Bible only, but which Bible?

Question

I hear lots of Christians talk about following the Bible only. It's interesing that there have been, and are still many versions of the Bible out there.

Some will say that only the King James version is allowed. The Catholics of course have theirs, and the Ethopian Catholic has the largest one.

Now, Protestants will claim thiers correct. But then, which versions?

The Apocrypha has been a sticking point, but was actually contained in early printing of the King James Bible, and still appears in German Protestant Bibles.

With so many Bibles out there, how does one choose one? Is the King James Bible the only one authorized by God? If so, do all non-English speakers need to learn English to understand the Bible Correctly? or are current Bible Translators truly inspired of God to make infallible translations such as the King James is supposed to be?

Is one to "take it on faith" that what one says about one version is true?

How does one know?

Answer 1

You don't and don't worry. Its how you live your life not which bible you read. It may be best to pick the one endorsed by your denomination as each version has subtle differences based on interpretation and translation. No translation is infalliable as it is written down by man who is falliable. Besides as other will tell you the bible was not originally written in English and the Catholic Church is currently reviewing the current translations to get the best translation for each language. Its the various church doctrine that makes up for most of the differences between religion. The Morman Bible has been revised several times and with each revision the gather up the old versions so not to have conflicting information. Also the Protestant religion was founded after the Catholic, so who gave them the revised version?

Answer 2

I was born and raise on the King James version of the bible and many people hold it as holy. I still to this day think that it was written beautifully and I still find it very inspiring.
King James was the first to translate the original Greek and Hebrew texts into (old) English. In a way this translation was a fulfillment of Gods word that he would speak to all nations and it is an amazing thing if you think about it.
But it is also hard to understand and is not really written in modern American English.
Personally, I think the most trusted version of the bible is the New International Version mostly because it was written by scholars from different faiths that shared the common interested of interpreting the bible as well as could be done.
But God's word is God's word and it cannot be silenced or corrupted by translation. It will stand again all tests of all time. I believe the important thing is to understand God's message so use whatever bible makes sense to you and maybe try 2 or 3 different versions, like the King James, the New King James or the New International version and maybe he will speak to your heart.

Answer 3

All Bibles are basically the same. They just different Translations so people can understand better in today's language and culture. Study Etymology and Semantics, or, at least read their definitions. It may help you understand. Actually, the King James of today that many swear by are NOT the original King James, they are "Revised Versions" of the King James. I have a Facsimile of the Original King James and most people would not be able to read it. King David's name uses a triangle for the letter "D". So, the best thing I can tell you, is read a few verses of John chapter one in different versions and pick the one you understand best. I use an NIV, but, also read a King James for it seem more poetic. And I do have a few others. But, the NIV read more like today's English for myself. If, you seek the Truth, God will reveal it to you. AND when Christians want to put down your version, read them these verses; John 5:39-40 (Place this in your Heart) THAT what the Bible ALL about, Jesus, with guidance of how we should live, which comes back to Jesus! Regardless of the version.
The Apocrypha I also read, and, if a Christian want to put the Apocrypha down. Read them this; Acts 20:35 "It is more blessed to give than to receive", and ask them where in the Bible did Jesus say that? Because it is quoted from 1 Clement 46:7. ;-)

Answer 4

Firstly: A bit of serious study will set believers and non aright on this issue. It is proven that the King James is the most correct and reliable for the English speaking people word for word in translation from the Greek. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls reaffirmed this. Other revisions have more errors each revision, leave out important verses and words so as to attack the essential doctrines of the Christian faith and salvation: the Trinity, Deity of Christ, salvation through his shed blood,the reality of eternal hell-fire, etc. This is to achieve a one world church. It also causes doubts and confusion and the author of that is satan.
Secondly: There are many dependable translations already in print for other languages. I'll supply the links for both my statements thus far which supply further details of the Apocrypha question also. If you are so concerned about people hearing the Word who have never heard it, become or support worthy Missionaries who both use KJV and hire spirit-filled interpreters and who activate the qualified scholars of the native tongue to work with translators who hold the preservation of the true Word of God a sacred duty.
Thirdly: You choose by praying and doing your research which again is overwhelmingly in support of the King James Version and not from a biased faith. There is one Lord, One faith, One babtism. NOT a million or so!
"The new "bibles" have a very consistent record of attacking the Lord Jesus Christ; so they cannot possibly be "the scriptures" that He said would testify of Him in John 5:39. They testify AGAINST him."
"The King James Bible NEVER attacks our Lord. More than any book in the world, the Authorized Version of the Protestant Reformation EXALTS the Lord Jesus Christ." James L. Melton 1997

Answer 5

Having read through the Bible about 30 times, and the New testament alone about twice as often, I have read the bible in several translations: King James in English, several Protestant and catholic Bibles in Spanish and in French, and in one other language.
I have even read the Apocrypha - (Maccabees is good history reading, if nothing else).
I have really found no important differences. I've never had the dilemma of "which Bible?".
There is basically no difference. Yes, some believe the Apocrypha`ha to be inspired, but Jerome, who translated the bible into the Latin Vulgate, did not believe it was inspired. He included it in a separate part.
But apart from one or two verses in one of the apocryphal books, there is no teaching in it that would really contradict the contents of the Bible. And, as I said, Maccabees provides good historic background.
(The Apocrypha were officially pronounced to be inspired by the Roman Catholic Church at the Council of Trent, in order to counteract some Protestant teachings. That was in the 1500's.)

Answer 6

The KJV is translated from the Textus Receptus [TR] (collection of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts) which is believed to be by many the most accurate text.

