different bible versions...?

Question

what are the best versions? whats the different about them? whats your favorite?

Answer 1

Different versions were translated at different times, so the language may be a little different.

Some versions use a word-by-word translation. Others use phrase-by-phrase or thought-by-thought.

What is best really depends on what your needs are. Some are easier to read and understand (NIV, The Message), and some are more representative of the original text (KJV, NASB)

The main one I use is a NIV study Bible, but I've recently gotten a four-version parallel Bible. The NASB is growing on me, and I like the Amplified, too - but just for study; it would be hard to sit down and read it, I think.

In my local bookstore, there's a chart on the shelf in the Bibles section showing the different versions and comparing them. You might want to look for something like that to get more information.

Answer 2

Best New Testament: Orthodox Study Bible - the one published by the Dormition Skete in Buena Vista, CO. (Watch out - there is another OSB that I do not recommend).

Best Old Testament: Brenton's Septuagint.

Best Translation in a Single Volume: New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha, or 1769 King James Version.

Criticisms: The NIV is produced with a decidedly Calvinist slant, and uses inconsistent translations to portray gnostic, Calvinist, and anti-traditional readings. It is also written on a 4th-grade reading level. All English Bible rely on 9th century Hebrew texts, and neglect the older (and more accurate) readings found in the Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls, New Testament, and Church Fathers. But the RSV and NRSV takes the Septuagint readings into account, and provides a healthy balance. The King James Version provides an accurate translation, for the most part, but they had to rely on scanty manuscript evidence. Most other English translations are really paraphrases, and try to gloss over ambiguous passages for your convience. It is better to leave the ambiguities in place, and let you decide.

Answer 3

The older the Bible translation the more "old world" words it will have in it. Words like thee and thou rather than you. Shalt rather than shall.....There are a lot of them. The King James Version (KJV) is one of the older English version's of the Bible and has the above lingo in it. There is a newer Revised King James Version (RKJV) that is a little easier to read. Many prefer the New International Version (NIV) Its reading is a little easier. The Revised Standard Version (RSV) is very popular. It might help to talk to a Minister or a person that works in a Christian book store and see what they have to say. The bottom line of the Bible is the word of God. The various translations are for easier reading and/or easier understanding. I might like the King James Version and another might like the Revised Standard Version. It just sort of depends upon what sort of wording gets the message across to a person the best.

Answer 4

I believe the King James Version and the New American Standard versions were translated directly from the Greek and Hebrew texts. Some of the other version are translated from a mixture of Greek, Hebrew, and other translations.

So, I would primarily rely on New King James, King James, or New American Standard. However, I believe a variety of all the different translations can help in getting a clearer picture of what a particular text means.

Answer 5

what are the best versions? KJV, possibly the Revised Standard Version, or the maybe the NIV (I have not checked the translation process in awhile).
2. whats the different about them? The source(s) of what they are translated from.

3. whats your favorite? For the Protestant Bible, presently I prefer KJV, although I have a comparison Bible which puts 4 copies side by side. For the Catholic Bible, I have St. Joseph's Edition(s)

Answer 6

The New Revised Standard Version is more scholarly and more modern than many (it came out about ten years ago). It (as well as its predecessor, the Revised Standard Version) was designed to be similar in many ways with the King James Version, yet be modern; it also points out variations in many of the different copies of texts that were used in translating it. Additionally, it is not slanted to any one religion: translators included Catholics, Protestants, and, for the Old Testament, Jews.

Answer 7

King James is my favorite!
I would say that the New King James, The New American Standard and The New Revised Standard are some of the best because they are the ones that stick to the original language.

Answer 8

Massoretico-Critical Text of the Hebrew Bible. Companion Bible

Answer 9

King James

Answer 10

Go to Biblegateway.com and look up a verse.
You can choose from a variety of versions and see which you like best.
You have to read the different ones to see just how differently they read.
First, click on the link below and when you are there, click on the dropdown menu and give it a try for verse, John 3:16..
:) Personally, I like the NIV because it's so readable.