Any suggestions on what version of the Bible is best to read and why?

Answer 1

Many translations are done directly from the Greek and Hebrew.
If you are looking for style and like old English, then of course the King James Version.
I found the New King James Version easy and agreeable to read.
One of my favourite English translations is the New American standard version, because it also follows a fairly literal translation, while modernizing the language a bit.
If you have difficulty with Bible reading and want a popular translation, the Living Bible is good. - just for agreeable reading, and an introduction to Bible reading. However I would suggest that if you want to study a particular passage and be sure of its meaning, you compare with a more literal translation such as the New American Standard version or even the New King James.
There have been some discussions about the actual New Testament Greek manuscripts that were used as a basis of the translations, but those discussions are for intellectuals. There is really extremely little difference, and none that affects the meaning of the text.

Answer 2

I could give you my opinion, but I think theirs is better. For which bible is most accurate.

Old Testament:
In fact, the New World Translation is a scholarly work. In 1989, Professor Benjamin Kedar of Israel said:

"In my linguistic research in connection with the Hebrew Bible and translation, I often refer to the English edition as what is known as the New World Translation. In doing so, I find my feeling repeatedly confirmed that this kind of work reflects an honest endeavor to achieve an understanding of the text that is as accurate as possible. Giving evidence of a broad command of the original language, it renders the original words into a second language understandably without deviating unnecessarily from the specific structure of the Hebrew....Every statement of language allows for a certain latitude in interpreting or translating. So the linguistic solution in any given case may be open to debate. But I have never discovered in the New World Translation any biased intent to read something into the text that it does not contain."

New Testament:

While critical of some of its translation choices, BeDuhn called the New World Translation a “remarkably good” translation, “better by far” and “consistently better” than some of the others considered. Overall, concluded BeDuhn, the New World Translation “is one of the most accurate English translations of the New Testament currently available” and “the most accurate of the translations compared.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament.

“Here at last is a comprehensive comparison of nine major translations of the Bible:

King James Version,
New American Standard Bible,
New International Version,
New Revised Standard Version,
New American Bible,
Amplified Bible,
Today's English Version (Good News Bible),
Living Bible,
and the New World Translation.

The book provides a general introduction to the history and methods of Bible translation, and gives background on each of these versions. Then it compares them on key passages of the New Testament to determine their accuracy and identify their bias. Passages looked at include:

John 1:1; John 8:58; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1


Jason BeDuhn
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Chair
Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion
Northern Arizona University

Answer 3

I'm actually reading the Oxford Study bible right now, which is nice because it reads very clearly and is often directly translated from the original Hebrew and Aramaic, rather than the oft-times distorted translations of the King James version. Some swear by the King James, others know that historically it can be labeled inaccurate in some of its translations.

Answer 4

I would go with the New International Version, the NIV. This bible is supposed to have an extremely accurate translation from the original. Also, it is filled with great notes and explanations all throughout the bible. I personally have the Life Application Study Bible, but they have several editions to choose from so you can pick the one that is most appropriate for your situation. They are a little pricey, but they will last a lifetime. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Any version that "speaks" to you and enables you to learn more about the Author.

My current preference is the New Living Translation Bible but have been blessed by the KJV and the NIV versions, too.

What we are reading today are "translations" and, often, the impact of the original word in Hebrew is lost. It is nice to have access to several versions and be able to compare.

Hence, I installed eSword. It's freeware. I hope you'll try it too.

Answer 6

The King James version was translated straight from the Greek and Hebrew. I prefer this one although I do study from the new king James version. It is very close to the same. NIV and LIVING both leave out important things and they change words that also may change the meanings. The only true way to read it is to learn Hebrew and Greek but it is very hard. Thankfully you want to read it. That is the main thing.God bless you.

Answer 7

The King James (or Authorised) Version is good for its beautiful language, but the language in it is out of date now, which means that it can at times be hard to understand, and some of the passages can be misunderstood, as the words used have by now changed their meaning.

For a modern, up-to-date version I would highly recommend The Message, by Eugene Peterson. It has freshness, a lyric quality, and it's effortless to read. I love it.

