Which Bible to purchase?

Ok, so, allow me to clarify, I am used to the NIV and during my Mormon stint (am no longer such) I have a huge copy of the KJV like... the size of half my chest (because bad eyes I asked for a large print copy. I'd rather have something smaller now because glasses are good.)

I do not have my old NIV version.

What I am looking for is a copy that is not missing or having added verses (i've heard this was a thing regarding the Alexandrian copies and ones that came after due to disagreements in doctrine) but also ideally one that translates the idioms into something I can understand (for example we know in Greek there's more than one word for love, like eros or agape, versus English which has to add a qualifier like "romantic" or "brotherly" or "familial").

So. I'm looking for accuracy of thought because word for word isn't always effective except for comparison, to study the concepts.
But also one that is true to the canon of the original scriptures.

I had also been told modern version have had things removed simply because they weren't in the original manuscripts (or other manuscripts that also contained them).

So in regards to the add/remove bit, I'm looking for an untampered version, and the translations that came after that stayed true. But also were translated by context so I can understand the concepts they are referring too.

Any scholars interested in helping me sort this out?
To clarify: please no debating or fighting in this thread. Simple present your recommendation, why and how it meets the above criteria please, I do not wish to start a translation war.

Thank you in advance everyone! I've heard that the Masoretic Texts of the Old Testament are good, and that the Sept version of the New Testament was good, I simply don't know what Bible versions contain what I'm looking for in quality control.

Hello and Welcome to CC!
Unfortunately, what you are asking about is the subject of intense debate.

There is another active thread on the subject called "Favourite Bible Translations" linked here where much of the information you seek has been presented. I would suggest you read through it... but put your body armour on first, because it does get intense.

You say you're looking for an "untampered" version; I'm sorry to inform you that there is no such thing. Unless you know with certainty which words and verses were in the original manuscripts by the original authors (which we don't have), you won't know with certainty which words and verses should be in the English translation. Scholars have put enormous effort into studying the extant manuscripts (nearly 6,000 in Greek for the NT alone) to determine, to the best of their ability, which is the original wording, and still have questions. If you embrace the simplistic arguments, fear-mongering, and fallacious reasoning that is commonly presented, can you somehow be more certain than they?

So, my suggestion is this: either do the homework to understand the issues (ensuring that you don't just consider material from a single, narrow perspective), or accept that every major translation presents the word of God, and the minor differences won't affect your Christian life in the least.

As an aside, as an ex-Mormon, you may be interested in the work of Dr. James White. He has written on many apologetics topics including Mormonism, and has produced an excellent, fair-minded study on Bible translation issues: The King James Only Controversy. Look for the second edition.

maybe just read the kjv along with the amplified version.
Or try a linear version (one with english and orginal tongue next to it) which is bilingual if you are interested in the words.

There is the living bible, could try that.

Go to a Bible bookshop and ask the staff. They ought to be able to tell you. Most Bibles, in their introductions or prefaces, will say how they are translated.

KJV does translated love into different words eg sometimes they will use charity, or good, compassion, or even 'bowels of mercies' lol

A good Bible dictionary will help.
In general I read most things, even if they are not the Bible, with the help of a dictionary if I dont know a particular word, but usually you can pick up the meaning in the context.

Collins english dictionaries are pretty good. With a good dictionary, you can read more difficult books and dont have to settle for dumbed down versions.

I would highly recommend the Christian Standard Bible.
The New English Translation is good if you want a lot of detailed language notes.

If you are unsure take a couple of months & use online Bibles first.
You can compare them against one another & compare them with the KJV.
That way you can investigate for a couple of months before settling on something. You can also read version information.

You cannot have it both ways. The duty of a faithful translator is to translate, NOT interpret. Therefore a word-for-word translation of the Bible is not only necessary, but imperative. Since you have already been using the King James Bible, you could obtain a King James 2000 Bible, which would give you the same Bible but without any archaisms.

As to being true to the original canon, you should take some time to study how and why all modern English bibles were corrupted since 1881. There are some here who refuse to fact the facts. But if you wish to know the truth, then you should be willing to face the facts.

As to the NIV, the NIV is merely a paraphrase, not a translation (with many inaccuracies). Plus it is the worst possible Bible around. The only reason it exists is because of the slick sales job with which it was sold to the unsuspecting Christian public. Once again, you will need to do your own research to see why this is so.

I see. So perhaps go with a literal translation first, and then a study guide for the concepts and words to help me make the connection and understand what they are referring to? Then use the study guide as a springboard to better understand the idioms and such?

By archaisms, I am assuming you mean things like "thee, thou" and such?

Thank you to everyone for their feedback and reply, I did look at that link as well last night.

Maybe I will get a KJV that is not from the Mormon church (as many of the chapters have some sort of paraphrase with their views on it at the start of each chapter like an "outline" or "subject"). I suppose I was concerned that perhaps there was tampering in the actual verses to boot.

