Christians: Which translation of the bible is correct?

Answer 1

I will say unequivocally, categorically that absolutely none of them are translated correctly...
Blessed Be... )O(

Answer 2

Great question, with a complicated answer. The truth is that the books contained in the Bible were written in 3 different languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. They were translated at different times into many versions with different purposes.

The King James Version is one of the most poetic of translations, however there are many translation inaccuracies that occurred (in addition, the English used is very outdated). The Catholic New Jerusalem version is one of the most updated and scholarly (translated recently from the original texts), but it lacks the linguistic beauty of other versions.

To make it even more confusing, there are also several text versions for many of the books of the Bible. In many cases, we don't have the original versions of the texts, so we have to go from several ancient copies (or usually copies of copies), and these can be very different, even if they were written around the same time and also depending on the ability of the scribe. The older the book of the Bible, the more the variation that is discovered.

And the mere fact that it is translated means that it is not exactly correct, as words do not translate perfectly into another language. You also lose many of the alternate meanings of words that can completely change the meaning as well.

For that matter, the first 5 books of the Bible (Pentateuch) are actually compliations themselves, and even the name of God is different in different parts (after the fall of the Kingdom of Israel, people fled to Judah, and at that time people first started compiling the Hebrew Scriptures, incorporating texts from both kingdoms, with different traditions). Parts collected from the Northern Kingdom traditions (Israel) use the name "Elohim" or "El", which was generically used for any god(s) (originally the word is Canaanite), while the parts of the text from Judah (Southern Kingdom) avoided using either of these names, and most of the time used YHWH (or Yahweh). [The name Yahweh itself is a play on words, because YHWH is an acronym for the Hebrew 'I am what I am', which means God didn't really give us a name for himself.]

I personally like to read a Bible version as close as possible to the originals (or should I say, the oldest written versions of the books still existing), and if there is a difference in the original versions of the texts, I like to know what are the differences so I can see if there's any other possible meanings (this occurs a lot with the Massoretic texts written after the Jews returned from exile in Persia). Sometimes, whole chapters of some books are omitted or altered depending on the manuscript you are using.

Because my interest is scholarly and linguistic, I use the New Jerusalem version mostly, because it actually tells you when there are different versions of the ancient texts. It even gives you the translations of these differences in the footnotes, along with cultural and historical notes that make the translations easier.

So in short, there is no definitive version of the Bible, no matter what some people would like you to believe. If you want a scholar-oriented edition as close to the existing ancient texts as possible and read ALL possible translations, go with the New Jerusalem version. But if you are interested in something more poetic (albeit slightly inaccurate at times), go with the King James Version, as the language is quite beautiful. I have both in my library at home.

Answer 3

Most Christian Bibles contain the same message, the Catholic's have extra books, but I use The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures as it is the only Bible to restore God's name to it rightful place more than 6000 times showing the importance of God's name, Jehovah. The older editions of the King James Version have God's name, Jehovah, in 4 places.

Answer 4

Excellent question.The right bible for the english speaking world is the KJV(King James Version).There are many good websites on this subject.The other new versions made AFTER the KJV come from a corrupt text which has errors and verses missing.Also,the new ones are copyrighted.The bible says "The word of God is not bound".
Another thing,all the money time and effort wasted on the NIV,Nkjv,NASB,etc.... should have gone into putting the bible into languages that do not have a bible yet.

Answer 5

Every single one of the bible translations are correct, as they are translated from one language to another, the word meaning may take some study to grasp the understanding of the word, such as hell.
So any one that begans to study the bible, gets out of it, exactly what they put into it. 2Tim.2:15; Rightly divide, Hell is 31 times in O.T. Acts 2:27-31; David's
is same as one for Christ, but Jude 6. 1Pet.3:18-21; 2Pet.2:4; How is this different? Only angels do not die Matt.25:41; Luke 20:34-36;
This Jer.7:30;31; 19:1-5; The valley of the son of Hinnom or Tophet or Gehenna is death and burial in fire, or burial in fire and Mark 9:42-48; is same thing.
The true meaning is given by prophets that were unto John the baptist Luke 16:16,17,29,30 and so they have the facts, and as Jesus tells of the rich man and Lazarus, it is plain to see the Pharisees have imaginations of the living dead. Acts 2:27-31; Dead is dead to the resurrection and Heb.9:27; The 1000 year reign of Christ as the judgement day 1Cor.15:22-28,51-53; As in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive [ all is all ]; The heavenly first John 6:39,40,44; for the new heavens to be with Jesus Mark 13:27; 1Thes.4:15-17; Rev.3:12; at his second coming for the 1000 year reign. The earthly are for the new earth. 2Pet.3:13; Rev.21:1-5; Isa.65:17;
All has got to be made as new as before Eden for John 3:16;

It is only study that brings the whole bible as they lived it LOST with the promise of a savior, and the savior here on earth to promise SALVATION to all possible. Any LOST for good, will have only self to blame after 1000 year reign of Christ.

Answer 6

Try the Holy Name Bible it has the True Name of the Father & Word and the Holyspirit

Answer 7

I recommend following translations:

New Standard Version
King James Version
New King James Version

They are the versions that are translated word to word with least omissions and no additions. Other versions like New Living, Good News, or NIV are simplified and some passages are removed from them.

Answer 8

The Borat Sexytime Translation, gypsy.

Answer 9

the Greek New Testament it was the first language it was written except be careful ones translated from Latin to Greek you can tell by the word easter instead of passover and a few other things acts 12:4

Answer 10

Good question I always wondered myself...which translation is the right one and how do you know?

Answer 11

None are accurate translations except the GNT