Which Bible?

[Ahwatukee]

The dribble at the bottom of the webpage:

"After reading the comparisons, there are only two summaries which can be arrived at:
1) The NIV is as corrupt as the NWT, or
2) The NWT is as accurate as the NIV"

I have had the NIV for years and it hasn't hindered me from knowing the word of God. I have lots of notations from the Hebrew and Greek definitions, as well as the interlinear in my margins. It is also helpful to be able to look at all of the major translations at a glance, which aids in understanding what scripture is saying.

 

[TonyJay]

I didnt call it evil. I just posted the link so people can see how wrong it is.. I dont think its evil. I do confess I dont use the NIV often.. even rarely.. but its not evil. But whoever translated it surely disagreed with the Lord on a few matters

Demi that whole website is a scam.
If you really want to compare the accuracy of translations compare both to the original language manuscripts.
I guarantee the KJV will show just as many weaknesses in translation as any other.

 

[DP]

I have two different bibles at this time. The NIV and a Life Application Study Bible. I like using the study bible because it has all sorts of notes and cross references listed and book overviews. I was wondering does it matter the kind of Bible you use, or is it more of a preference thing?

The 1611 KJV Bible is still the most accurate English translation to date.

A lot of the newer more modern Bible translations (like the NIV) are from a different set of manuscripts than was used for older translations like the KJV. So there exists strong disagreements between the older translations and a lot of the newer ones. Even the modern New KJV translation in an attempt to make it more readable actually omitted quite a bit of 1611 KJV Scripture.

No English Bible translation I've ever read loses the basic Message of The Gospel of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection and offer of His saving Grace through Faith on Him. It's when you start wanting the "strong meat" of God's Word where a Bible translation can matter.

 

[rdbseekingafterhim]

That's a good point dp. All that should matter is the message is delivered correctly and accurately. I think some of it could even be a semantics thing. I however, wish to dig deep into the word. I need a good understanding of it first and grow into getting the meat. When I graduate into the three course meal I'll seek out the best bible for that or maybe even get it in the original languages of Hebrew and Greek. I don't mean the runic symbols either but like Yashua and HaElohim for example. The runes I think would take way too long for me to learn.

 

[Ahwatukee]

I was not trying to spark a debate. I was just curious does it matter is all. As long as the message is correct the translation should not matter that much. Of course that's just a theory. Plus my opinion.

I started out with KJV and then moved on to the NIV. But today I read most of the major translations. If I'm on a particular verse, I will bring up all of the translations so that I can read them at the same time and compare how each one is written, the different translated words used, etc.. I will also read the interlinear. Usually the difference is just a matter of the use of different translated words to convey the same meaning.

 

[Katy-follower]

As a child I used the NIV but later found a couple of errors, so now I use the NKJV.

I wish I could remember the discrepancies. It was just the odd few words that completely changed the context of a verse. I did some research and just stopped reading it after that.

Just my thoughts.

 

[disciplemike]

I do daily reading with the ESV. It is not the perfect version, imho, but a good one. However, I still keep the King Jimmy. The Strong's concordance is keyed to the KJV. Also, most of the KVJ I have seen still have the "supplied" words in italics, which lets you know that word is not in the original manuscript. Several translation errors in the KJV, but still one of the best around for serious study. Again, however, the 17th century English is probably not the best for beginners, but I think every English believer should have a KJV in their arsenal.

 

[disciplemike]

Also, imho, for serious study, unless you are taking it back to the original language, and doing the word studies, you are missing a treasure.

 

[Tintin]

Also, imho, for serious study, unless you are taking it back to the original language, and doing the word studies, you are missing a treasure.

Strong's Concordance doesn't cut it though. As a concordance, yes - it's great. But it's definitely not a lexicon/dictionary. So don't use it for something it's not designed for. Otherwise, grave errors.

 

[disciplemike]

Strong's Concordance doesn't cut it though. As a concordance, yes - it's great. But it's definitely not a lexicon/dictionary. So don't use it for something it's not designed for. Otherwise, grave errors.

You are correct. Strong's is a concordance, not a dictionary. It is a very valuable tool to show where the word was used in other passages, giving a better understanding of the word. I have several Hebrew and Greek dictionaries in software and hard copy. One of the best free resources is "The Word" study software. Similar to esword, but better in my opinion.

 

[Ahwatukee]

Hi rdbseekingafterhim,

The following is a good example of different translations and the meaning of the context:

New International Version
"If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed." This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God's people.

New Living Translation
Anyone who is destined for prison will be taken to prison. Anyone destined to die by the sword will die by the sword. This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.

English Standard Version
If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Berean Study Bible
"If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he will go; If anyone is to die by the sword, by the sword he must be killed." Here is a call for the perseverance and faith of the saints.

Berean Literal Bible
"If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he goes; If anyone is to be killed with thesword, by the sword it is necessary for him to be killed." Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.

New American Standard Bible
If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

King James Bible
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If anyone is destined for captivity, into captivity he goes. If anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed. This demands the perseverance and faith of the saints.

International Standard Version
If anyone is to be taken captive, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed. Here is a call for endurance and faith of the saints:

NET Bible
If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Whoever leads into captivity goes into captivity and those who murder with the sword will be killed with the sword. Here is faith and the endurance of The Holy Ones.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If anyone is taken prisoner, he must go to prison. If anyone is killed with a sword, with a sword he must be killed. In this situation God's holy people need endurance and confidence.

New American Standard 1977
If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.

Jubilee Bible 2000
He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

King James 2000 Bible
He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

American King James Version
He that leads into captivity shall go into captivity: he that kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

American Standard Version
If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that shall lead into captivity, shall go into captivity: he that shall kill by the sword, must be killed by the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Darby Bible Translation
If any one [leads] into captivity, he goes into captivity. If any one shall kill with [the] sword, he must with [the] sword be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.