I like the suggestion of going with online Bibles first, I suppose I was hoping to find something portable to carry around if I wanted to go out on a Sunday, grab coffee and do a Bible study like I used to do.

Thanks everyone, you are amazing, God Bless!

Get a bible you find easy to read, NIV is good if you have used that before, NASB is good. KJV is dated language wise. I've used it for years so don't have a problem with the language.

Don't take any notice of those claiming modern versions as being corrupted, this is a red herring bandied about by the KJV only crowd and has no merit in reality.

So you are aware, The NIV is not a paraphrase. The NIV is a dynamic equivalence translation. A very good one.
Beware the King James ONLY cult.

They are a divisive movement full of lies, half truths & misrepresentations.
They tell blatant lies about Bible translations, the science of translation itself, manuscripts, bible scholars & translators.
Test the word yourself by the Holy Spirit that is in you. Not by a destructive cult movement.

Please go to this link for how you can purchase the King James 2000 Bible (hard copy): https://www.kingjames2000.com/places-kj2000-is-available/

Both statements are FALSE. You do not have to be in any cult to reject all the corrupt modern bible translations. You simply have to be HONEST.

And trying to uphold the NIV is plain dishonest. Here's why.
12 Unspoken Reasons Why You Should Never Use the New International Version (NIV) Bible

https://becomingchristians.com/2018...-use-the-new-international-version-niv-bible/

There is very little honesty in this position.

The Bibles you rage against aren't corrupt. And they are not going away.
I've followed your links to anti-biblical hate sites before. I'm not wasting anymore of my time reading this rubbish.
Your hate campaign is irrational and counter-productive to the body of Christ.

It is indeed a cult and you are bearing false witness.

The most awesome bible I ever bought is the Ryrie study bible - KJV.

Best money I ever spent.

And yet you seem pretty hateful of those of us who prefer the KJV above all the others.

Evidenced by calling us a "cult".

Agree, but KJV is still the standard against which others are judged. The Holy Spirit has led me to good understanding through many years with it. I think the old English to be rich, elegant, and inspiring as well as inspired. I see no reason to not bring other versions up alongside it, but just be aware of their purpose. Many never even intended to completely replace the 1611 KJV.

That would be my first move if I were in your position. I will soon get an NASB to compliment, compare, and contrast with "Ye Old Faithful".

Amen President Pevensie!!!

With respect, Lucy-P is showing no rancor towards "people who prefer the KJV above all the others" but rather towards people who perpetuate the misguided KJV-only propaganda. Conflate the two, and you're misunderstanding the issues.

My recommendation is to just read NET instead for a neutral modern translation or WEB if you want something closer to the literal Bible manuscripts.

I like to read KJV every once in a while too, but NET and WEB are definitely my goto Bible modern translations.

mormon is a cult, dont they they add extra books, like pearl of great price, and extra doctrines. and the book of mormon?

If you go for KJV get one without commentary because its more the ones that have commentary that skew peoples readings and interpretation. You just need a scripture only one.



even scofield bible would be suss.
beware the footnotes, indexing and chapter titles and summaries that would skew it to a certain doctrine. Its not part of scripture itself. This goes for all Bible versions.

They did, but those books were not included in their Bible. They were actually separate TOMES (not to be confused with Biblical books). I believe the Pearl of Great Price started as a newsletter or something, and the Doctrines and Covenants are again in their own tomes.

There were also some Joseph Smith translations of other books in the actual Bible. I can't remember if they were kept in a separate tome or not. Frankly, for organizational reasons I like to keep things separate, which is why I was worried that they had integrated some of the interpretations into the actual Bible verses, as opposed to just having a short outline paragraph before the chapter summarizing what they believe it to be about and how they believe it ties to their Doctrine.

Again, I'd like to thank everyone for their input and time on this question. I may start with a KJV or KJV 2000 copy as the primary, since I already have one anyway (and the preference is a hand sized book) and then may begin reading the NIV as well.

I have a goal this year to actually sit down and read ALL of the Bible from start to finish (the furthest I got was either Leviticus or Numbers and just sort of got bogged and eaten there).

I did manage to read the entire book of Mormon in four days, so I know I am capable of having the attention span now to sit and read.
I know in the past I've read Acts and the four gospels that were witnesses to the life of Jesus. I've had various study sessions of other books too, and done quizzing but that was like. 25+ years ago.

Hence why I'm going with a portable physical copy. Find a nice quiet coffee shop free of distractions.

At least until the scones arrive.

Sorry to seem so OCD about details. When it comes to literature or data I tend to be picky about wanting the original work, because in my mind that is what I am seeking.

(Would love to learn Hebrew and Greek and try to read the untranslated works).

Maybe one day. Assuming we don't have a Rapture or Second Coming in the next 1 to 10 years.

I guess then I wouldn't need to worry, I could just as Christ for His approved copy haha.

Consider -- please read this post:

https://christianchat.com/threads/kvj.53372/post-844326