I am contemplating buying a copy of the ESV Bible. Is it a good edition?

Question

If compared with the NIV and the NLT, is the ESV easy to read and good for study?

Answer 1

The NIV is probably the most universal of the translations, and is more widely used than any other version, and it has a tendecy to be translated more as a person speaks. The New American Standard is just as accurate, but it tends to render the scripture more litterally as it was written. That just means it can offer some confusing turns of phrase.
The Amplified Bible, is an excellent translation as well, but it tends to use every variation of what a word or phrase can mean, so it can be both useful and confusing.
My suggestion would be to buy one of the multi-translation bibles. Some of these have three to four versions side by side, and all on the same pages so you can see the various possible meanings and translations at a glance

Answer 2

Personally, I'm a fan of the NIV, but I've only ever read the KJV and NIV versions, so I can't judge the ESV or even NLT at all.

If you'd like to compare a bit, I recommend a site (listed below in sources box) that allows you to read any version (in any language!) of the Bible. You can search for specific verses, or read by book, if you'd like. Not practical for long-term use and/or noting things, but it's very helpful if you want to see how something is translated in another version.

Answer 3

You can download a Free copy of the e-Sword software from the Free Stuff page on my website @ http://web.express56.com/~bromar/ and then download the ESV Bible as well as many other versions along with commentaries a KJV concordance and many other useful study tools.

Then you can have an electronic copy on your computer to decide if you want to invest in a written copy of the ESV.

Answer 4

I have heard that the English Standard Version is a word for word translation from the original languages. I have no idea how accurate it is.

I will stick with my NIV and use the NKJV and KJV Bibles on the side. It doesnt get much easier than the NIV unless you want the NIrV which uses very simplistic english words.

Answer 5

I can of course find some faults with any version and most of the problems is of course mans ability to try to judge what is being said by our standards today.

You need to study , read some books, on the life and times of the various periods of the bible, so you understand what the last supper was, what was the relationship of the romans and jews.

But I would like to see people reading the bible regardless of the version, if they will not accept any version as law and also take time to study the parts good

Answer 6

It is good to have a reference of different Bible translations especially those closest in its rendering of the originals. Furthermore do not allow bias feelings/views to refrain from understanding the trueness of God's word.
For Education SHOWS us how to think; Propaganda TELLS you what to think.

Here are a list:

Note the following: Alan S. Duthie , 'Bible Translation And How To Choose Between Them' -pg. 67, writes:
“If you belong to a small group of serious students of the Bible who are trying to appreciate to learn the Hebrew or Greek languages, then you will appreciate the value of a ‘crib’ or ‘gloss’ translation, especially an interlinear one, or a relatively word –for– word one like the NASB, KJ2, NWT, Young, Darby, RV, Douay, Concordant”.

Other Bible to consider: Emphatic Dialotte, ASV, English-Greek Interliner-Westcott and Hort

A closer view at the New World Translation: Jason David BeDuhn, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and department chair at Northern Arizona University. He received his doctorate from the Indiana University in 1995, and won the Best First Book Award from the American Academy of Religion in 2001 for his book The Manichaean Body in Discipline and Ritual. He also wrote Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament, which generated some controversy when he found most of the NWT of the Holy scriptures to be more accurate than other respected translations. He had criticisms for every translation he reviewed.

The text of Westcott and Hort was acclaimed by critics world-wide and, although produced eighty years ago, is still the standard. Well has it been termed “epoch-making in the literal sense of the word,” and “the most important contribution to the scientific criticism of the New Testament text which has yet been made,” excelling all others “in regard to method and extraordinary accuracy.”
Of it Goodspeed, in his preface to An American Translation, states: “I have closely followed the Greek text of Westcott and Hort, now generally accepted. Every scholar knows its superiority to the late and faulty texts from which the early English translations from Tyndale to the AV were made.”

In view of the foregoing it can clearly be seen why the New World Bible Translation Committee chose to use the Westcott and Hort text rather than any Received Text of two to three centuries before.

Answer 7

I think you should forget easy. Get the most accurate, time honored. The King James Bible. And a Strongs' Exhaustive Concordance. You get better at something you do a lot more of. Including language.

Answer 8

they'll maximum in all hazard supply Catholic Bibles to those that have not got already got one. in case you do purchase one, for RCIA, you ought to probable circulate with the NAB (New American Bible) for the reason it fairly is the version the Catholic Church in united states of america makes use of (consistently assuming you're from united states of america). different good translations are the DOuay-Rheims; the English Translation of the Latine Vulgate (utilized by ability of the Vatican in Rome), nonetheless they may be rather pricy. My individually prefer the Revised common version, Catholic version. this is the English translation of the Greek Septuagint.

Answer 9

Why not, since Horte and westcott published their atrocity they are all just paraphrases with much left out (namely the Deity of Jesus!)