What's the most accurate Bible?

Question

I've been checking out TNIV and think it's the most accurate and closest to the Greek version. As far as the Old Testament I'm completely clueless... Any ideas?

Those of you who, God-haters who do not inherit the kingdom of God, I do NOT want your sarcastic, arrogant and evil answers! Keep them to yourself demons. I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!

well, I wasn't trying to be rude to people. But if it's okay for them to bash Christians and even GOD, why can't I speak the truth against them? I will defend God as I am alive, and I don't care if they're precious feelings get hurt. Obviously they don't care in knowing God, or answering on my question, they come here to say something bad and sarcastic.

Answer 1

Your desire to know as best as possible what YHWH said is impressive. It will be nice to meet you one day in Heaven. The most accurate Bibles available in English today are the New Revised Standard Version, the JPS Hebrew English Interlinear and the New Jerusalem Bible - also the New King James corrected many of the unhappy translations of the '1611 Authorized King James'. The people who espouse this Bible couldn't read it in Chaucerian English if they could afford to own a good copy. The New Testament is more problematic as is was not written in Greek or Aramaic as has been previously thought. Evidence and scrolls are turning up that prove it was written in Hebrew. Matthew is the only one fully translated at this point. Good luck with your studies. It's the only thing that holds every answer to life's questions and is as relevant today as the day it was written. The arrogant who attack is modern validity will soon have an unhappy revelation of how important it is. The NRSV has the added advantage of containing the intertertimental books of the Apocrypha.

Answer 2

Just wondering why you think the TNIV is the most accurate? Just a question. Until recently I was in more favor of the newer versions over the King James Version. I have finished a college level Bible Class on the Bible and it talked about how the different versions were all written. One thing that was interesting is that in the early 1500's during the same time as Luther protested against the Catholic church, a man named Erasmus drafted up a complete Greek Text New Testament compiled from what was believed to be the most accruate original Greek manuscripts. This Greek Text Erasmus wrote was the basis for the Geneva Bible that the Pilgrims and the first American settlers used and also the King James Version and all other Bible versions published until 1880. Then around 1880 two men named Wescott and Hort claimed to have discovered more Greek New Testament Manuscripts and they wrote an entirely new Greek Text New Testament. All Bibles published since 1881 has been influenced by this Wescott-Hort version. I won't get into the arguements over which Greek text is accurate but one thing that needs to be pointed out is the Wescott-Hort Greek Text left out hundreds of verses and thousands of words that was in the 1500's Erasmus Text. Just something to think about.

Answer 3

The most accurate translation of the Torah/Tanakh (what the Christians call the Old Testament) that the Jews themselves use is the Stone Edition Artscroll Tanakh.

Just about every Orthodox religious Jewish household has one. And most non religious Jews do too, actually, even if they never read it.

http://www.artscroll.com/Products/STGM.html

In case you don't know the definitions of Torah and Tanakh, the Torah is technically the first five books of the bible, the books of Moses they are called.

Together with the rest of the books of the bible they are called the Tanakh. Sometimes it's just called Torah though, for a shortcut.

Anyway, it's what you're looking for as the most accurate translation into English of the "Old Testament", used by the Jews themselves.

Most Jews cannot speak or read Hebrew, in case you didn't know that. They know Yiddish much better, at least in this country and in Europe.

Answer 4

You got some good answers. Your attitude might need some adjustment though.

It is best not to depend on any one version of the Bible as they are all translations.

A good source, as stated, for the OT is the Jewish versions. This site might help:

http://www.jewishbible.org/

I just found this site while looking for something else, so I have not explored it. What I was looking for was this:

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Jewish-Bible-Testament-Hadashah/dp/9653590154

It was recommended to me by a friend, I have not gotten one to read for myself yet. Mostly because I found an old copy of the Jewish Publication Society Tanakh in my grandmother's belongings after she died and it closely matched my KJV.