Answer 8

It depends. The King James is marvelous for its usage of the English language, but more difficult to glean meaning in. Try the New Revised Version or the New English. Both are very scholarly and helpful

Answer 9

King James Version!

It's like poetry and it's older style of English seems to add weight to the meaning.
Also, it's more obviously a translation with added or doubtful words in italics.

I think you psychologically appreciate all those begats, thines and thees when reading the word of authority!

Answer 10

Well, I've come to think that the only wrong answer to this question is to rely on only one translation, any one. All of them are flawed; and all of them (as best as I can tell) are enlightening in one way or another. So all I can do is share what I've discovered from my experience.

[Somehow I must really want to answer this question, for I just spent about an hour on it and my computer zapped the answer -- and here I go again at 2:00 a.m. Maybe there's a message for me there! I responded to another one of your questions a few hours ago, and this should be read as part of that response.]

(1) I have come to rely on the One Year Bibles. These are availabe in several translations. Last year I used the New Revised Standard Version; this year, for the second time, I'm doing the New International Version. The former is more liberal, more modern; the latter is more literalistic, more traditional. I suspect that the one is used in more progressive, mainline denominations, and the other in more conservative, evangelical ones. The year before last I enjoyed Eugene Peterson's very modern, personal translation called The Message. It was delightful and insightful. Maybe next year I will try the New American Standard or the New King James. These are available from Tyndale House Publications and online (see citation below).

Some years I read the OT; some years, the NT; usually I read the Psalms; sometimes all three.

(2) If I come upon a passage that is puzzling to me, I do two things: (a) I check out two other translations, usually the King James (or American Standard) to remind me how I heard this passage in my childhood and youth, and a more modern one to hear it in contemporary English. (b) Then I scan--and I emphasize the word scan--one-volume commentaries that I keep by my side, one conservative and one more liberal, both of which can be picked up cheap in used book stores: The New Bible Commentary (Eerdmans) and the Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary on the Bible (Abingdon). Then I let it rest. I know I will never figure out all the puzzling passages, so I let it rest.

(3) Next I meditate for a few moments. Perhaps I copy down a brief quotation from the passage I just read or a comment of my own or a prayer I want to remember or one that I have committed to memory or have stored in my word processor.

(4) And, last, I read two or three pages from another book, sorta like my grandmother would have read her old daily devotional (in fact, sometimes I have used one of those, but not often). Right now, for example, I'm reading from Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith by Kathleen Norris. Earlier this year, I found a book so important to me that I made my way through it twice, just a few pages at a time. It's Men Who Walked with God by Sheldon Cheney (not that Cheney! but another one). It probably would have meant nothing to me years ago, but at this time it was just what I needed.

That's it. That may sound like it would take a lot of time, but actually it's only 15-20 minutes. I refuse to let myself get tangled up in a passage or in one of the commentaries. I just try to open my mind and let the Spirit speak to me.

So what version of the Bible is best? No one of them; and all of them. For pure poetry, you still can't beat the King James; I keep the one by my side that I was given when I graduated from college: "I will lift up mine eyes unto these hills / From whence cometh my help . . . ." It's threadbare, but no modern translation approaches that. The old Revised Standard from the 1950s is the one I've studied from more often in years past. Then there's always the Living Bible for good everyday casual language, almost more a paraphrase than a translation, but helpful. Every once in a while I look at the Jerusalem Bible or the Scofield Bible to see a version that differs from my own personal belief (Catholic and premillenial). Since I can read neither the Hebrew nor the Greek (and nobody actually knows what Jesus said in Aramaic, for it didn't get written down), I let the words of several different translations jostle around in my head.

And I rely on the Spirit to use/choose what I hear.

I'm sure you will find your own Way, too, as I have. Somehow--call it coincidental if you will, or a miracle if you may--what I hear is what I need to hear.

For example, today (September 20) here's the one that spoke to me. I hope it speaks to you too.

Live this free life by loving and helping others.You obey the whole Law when you do this one thing, 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' (Leviticus 19:18) . . . . I say this to you: Let the Holy Spirit lead you in each step. . . . . the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. . . . If the Holy Spirit is living in us, let us be led by Him in all things. (from Galatians 5, New Life Version)

God bless! Shalom!