Which version of the Bible is best to read?

Answer 1

depends on what you are looking for... KJV is poetic but hard to follow, the NASB is my favorite it's closest to the Greek and in my opinion still sounds beautiful, NIV is very easy to read, NKJV is also a favorite of mine, the message is easy to read but it is not something i'd suggest without having another version next to it since it is a paraphrase and not a direct translation

Answer 2

In English, the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version.) This is the version we use most often in divinity school for several reasons.

First, is in important to understand that the King James Version was published in 1611. Since that time several things have happened. Hundreds if not thousands more Biblical manuscripts have been discovered since then. These manuscripts were not available to the KJV translators. The KJV translators did not even use all the manuscripts that were known at that time, they used the ones most available to them, and some of them were quite flawed. The increased number of manuscripts gives scholars a better understanding of the textual traditions and help them understand why some changes have been made.

Secondly, in the intervening 400 years, scholars also have a much better understanding of not only biblical Hebew and Greek, but the languages that are related to them. This is especially important for biblical Hebrew. The number of unknown Hebrew words has decreased dramatically since the KJV was published.

Third, like English, both Biblical Hebrew and Greek use masculine gender to refer to eiher mixed or unknown genders. This tends to make the text much more male centered than the writers would have intended.

The NRSV solves several of these problems. First, it uses all available manuscripts and research. Secondly, it points out where and how manuscripts differ with translation notes. Finally, it attempts to use Gender neutral language where it appears appropriate.

The NIV is also a good translation, although it does not attempt to use the gender neutral language. The TNIV however, does, making it the second best choice in my opinion.

Don't get me wrong, the KJV is a remarkable acheivement for its time. Modern translations provide a more accurate representation of the original Greek and Hebrew.

Answer 3

I am assuming you are an American.

If you are looking for a poetic book that is inspirational, technically accurate and will provide more depth than usual, I recommend the New Jerusalem Bible. JRR Tokien also happens to be the translator of Job.

If you are looking for a book that is more literally accurate with good footnotes, pick the New American Bible.

Just a note on the above using the KJV or Erasmus, DON'T!

The KJV when it was retranslated in 1890 removed 20,000 major errors. Although technically acceptable, it tends to favor language to support its prior translations. It is a good, second quality version that is wonderfully beautiful as a piece of literature, but not so much as a bible.

Erasmus' work is quite poor, though he could not have known it. The "Textus Receptus," is just that the text received by the public library in Geneva. It is a very poor quality manuscript. The errors are monumental. It is, however, the base text for the Protestant movement. He was in a competition with another set of translators to publish a Greek text. Unfortunately speed won out over accuracy, and his single source text was missing substantial parts of the bible, which took from Latin, translated into Greek and this then formed the basis of early Protestantism. In particular, Revelations is truly and remarkably poor. None of it comes from the Greek and in no way matches it.

You should consider reading "Misquoting Jesus," by Bart Ehrman.

Answer 4

None. A "version" or translation of a Bible is just that: a translation; and it is impossible to perfectly translate an original language into another language without altering the figures of speech, idioms, and hard to interpret words contained in that language.

Your best bet is to buy multiple translations, dictionaries, and interlinear Bibles. Get a good interlinear Bible so if you are unsure about a certain word, you can look at the original Greek, and see the translation under it.

My favorite English translation is Rotherham's Emphasized Version, and I recommend it, but I still recommend Interlinear Bibles over it any day.

If you would like me to e-mail you some book titles, send me an e-mail.

Also, e-sword and scripture4all are excellent FREE programs and you can download almost any Bible translation for them, including Rotherham's Emphasized Version.

If anyone is interested in some links or titles, e-mail me.

Answer 5

Hi, George:

I wanted to know the same question, and have read ten different translations cover to cover, even the Jewish Holy Scriptures without a New Testament.

They all tell the same story, that Jesus is our Creator, Redeemer, Savior, and the Last Adam, to reign on earth for eternity.

I would recommend you leave the paraphrased translations, like the Living Bible, alone. They say things that are not in the translations.

The King James Bible is quoted the most, and when I read it, in my mind I read it as modern English. But to study, I use the New King James Bible because some archaic words have changed meaning, such as LET reallly means ALLOW.

In addition to recommending the NKJV, I invite people to read a Bible code that proves Jesus is the Messiah at http://abiblecode.tripod.com

Blessings and AGAPE, Balaam

Answer 6

The original King James Version and this is why: When the bible was translated into english the scholars had to add words to make it make sence linguisticly. In the (old) KJV the added words are in italics so you can read what it says with or with out them and compare, I don't know of any other version that does this, including the New King James Version.
Plus a lot of people think its the most accurate cause it's the original engilish version, but thats more a matter of opinion i reckon.

Answer 7

If you're going to believe in and read the bible, it is important to understand the differences in versions and translations. Many christians believe that the KJV is the only version (based primarily on tradition rather than validity of the translation).
You should research and understand the difference between dynamic and literal translations.

Answer 8

The NLT (2004) is the easiest to read that is a completely translated Bible. The NASB is the most accurate and closest to the Greek, but more difficult to read. The NIV is kinda middle of the road. The HCSB is the newest one out that is real good and may be the best for accuracy and ease of reading.

Answer 9

wow i have a pretty good answer for u actually..my answer is from a similar question that was proposed, so some of it might not make sense:


OMG..don't you all see that having so many different versions of the Bible indicates a corrupt religion? Many authors, editors, revisors, etc. of the Bible only changed/deleted/added verses to appeal to Christians so they would remain faithful (in other words through lies) and to appeal to people who are interested in converting (the same way). Converting through lies and putting in what people WANT to hear is corrupt. For all we know, the all-loving peaceful Bible could have had some ugly verses that were deleted or replaced with more peaceful ones so that Christianity could not look like a culprit or evil religion in the future. CORRUPTION!

An imperfect, flawed religion indicates that it is disqualified as being the true religion.


When you said, "I think people are seeing the question they want to asnwer, not asnwering what has been asked..."

Well, thats kind of like the Christians changing the Bible into what they want their religion to be like (aka allowing more freedoms, making bad deeds seem less impactful, etc.), not seeking the truth or caring about what is really meant for them.

Answer 10

King James or New King James version

Compare this one verse for example, Revelation 22:14, look it up in all the versions...(there are hundreds more verses like it that are erroneously translated)

The other versions blatantly change that verse from the original Greek. That was enough the persuade me.