What do you consider to be the most accurate translation of the New Testament?

Question

With all the different versions there are, which is most faithful to the original language and why?

Answer 1

There are over 130 million copies of the New World Translation in print. A printed copy can be requested at no charge using this online form or by writing to a local address:
https://watch002.securesites.net/contact/submit.htm
http://watchtower.org/how_to_contact_us.htm

The entire text of NWT is also available at the official website of Jehovah's Witnesses:
http://watchtower.org/bible/

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/pr/article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/na/
http://watchtower.org/e/20020915/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20050715/article_02.htm

Answer 2

I'll put my hand up for the NIV because unlike the KJV it was translated from the original languages. The KJV was translated from Jerome's latin Vulgate. The closer you can get to the language the original was written in the more likely the translation is to be accurate.
When the Dead Sea Scrolls were found they contained the whole book of Isaiah....when it was compared to the current translations of the Bible it was found that there were only two words in the NIV that were incorrect & they were words like "to" and "and", nothing that changed the actual meaning which makes you think that if the book of Isaiah in the NIV was that accurate then it's highly likely that the rest of the translation would be accurate too.
The Dead Sea Scrolls are far earlier than any other ancient manuscripts that were available at the time and again, the closer you get to the original manuscripts the more accuracy that can be obtained.
There is probably no version that is 100% accurate but I think the NIV is the one that comes the closest & yes I have researched it very thoroughly & read many of the other version.
Hope this helps.. God bless you

Answer 3

NWT:

why?

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


If the translation of John 8:58 per the NIV is correct.

If someone was to ask you "How old are you"
the Correct answer is "your name" because that is what the NIV said Jesus answered.

At Ex 3:14 in the Greek Septugent reads "I am the being" If Jesus was quoting this verse at John 8:58, he was have had to say "before Abraham was, the being"

In English, unlike Greek, you can't mix tenses,

Jesus actually said, (in English) "before Abraham was, I have been"

Answer 4

I like the New World Translation because it doesn't take out God's personal name and the vernacular is easy to understand but, as was stated, it doesn't really matter. It's best to read whichever one you find the easiest to understand. King James is a great version and is pretty accurate but I think a lot of people stop reading because of the thees and thous. There are some good study bibles at the bookstore in pretty plain-to-understand English.

Answer 5

The King James Version.

Answer 6

There is absolutely no "accurate translation" of the Bible. It was created from literally hundreds of writings from the Gnostic's and various sects and cults of the known world of antiquity. The council of Nicea fought and wrangled over the selection of a few of these writings.. The Catholics kept four more books than the Christians. It was hand copied for almost 1400 years by various beliefs. It has no validity, no foundations and the crowning truth is that every word of quotation of the words of Jesus or God are pure fabrication. If Jesus ever lived, which is highly doubtful, he wrote nothing nor is there any evidence that anyone ever recorded what he might have said. It's all a fool's game, propagated by the Catholic Church with threats and murder until it became an accepted doctrine. Read my new book, "Jesus-Myth or Reality?" It explains the foundations and myths of religion. It exposes the fallacies and utter chicanery of this thing called religion. It has been labeled by one writer as the "Greatest Story Ever Sold." There is actually no original language of the Bible. The books were found at vaious times by varied clerics and in various languages from Aramic to Greek. They were translaterd at the whim and pleasure of the vaious sects. They were redacted by monks thorughout a thousand years to suit their views of what they wanted the scripture to say. If you put any reliance in any words coming from your version of the Holy Bible, you are living in a fool's paradise.

Answer 7

I believe the New World Translation is the most accurate but I also believe that a person who is sincere can pray for the aid of God's holy spirit and can learn the truth from any translation. That is the reason God wrote this letter to us--He wants us to understand.

Answer 8

I personally like the New International Version - they took 10 scholars from Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew and had them independently translate each verse. The comparisons were made and if all 10 did not agree, they had to re-translate.

Answer 9

Since many things are inevitably LOST in translation. There can be NO most accurate translation, only translation that suit a particular purpose.

Answer 10

Not The New World Translation by the Watchtower for sure.
Greek scholars will tell you its a piece of junk. Search for Dr Mantey and see what he has to say out the NWT and how they tried to twist his words.


Try greek if you can read it, or NKJ or NASB