The best of the more modern translations for both the old and new testament that I am currently using is the New Jerusalem Bible. Make sure you get one that has footnotes. Also, as it is a Catholic Bible you are going to find additioinal books that the NIV does not have and you will find some sections of scripture rearrainged to suit the catholic translators. I like this one and the NKJV for my daily reading, although I am fairly comfortable with almost all the versions of the Bible that I have read (Youngs, Darby's, Bible in Basic English, Schofield's and more). My wife and son prefer the NIV.

A there are also several good Bible study courses online that can help you to understand the OT's realationship to the NT, two are:

http://www.teachingthelaw.org/

http://www.cog21.org/site/cog_archives/ac_bcc/AC%20Bible%20Correspondence%20Course/acbcc32.html

It is extremely important to not be "clueless" when it comes to the Old Testament. It explains and helps one understand many of the difficult passages in the New. Remember that there was no New in the time of the Apostles, so they used the "Old" to bring people to Christ and teach them how to live.
As Paul taught Timothy:

2Timothy 3:16 Every holy Writing which comes from God is of profit for teaching, for training, for guiding, for education in righteousness: (BBE)

Answer 5

It's good that you're searching for the version which is closest to the original manuscripts.

In order for us to understand the real meaning of the verses of the holy scriptures, we must go back to the original manuscripts (meaning: written by hand: manu[hand] + scripts[writing])

There are bible versions which are called Greek Interlinear which shows the bible and english and the equivalent greek words are shown with their meaning.

We should not just stick to one english translation and use it. We must be able to research enough in order for us to find out what the verse really means.

For example, TNIV is a nice version.

You may also consider looking at ASV (American Standard Version) and the Revised Standard version KJV.

But the important thing here is to look at the older manuscripts which dates back to the 2nd or 3rd or 4th century A.D. Those are closer to the time of the Apostles.

For more information, visit

http://esoriano.wordpress.com
http://www.truthcaster.com
http://www.theoldpath.tv

Answer 6

My favorite is the English Standard Version for reading. It's as accurate as ANY English translation can be, given the original languages have so many layered meanings and nuances. And it's not as awkward as the NASB.

I'm also fond of the KJV just because of its majesty - I don't hold with those who claim it's the only "inspired" translation, but I think its poetry is beautiful, and I appreciate that, since it's been around so long, the problems with it are very well documented.

Answer 7

First of all, do not disgrace the name of Jesus by calling God-haters and the like as demons. Remember that we too were once like them, also with demons inside of us; but praise God for His saving grace that we have been rescued from that old life. Watch the way you speak. It cannot be that the same tongue that praises God causes destruction to men. I rebuke you with love, my brother-in-Christ.

Well, as to your question, of course the closest to the original text would be the most accurate. But since those are really old and are of a different language (take Vulgate, for instance, or the Hebrew version), I believe the King James Version [KJV] would be one of the closest which are also understandable.

Answer 8

"Accurate" in general is not a correct term to apply to the Bible. There is only ONE Bible but different translations, versions and interpretations. There is not even an "original" Bible per se because the Bible is a collection of many books. Similarly, there is only ONE Quran (for the Moslems).
Many different Christian sects are formed according to how the Bible is interpreted. Somehow, we have to make our inner self, intuition, or conscience to work. I can spend forever trying to uphold my insights about the Holy Book.
Catholics don't depend on the Bible as a sole source of God's teachings, though. There is also TRADITION - what makes us Americans, Filipino, Chinese or Spanish.
If you want to learn about it, ask for the most RELIABLE translation, version or interpretation.

Answer 9

If your additional comments are expressions of your real beliefs...

You are a disgusting hypocrite. Perhaps you spent too much time comparing words and not reading them. Didn't Jesus tell you to love everyone, to not throw stones because you, too, are a sinner? We aren't demons, we're human like you. Is that a surprise? You're the arrogant one, and you do not deserve to call yourself a Christian.

Answer 10

the christian bible is the most confused book out there, given its way to money. It is still the best seller on the market today. ohh billy bob wrote this one this way, bufflo bill wrote it this way, all yours for the price of 29.99. And if you by now I will will give you some scriptural gum, this gum is of the peperment flavor.