Versions of the bible....?

Question

I don't understand anything in the bible and my fiance is a big god person so I was also wanting to know what he was talking about. So my question is what version of the bible is the easiest to understand?

Answer 1

The bottom line is I think you are looking for something like "Contemporary English Version" also known as CEV. Our church's pastor uses it since it's easy to listen to.

You might also look into "Study Bibles" that have explanations at the bottom of the page. They are available in almost any version.

Here are more details. Opinions are going to vary on what's easy to understand. I personally like NIV and my wife likes CEV.

There are basically 2 broad categories of versions to look at. The first category tries to get as close to what the words mean in the original Hebrew and Greek and still have modern English.

Here are two good versions in that category: The New International Version (NIV) and New American Standard Version (NASB) are popular and accurate.

The second category has "Dynamic Translation". The goal here is to say what the words mean in the context they were written in. In other words, they try to explain what's going on more and be even easier to understand.

Two good examples of Dynamic Translation versions are:
Contemporary English Version (CEV) and New Living Translation (NLT).

You didn't ask this, but just in case. If you are interested in what the Bible says about going to Heaven as a starting point, check out www.godlovestheworld.com. It's run by Campus Crusade for Christ, which is a well known Christian organization.

P.S. I forgot to say congratulations on your engagement!

Answer 2

There’s the King James Version, the New American Bible, the New Revised Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible or the New International Version and the New Living Version.

I’d avoid The Living Bible and The Message, which are both so poorly translated they loose all the nueances and abiguity.

I’d also avoid the King James Version . . . unless you’re used to reading Middle English like Shakespeare. Also, a lot has been learned since 1611, (the Dead Sea Scrolls found in 1948, for example) and the KJ version has major translation problems. Even the New Revised King James Version is pretty poor.

I use the NRSV, published last year. But I also like looking up OT references in a good Jewish translation of the Tanakh - the "Jewish Bible.”

Of course the Bible isn’t THE WORD OF GOD . . . it’s translated into a language we can understand.

But the Bible is God’s Word . . . meaning the message, not the medium or the method, is what God tries to tell us.

So, if you get a different version, and closely read the words, you’ll find different translations that have different nuanced meanings. It doesn’t mean the Bible is wrong, it means the human translators made different judgments in translations.


Be aware, if your fiancé has been reading the Bible, and hearing sermons, his whole life, your first reading of the Bible may be dramatically different than his reading. Doesn’t mean you’re either one wrong, just different.

Godspeed.

Answer 3

Probably the easiest to understand "versions" of the Bible are what are called paraphrases (e.g., The Good News). They are written in an attempt to communicate the basic messages in an easy-to-follow style of wording. They are not translation of the original scriptures, and can sometimes have arguable entries, but they are probably a good way for you to start. There are also children's bibles / story books, available at most any Christian bookstore, which could give you a quick introduction to the basic concepts so important to your fiance. There are several new, completely re-worked TRANSLATIONS of the Scriptures and it sometimes gets down to a matter of taste, but the New International Version is possibly the single most popular of those. According to my son, who is a missionary, the New King James version is an extremely well-done translation. So, there, you have two candidates when yuo're really really to study the Scriptures. Until then, I strongly recommend that you start with one of the children-oriented documents, includingone or another of the paraphrases. As the bible says, Christ wants you to come to him as a child, so don't feel bad if you start off small and work your way up. Ask you fiance for help with this.

Answer 4

That is good Q. that depends upon the persons reading intent. That is to say if U just want to "Read" vs. "Study" the Bible, and Why!!! Please don't be doing this for ANYONE BUT URSELF!!! For Scripture is a "Personal Standard" that Christians rely upon Daily as a "Guide for Living". Just as Christianity is a "Personal Relationship" between U & Christ. U can of course use just one "Good Study Bible" for Both, but a "Good Bible Handbook" will Really help U get the "Best Information" about the "Times, Traditions, Peoples etc." that will "Tie it All Together" for Ur Edification. I personally use an "American Standard" version Hebrew, Greek, Chaldee Key Study Bible, supplemented with the I-net & many other books the Most Used being Halley's Bible Handbook. John

Answer 5

It is great for people to share their favorite versions with you. It is even GREATER that you want to study the Bible and learn for yourself.