The NIV is translated from the Critical Text [CT] (collection of Hebrew and Greek manuscripts), which is considered by some to contain corrupt manuscripts.

The KJV is a formal equivalent translation, which is as close as possible to a word for word translation while still maintaining readability. Direct Literal word for word translations are very difficult to read due to the sentence structure differences between Hebrew, Greek, and English. The men who translated the KJV we all fluent in the languages they were translating.

The NIV is translated using Dynamic Equivalence. This is the method whereby the translator's purpose is not to give a literal, word-for-word rendition but to transfer the meaning of the text as would be best expressed in the words of the receptor [native] language. The problem with this type of translation is that it is much easier for theological bias to influence the text.

My opinion is that the KJV is as close to perfect as any translation can possibly be. The NKJV runs a very close second IMHO. The NIV has many errors even when compared to the CT.

Listed in the sources below is a great site that has a lot of information about the differences.

Many people are very militant about the KJV being the only Bible for the English-speaking people (the are referred to as KJVO or KJV onlyist). Many more are like myself and are KJV preferred., We believe that the KJV is a great translation but not necessarily the only translation. Then there are others who seem like they belong to the Bible of the month club and switch between versions like many switch between novels.

You can't go wrong with the KJV but if you really think you need a easier to read version I suggest either the Modern KJV (MKJV) New KJV (NKJV), Amplified version, or the Defined KJV. If you really want one of the simple language versions I suggest a Parallel version with the KJV or NKJV paralleled with NIV or NLT so you can compare the two versions and see the differences.

Answer 7

Which Bible to read, believe?

To begin the Douay Rheims Bible is the most true, faithful translation of the Latin Vulgate Bible, which St. Jerome (340-420) translated into Latin from the original languages. The Vulgate became the ONLY Bible in the Church.

St. Jerome was Greek speaking by birth, and being educated, he also knew Latin perfectly, speaking it as we do English. He also knew Hebrew, Aramaic. He also learned Chaldaic just so he could check the translation of the Book of Daniel (the only biblical book written in that language). He lived in Bethlehem and was near enough to Rabinnical school at Caesare Phillipi that he could consult with one of the learned Rabbis who agreed to help him with his Hebrew--although rendering such help was actually forbidden in Jewish custom. He baecame so good at translating Hebrew that at the age of 70 he translated the Book of Tobias in one night. Besides being a towering linguistic genius, HE HAD DIRECT ACCESS TO ANCIENT HEBREW AND GREEK MANUSCRIPTS OF THE 2nd and 3rd C. WHICH HAVE SINCE PERISHED AND ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO SCHOLARS TODAY.

St. Jerome's translation was a careful, word for word rendering of the original text into Latin. His sources being numerous and ancient, knowledge of lanuages, a living knowledge if you will, he was a better jude of the true.....shade of meaning of a particular word than any modern scholar.

So this was the only Christian Bible known to the world until the late 1500's. There have been other Bibles, primarily since the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther, the famous monk who nailed the Proclamation on the Church doors actually removed 5 books for the Latin Vulgate, removed words in those books that he kept. He did this all because of a personal conviction of his, which was in error. These newer translations do not have the original books (Where some people mistakenly say "Catholics have 'extra books'....the RCC never added a book to the Bible...it was removed...)

I'd say there IS only one Bible to read. Since most of us don't know Latin, and can't read the Latin Vulgate the original Bible; then the faithful rendering into English; the Douay Rheims Bible is safest bet.

Answer 8

First of all, it should obviously be writen in the langauge you speak and understand. I don't speak king james, so I don't like that particular translation.

When I first got saved in 1989 I had a strong desire to get to know the Lord and knew then, as I do now that the only way was to study His Word. I went to a Christian book store and when I started looking at the many different bibles, I was very confused. I finally prayed while I was looking and ask God to reveal to me the best Bible for me (for me okay). I kept coming back to one particular version and in my heart I knew it was the best for me, so I bought it. It wasn't cheap but I knew it was the best one for me.

A few days later I took it to church with me and the pastor called my into his office after church was over. I was toting my new Bible with pride, like a kid with a nice new bike. He took and looked at it and advised me that the king james was the only real Bible. I felt bad and thought about it for a few days. I decided that he was wrong. I prayed when I bought that Bible,it was in my heart and I had and still have great peace about it. After I studied it for a while I began to see truth and the church I was going to was not teaching ALL of the truth. I got away from that place and happy that I did.

I love my New American Standard Bible. I also love my New International Version and My New King James. The one I bought that day was the NAS. That was 17 years ago, since I have heard many respected teachers say that the NAS is the best. In fact, the Pastor of the the church I attended for many years told me that even though he preached from the NIV, he believes that the NAS is the most accurate translation available today. He was for many years a professor at a a seminary.

I vote for the NAS but I like the NIV and the NKJV

Answer 9

All the different bible versions has the same message. If I found some Egyptian text and translate it to english. There would so many ways I can translate but say the same thing as what the Egyptian text said. For example: I went to england and I was excited at what I saw. or you could say; I travelled all the the way to england and I was shouting out with Joy and happiness at what I saw. Both sentences say the same thing even though the wording are different.

This is what has happened to the bible. So all versions are correct because all versions contains the same message. So it doesn't matter what version you have as long as the message is the same.

Answer 10

There are many Bible translations as you say, but you should read a modern translation like those translated after 1900 for a clearer understanding. The Apocrypha is as you mention included in Catholic versions. It is not bad literature and is quite interesting with lots of history. Most protestants don't believe these are inspired. Since none of the original manuscripts have lasted, none of them can be considered infallible in all aspects of translation. However the overall message of the Bible can be. I like to go www.scripturetext.com to see them all at once.