Even if one has no background in the original languages one cannot go wrong by staying with such as the NASV, ASV, NKJV, ESV, REVISED, etc.... Although some minor variances exist they are very reliable translations.

 

[wincam]

there is a new one available and well worth a read viz namely 'The Evidence Bible' by Ray Comfort - wincam

 

[oldhermit]

there is a new one available and well worth a read viz namely 'The Evidence Bible' by Ray Comfort - wincam

I am assuming this is a one-man translation???

 

[GandalfTheWhite]

Yes, I avoid all paraphrased versions. To me they are as unreliable as they are varied in their interpretations. Even if one has no background in the original languages one cannot go wrong by staying with such as the NASV, ASV, NKJV, ESV, REVISED, etc.... Although some minor variances exist they are very reliable translations.

What do you think about the Amplified Bible and the KJV Oldhermit?

 

[oldhermit]

What do you think about the Amplified Bible and the KJV Oldhermit?

Personally, I have never been a fan of the Amplified Version because it takes too may liberties with the Greek. As far as the KJV I really do not use it much because the English is so very antiquated and it looses a lot of people who are generations removed from that language structure. I do like the NKJV however and usually teach from it when teaching the NT.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

Personally, I have never been a fan of the Amplified version because it takes too may liberties with the Greek.

It doesn't actually "take liberties" but provides every possible meaning of the Greek word used in any given sentence, relative to the surrounding context. There are occasions when I am not sure all of an expanded meaning is relevant to the passage, but it gives options that some people find helpful in grasping what the text is saying.

As to the OP's question, I have absolutely no problem asking him to consider The Message. Peterson's paraphrase is consistent with the biblical content, and certainly does put the emotion and feeling back into the passages.