Your best bet is to go to a Christian book store and look at different versions for yourself to see what is easiest for you to digest.

PICK THE SAME EXACT SCRIPTURE TO COMPARE...
Try Psalm 23. It is familiar to most people and as soothing as any words that you will ever hear. Now, compare the New Living Translation, New International, English Contemporary, and others to see which you can absorb easier

My only warning would be to stay away from King James version. It is tradtional and harder to digest than the others. It is a great book, but since nobody talks that way it will be hard to understand. This may discourage you to finish...we don't want that to happen!

Answer 6

on the Jeopardy television application approximately 2 weeks in the past, in the class "Bible" the question grew to become into: "what's the main precise translation of all Bibles?" the superb answer grew to become into "NEW international TRANSLATION" that Jehovah Witnesses use. King James version got here into existence. That grew to become into in 1611. From virtually each quarter the King James Bible met opposition. criticism grew to become into usually severe. Broughton, a Hebrew pupil of the day, wrote to King James that he “could fairly be torn asunder with the aid of wild horses than enable the variety of version to be imposed on the church.” King James Bible has been replaced; on the instant no one reads the King James version in its unique sort. Explaining why it is so the e book The Bible in Its historical and English variations says: “virtually each version, from the very initiating, presented corrections and unauthorized variations and additions, usually including new blunders in the technique. The version of 1613 shows over 3 hundred variations from 1611, It grew to become into in the eighteenth century, despite the fact that, that the main significant variations have been made, The marginal references have been checked and confirmed, over 30,000 new marginal references have been extra, the financial disaster summaries and working headnotes have been thoroughly revised, the punctuation grew to become into altered and made uniform in accordance with present day practice, textual blunders have been bumped off, using capitals grew to become into drastically changed and decreased, and a radical revision made in the variety of specific forms of words.” maximum of variations have been made, a lot of them in the readings of passages, that the Committee on variations (1851-fifty six) of the yank Bible Society got here across 24,000 variations in six diverse variations of the King James version! What, then, of the objections raised with the aid of persons who say they don't prefer the King James Bible replaced? because of the fact the King James version has already been replaced, they lie on a crumbled initiating. If those persons do not prefer it replaced, then why do they use, fairly of a replica of an version of 1611, an version that has been replaced? between the main significant reasons the authorized version is so notably ordinary is its kingly authority. There seems little question that, had not a king authorized this version, it does not on the instant be honored as though it had come direct from God

Answer 7

I can see the thumbs down racking up, but if you truly want to understand the bible and some things about god, then pick up a children's illustrated bible. The words are small, the stories are paraphrased, and it gives a good overview. At that point, if you are still interested in learning more, pick a story and read it in several versions. The one that makes the most sense to you or is easiest to understand is probably your best choice.

Answer 8

Easy to understand is a mixed blessing. I use the King James version, but it uses a lot of obscure terms. I have a parallel translation with 4 different versions, if I ever need to compare.

"Double hearted" and "Double minded" is one of my favorite small differences that I found in the Epistle of James. Most people gloss over the words, but when you read to absorb, to ponder, these words make a difference.

Answer 9

There are many versions that are easy to understand. Does your fiance go to a church that uses a particular version? If he relies on the King James, I would suggest the New King James. I prefer the New International Version. If you want to just sit and read for general understanding, I recommend "The Message" or the New Living Translation.

Most of these are available at K-Mart or Walmart or on line at Christian Book Distributors at good prices.

Answer 10

The easiest to read and understand is the New World Translation, with over 100 Million in print across the planet, it's success speaks for itself. You can also get one for free. Visit your local Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. They will give you a Bible with no further obligation.