What version of the bible should I read?

Question

I read a children's version bible when I was a child but now I would like to read an adult version. Is there a big difference between the versions?

I am an Atheist and would like to understand my adversaries better.

KJV = king james version
NIV = What?

thanks you

Answer 1

That's a big question.

There are two basic type of Bibles, direct/literal and paraphrase.

Literal bibles are "word for word" translations and are best for serious study: King James (KJV), New American Standard (NAS), Revised Standard (RS),

Paraphrase bibles are great for casual reading and for teaching children and other folks who are not familiar with the Word. These are closer to today's language: New Living (NLT), New International (NIV), Contemporary English (CEV)

I recommend, if you are attending a church, ask your pastor and elders what they use for teaching. Go to the library and read the same passage in several different versions, do the same at your local Christian Bookstore.

Before investing big american dollars for a new bible ($35-$80), go to your local half price or used bookstore and buy several different New Testaments for about a buck or two apiece. Take them home and use them alternately for a few weeks.

I study from a New American standard and King James and teach children from the New Living translation.

Check out:
http://www.geocities.com/bible_translation/compare.htm
http://www.ocbooks.co.nz/biblehowto/bible.htm

from http://www.ocbooks.co.nz/biblehowto/bible.htm
Here's a list that shows which versions in current use tend towards the direct translation approach and which toward paraphrasing.

Direct/Literal
New International (NIV)
New Revised Standard (NRSV)
New American Standard (NASB)
King James (KJV)
New King James (NKJV)

Paraphrases/
Living Bible (TLB)
Good News Revised (GNB)
Contemporary English Version(CEV)
The Message

Because of their translating approach, the following are somewhere between translations and paraphrases:
New Jerusalem Bible
The Amplified Bible
The Revised English Bible
The New Century Bible
God's Word

Answer 2

I still have a problem understanding KJV. Nobody speaks Old English anymore. The NIV is the next best thing. I read out of The New Living Translation. I also read the Message Bible. It is written more like a book. It also explains a little more that just plain scripture. However I don't think the Message Bible has verses numbered. It is a good book to read though.

It is a good thing to know you adversaries better. I wish everyone had your initiative to learn more about other faiths. I hate it when people talk about something they really don't know anything about. You can't go on hear say. Do your homework. :-)

Answer 3

If you click on the Bible icon at the bottom of the page @ http://web.express56.com/~bromar/ you will go to a site that has many versions of the Bible you can read on line.

If you go to the Free Stuff page on that link you can download the free e-Sword software along with different versions of the Bible and commentaries and other useful study tools. It comes with the KJV with Strong's number so that when you run your mouse pointer over the number you get the definition of the original Greek or Hebrew word.

If as an Atheist you really want to be able to make a good argument with believers then I would recommend the e-Sword software because versions of the Bible like the NIV are idea for idea translations instead of word for word translations like the KJV. Theologians will only use a word for word translation because they want to see what the original authors put down, not what some translator thought they meant by what they wrote.

Answer 4

IFBaptist_KJ...? I just read your post about a supposed email you received from a friend about another person, and I can certainly understand you wanting to make it a twice-removed story. I have NEVER heard a hokier story of abuse in my life, and being a School Psychologist I have seen just about every degradation people can subject others too. And, I can't remember the exact words of the passage you quoted over and over, about being visited of flesh vs. showing up in a body, but for Pete's sake, they mean exactly the same thing.

To answer the original question, I don't think it makes a bit of difference which version of the bible you read. The KJV which is incomprehensible or the child's version you read before which probably made some sense. They were all written by man for man, and I'm not trying to bash anyones beliefs here at all. I look at all the recorded versions of religions as a kind of comforter and I'm not sure they have a lot to do with spirituality.

Answer 5

King James. It's the most common, anyway. The King James version came out because King James was fed up with only the religious leaders being able to translate the latin bibles, and translating it however he saw fit. So, King James got a bunch of people together, and had a group of people take a latin bible, and translate it into English. Some of the words are in itallics because they didn't all quite agree on the correct translation. I'd push for not reading any other version, because most are based off of the King James version, and a lot gets lost in the translation.

Answer 6

Read the King James version, but keep a history guide handy, as you will need it to understand what was going on in the world at the times these books were written. A 'Dake' bible is considered to be a very good Christian resource for the Bible, but again I caution you to also research the history of the times and fully understand what you are reading.
The Bible was written for Christians many centuries ago and is not so very relevant now. for instance, the Book of Revelation, which all Christians fear, so they become Christians in order not to have to suffer through those trials and tribulations. Well, if you read the Gospels, those things have already happened. Jesus says so, therefor it must be true. And the disciple Paul based his whole life on the fact that these things would happen during HIS lifetime, because that is what Jesus told him.

Answer 7

There are now more than 60 versions of the Bible(Different versions not translations The different versions of the Bible are not merely different translations, but are actually versions i.e. they add and remove things from other versions)



These revisions serve as concrete proofs that all the Biblical books are not at all divinely inspired. This is because it is beyond man's ability to correct the work of his Creator, who alone is Almighty and perfect

The Bible is a collection of writings by many different authors. The Qur'an is a dictation. The speaker in the Qur'an - in the first person - is God talking directly to man. In the Bible you have many men writing about God and you have in some places the word of God speaking to men and still in other places you have some men simply writing about history. Please read http://www.islamdoor.com/ and ask the Creator for guidance

Answer 8

I like the King James Version, but then I enjoy Shakespearean language. The New International Version is more easily read. "The Message" is probably the easiest, most fun, to read, but theologically the least accurate. It depends a lot on what you are reading it for. Study, support, searching... I suggest comparing a few versions, praying about it, and then picking one. Check out www.biblegateway.com to compare various passages between various editions. I like to read several versions when I'm really trying to find an answer.

Answer 9

Interpretation is everything. There are different types of bibles for different reasons (ie. teaching Bible, The Way, King James Bible, etc.). Ask yourself what you need the bible for. Easy reading, original interpretation, pictures, definitions, easy reference, which version does your pastor use? Then visit a Christian book store AND a regular book store and compare. Don't spend a lot of money for something your not going to use. I found that it is not as easy as it might seem but can be fun. Good luck.

Answer 10

The 1611 King James Bible of course.