Christians, how do you decide which Bible version you believe?

Answer 1

You should try to live your life in a manner that you think is pleasing to God, not by a book that was written by men.

Answer 2

Well, all of the versions are translations from Greek and Hebrew. They also have theories of translation which govern how they translate. If you do a strict literal translation, you will have choppy sentences. The best translations don't get interpretive, and when a Bible passage is not clear, they leave it unclear.

For Study you would use the New American Standard or the King James or perhaps the Revised Standard Version or the NET Bible. For a more readable version, you would use something like the NIV. For really easy readability but one that gets highly interpretive you would use a paraphrase like the New Living or J.B. Phillips.

I really like the NetBible. You can use it or download it free at NetBible.org. You can also buy one there as well. The other Bible versions make royalties off every printing, but this one was designed to be royalty free. Read the principles of translation.

To illustrate, Acts 8:20 in the NAS says of Simon who tried to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit, "May your silver perish with you."
The JB Phillips on the other hand says, "To hell with you and your money!"

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

The King James Version has proven over many years to be the most accurate English translation. However, most people think the 16th century English is too difficult to read.

I use a few different versions, but always go back to the KJV for accurate authoritative meaning of the text(s). And, it's hard to find, but I do like the International Standard Version. (NOT the NIV)

Look at Genesis 22:8 in hte KJV, and then compare other versions to it. That's a good starting point.

Answer 4

It's not so much of a case of which version I believe, but which version helps me in my walk with Christ. I believe in most versions of the Bible (the ones I have problems with are those with questionable origins or that have added information into it that is questionable).

For me, I choose the NIV Rainbow Study Bible. Because it color codes Bible verses by 10 main categories and has a concordance. This makes it easier for me to read and understand what God has to say.

I also like www.BibleGateway.org, it's a free site where I can select several versions of the Bible to look at the same verses. By reading several different versions, it gives me a better understanding of what God is saying to me.

Answer 5

How many versions of the bible have you read?
Be sure to read it all, for you to know whether they are of different versions. If you haven`t read any, never dare to judge.
Read all versions of the bible which you think are different...
If you find the meaning the same, but written differently:
- 1 speaks of old english language
- other speaks of simpler english language
.: no problem, read the 2 versions. It has same meaning...
If you find 1 bible has more chapters added than the other...
- the other with no Deuterocanonical chapters
- the other with more chapters added "the Deuterocanonicals"...
.: no problem, have additional readings, because it is not destructive, but it has its importance, that you will learn more from it, and may help you in your walks with life with the Almighty Father.
I guess, there is no difference in any bible versions because it comes from 1 source and just made simpler using todays language for better understandings.

Answer 6

If you dig for the truth as for silver or other treasure and you sincerly want to know God's will (not just reinforce what some man has told you or prove your own theories), you will find it in any version/translation you want to use. When I was first learning, I used 7 different translations/versions and what I found was that as a whole, they are all in agreement. I prefer those that were not paraphrased (Like the Living Bible or the God's Word Bible) but that is just my opinion. I still think you would be able to find the truth in them.

Answer 7

Normally the more freely the text reads the more inaccurate the translation. The NIV is probably one of the easiest reading bibles but is just about the most inacurate of the modern translations.
Also you check to see if it is a literal translation or a paraphrase. A literal translation is one that translates word for word where as a paraphrase is a thought for thought translation. NASB is a literal as is the KJV and the NKJV, Paraphrase are NIV, Living Bible and the like. Choose a literal if you are going to do a study and the paraphrase are nice easy reading for overall picture.
Literal versions will insert any added words in italics so you know they are not part of the original. Paraphrase do not let you know.

Answer 8

Actually, the King James Version has some inaccuracies too, such as 1 John 5; 7, but i still use it sometimes, cause its the most popular to some and it does have God's name Jehovah in it 4 times such as at Psalms 83; 18. If u compare most Bibles , the wording may be a little different, but the meaning is still the same.

Answer 9

If it's a Christian bible - each book of the bible says the same thing it's just worded differently. Some more accurately reflect the original texts than others, but the concepts expressed should be the same. King James wanted his bible to say certain things so it was interpreted the way King James wanted it. Today's interpretations aren't so biased. I like the NIV because it's very true to the original text and also is easy to read. God bless ~Nise~

Answer 10

The Christian Orthodox version is the accurate one. U find ancient bibles in Greece and Cyprus and the Christian Orthodox Bibles are an exact replica, with the ancient and the modern translation side by side.

Answer 11

When you are searching for your own Bible, choose a book that says TRANSLATION not VERSION. A translation is written from the original documents and a version is written from a translation of the original documents.
I personally read and study from the New Living Translation but all scripture is generally the same, so I can pick up any Bible and live by it's writings.