English Revised Version
If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Webster's Bible Translation
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Weymouth New Testament
If any one is eager to lead others into captivity, he must himself go into captivity. If any one is bent on killing with the sword, he must himself be killed by the sword. Here is an opportunity for endurance, and for the exercise of faith, on the part of God's people.

World English Bible
If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.

Young's Literal Translation
if any one a captivity doth gather, into captivity he doth go away; if any one by sword doth kill, it behoveth him by sword to be killed; here is the endurance and the faith of the saints

A couple of the translations carry the meaning of, if a anyone is to take anyone into captivity, then the same will happen to them. Other translations have a mixture of going into captivity or taking into captivity and if anyone is to kill or be killed with the sword then they will be killed with the sword. But after looking at the context, it would appear that what is being said is what most of the translations convey which is, if could paraphrase:

If a saint's fate is to be taken into captivity, then that is the fate they will suffer. If it is the fate of a saint to be killed with the sword, then that is the fate they will suffer. To go through this will require the patience and faithfulness of the saints.

In this case, the NIV as well as a number of other translations convey the true meaning of the context. I don't believe that the scripture is saying that the saints would be taking anyone into captivity nor killing anyone with a weapon and that because during the beast and his kingdom they will be keeping the testimony of Jesus and the word of God and prepared to die for that cause. So, I don't believe that it is speaking about the saints taking anyone into captivity or killing anyone with a weapon.

 

[Test_F_i_2_Luv]

I do daily reading with the ESV. It is not the perfect version, imho, but a good one. However, I still keep the King Jimmy. The Strong's concordance is keyed to the KJV. Also, most of the KVJ I have seen still have the "supplied" words in italics, which lets you know that word is not in the original manuscript. Several translation errors in the KJV, but still one of the best around for serious study. Again, however, the 17th century English is probably not the best for beginners, but I think every English believer should have a KJV in their arsenal.

I think many non-KJVOists do have the KJV on hand.

The whole KJVO-ist garbage, though, sometimes makes me wanna burn my copies of the KJV.

 

[Tintin]

I think many non-KJVOists do have the KJV on hand.

The whole KJVO-ist garbage, though, sometimes makes me wanna burn my copies of the KJV.

True. Many non-KJVOists have a KJV in their library and many even prefer the KJV. But they don't believe every other translation is the devil's spawn from Hell. As for me and my house, I don't see the point in having a translation I would never read.

 

[p_rehbein]

True. Many non-KJVOists have a KJV in their library and many even prefer the KJV. But they don't believe every other translation is the devil's spawn from Hell. As for me and my house, I don't see the point in having a translation I would never read.

Hey Tintin, been awhile since we have had a KJV only thread huh?

 

[DP]

Strong's Concordance doesn't cut it though. As a concordance, yes - it's great. But it's definitely not a lexicon/dictionary. So don't use it for something it's not designed for. Otherwise, grave errors.

It's actually a pretty good source for definitions in the Hebrew and Greek, more accurate than some other Lexicons. But I'm talking about the pre-1991 versions. The newer Strong's Concordance has been tainted.

 

[disciplemike]

It's actually a pretty good source for definitions in the Hebrew and Greek, more accurate than some other Lexicons. But I'm talking about the pre-1991 versions. The newer Strong's Concordance has been tainted.

I think what he is saying is, technically, a concordance is not suppose to be used as a dictionary. A concordance is for finding other passages where the word was used, especially the first mention of the word. You develop your understanding of the word by how it was used throughout Scripture.

 

[DP]

I think what he is saying is, technically, a concordance is not suppose to be used as a dictionary. A concordance is for finding other passages where the word was used, especially the first mention of the word. You develop your understanding of the word by how it was used throughout Scripture.

But in reality that's not necessarily the meaning of all concordances, because The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge doesn't involve word definitions, yet it's still a type of concordance that looks up related Scripture. So using the Lexicons in the back provided by the Strong's is a most valid tool also. I mostly use the BD&B for Hebrew though, and sometimes Thayers for the Greek. I have other Lexicons than those also.

 

[KohenMatt]

I use NASB and NIV. I don't think it matters which translation you use, as long as it has some degree of credibility.

But the most important thing is that the Holy Spirit takes what is written on a page (or maybe even not written) and makes you understand exactly what it is the Spirit wants you to know.

It is not a translation that teaches us. It is the Holy Spirit.

 

[Sac49]

Personally i use a few different translations when doing a deep study. My favorite is the NKJV Geneva study Bible. I also use the NIV, KJV, PHILLIPS, ESV and NLT. Reason? While not taking away from the content or meaning some word a verse just a little different so i can understand it better. Also when looking at the study notes some will go into greater depth for bettet study.

But, it comes down to preference. Which is easiest for you to read and undetstand. As long as the Word of God is correctly translated in the Bible you use then, for me, i dont feel there is a good, better, best.

As someone noted before...stay away from the New World Translation as it is incorrectly translated. Because of that they change certain words thus distorting the actual meaning and changing it theologically (study of God).

I would also not use a "paraphrase" Bible as my main Bible either.

Pray before study and you will be fine no matter which translation you use.

Psalm 25 4,5 "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long".

Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will councel you and watch over you".

Proverbs 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight".

 

[notuptome]

I've been reading the KJV so long that when I read a new translation I automatically juxtapose the old KJV English into the new version any way. Guess I'm hopeless.

The difficulty of the old English compels one to dig deeper into the text to understand it. I hardly consider that to be a problem since just reading scripture hardly does it justice. We ought to study scripture to draw out the meat of the passages.

For the cause of Christ
Roger