How many versions of Bible are available?

Question

I want to study about christianity and I don't know which version of Bible is the true Bible.

Answer 1

too many

theres no such thing as a true bible!

Answer 2

There are at least nine that I know of. I own eight and I don't have a Gideon Bible...and those are just the English Language/print versions.

As I mentioned in another post, The Bible was written by men in a time of men, influenced by the culture of the time and place. It has been translated and rewritten so many times, there is no real way of knowing which is the "best" version.

If you are just beginning to study the Bible, I would recommend steering away from the King James version, as it uses much more poetic wording. I find the New Jerusalem Bible to be a bit clearer.

However, if you are wanting to get the gist of what is being said and taught in the Bible, what I would really suggest is getting hold of a copy of the book entitled, "The Book of God: the Bible as a Novel" written by Walter Wangerin. I am reading this one right now, and it gives a very fascinating view of what it must have been like to actually live the events of the Bible as they were happening.

Answer 3

Wow. There are lots! But don't be fooled by those who tell you that the King James Version is the only true one! You'll never understand it (frankly, most of them have a hard time understanding it too!) Many modern Translations use all the latest technology and all of the Biblical manuscripts that are available. Those who say "This translation is the absolute best" are either misinformed or just really happy with what they read. For the most "accurate" word-for-word translation, try New American Standard Version, or a free version of the New English Translation (www.bible.org). For the easiest to read, try the New Living Translation or the New International Version.
Start in the Gospel of John in the New Testament... and perhaps you'd like a "study Bible" which uses footnotes to explain some of the more difficult passages. Hope that helps! ((and Please, Don't be scared into the King James Version! Most of those people who swear that it is the best cannot specifically tell you why it is!))

Answer 4

Hon, get the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. It is easier to read, in today's kind of language. All bible essentially say the same thing.. You will find out why in Revelations..

I suggest you start with the New testament. It is in the middle of the book. I know.

Well contrary to popular belief. The BIBLE is NOT a novel.

AFTER you have read the New testament, then go back and read the old testament. That mostly concerns Laws and genealogy and such. Directed toward the Jewish life.. It (bible) is :

B- Basic
I- Instructions
B- Before
L- leaving
E- Earth

If you REALLY want to know God`s plan for us. Read the first two chapters of Genesis and the last two chapters of Revelations.. Then go on in and read it thru..

Now please understand that parts of the bible are made of many parables or stories. They are stories to demonstrate what Jesus is trying to get us to understand...

God bless & hugs from Texas..{:-)
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Answer 5

The King James version is the best in my opinion. However there are easier to read versions. Be aware though some of them are starting to cut out parts of the bible to suit their agendas. The bible does warn about this, people taking from or adding to the word.

Answer 6

There are many versions of the Bible available in many languages & texts.
The 3 main versions used in Canada & U.S.A are:
King James Version(1611) most commenly used one in most churches.
Good News Bible(1971.) A.K.A. Today's English Version.
New Revised Standard Version.(1987.)Most commenly used as a more up to date for language content meaning of other versions.

Answer 7

Check out the book Misquoting Jesus.
Written by Bart D. Ehrman

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060738170/104-2868149-0663109?v=glance&n=283155

He makes a careful study of the problems with the modern versions of the Bible. Ehrman gets to the point of how the New Testament came to be what it is today. No, it didn't just appear leather-bound, shiny, and new after Jesus' resurrection; rather, it was painstakingly cobbled together decades after Jesus' crucifixion from copies of copies of copies of (you get the point) the original writings of the New Testament authors, which were slowly altered over time by scribes that handed them down (sometimes by accident or othertimes intentionally by those meaning to "correct" things in the scriptures that didn't make sense). All in all, Ehrman makes his case well, that even if the New Testament scriptures started out as the inspired word of God, we humans have certainly gotten our filthy little hands on it and have made it quite difficult to discern what the "original" writers (whose texts have been lost) actually wrote. Thus, we can only try to piece it together through the challenging art of textual criticism, which is what this book is largely about.

Since books were hand scribed during the medieval times, version after version had slight but significant changes.
Part of the problem was during the transcriptions by monks, passages and stories were elaborated from copy to copy. Stories about Jesus appeared that didn't show up in older manuscripts. The role of Judas became more sinister and darker in later versions.

Which brings a powerful question...did monks faithfully transcribe the texts or did it change from writer to writer as thousands of years passed by?

Answer 8

You might want to try the NET (New English Translation) Bible. It's available as a free download. It's a relatively new version that was compiled by a group of scholars who went back to the original texts and started fresh, with new translations and lots and lots of notes to help explain and put things in context.

Answer 9

There are DOZENS. In many book stores you ay be able to find a composite Bible, that is, one which contains three or four differnt translations. I'm personally rahter fond of the King James Version, as the language borders on poetry. Revised Standard is easier to read. To do it right, learn ancient Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin.

Answer 10

It depends on your religion. I'm Catholic and feel the Catholic Bible is the true one. The Living Bible is the easiest to read.

Protestants feel the King James Version is the true Bible.

Those are the only ones I know of.

Answer 11

There needs to be translations in every earthly Language. As for the english..... waaaaaay toooooo many.... most are at best junk.. a few are abominations

for more of my pov on the Bible you may read at:

http://pages.zdnet.com/mikevanauken/mikesinternetoutreach/id4.html

All honest seekers welcome... sinners most welcome

edit note: avoid the New world translation and the JWs like the plague... that is something you do not want to catch if you want to find the way to God and Heaven.