All.. Bible Shopping. what do you think is a good Version and why?

Answer 1

OK, here's my "what bible should I pick" answer:

First, I'll assume that you are not a member of a sect that demands using the King James Version or any other particular version. (Unfortunately, most of these sects do not actually use the whole King James Version.)

At this stage you want to decide what your bible should contain. Do you want a bible that contains 1) all scripture or 2) a selection of scripture? Besides editions that contain all scripture, there are editions that contain only new testament books, others containing only books from the Hebrew bible, and still others (the majority) which exclude several books in a somewhat cavalier fashion.

I will assume that you intend to read the entire bible, or at least wish to have the entire bible at your disposal. In this case, you must obtain a bible that includes the Apocrypha. There are some sects teaching that the apocrypha is not inspired scripture, and if you are a member of one of these sects then simply avoid reading these books. There is no other reason for avoiding the so-called apocrypha and every reason to get a bible which includes them. Here is a more in-depth discussion about this topic: http://www.jimpettis.com/bibles/dc.htm .

In my conclusion I will consider two cases:
1) You want a "complete" bible (Complete)
2) You don't care if the apocrypha is included or not (Open)

The next stage is to decide if you want a bible merely for reading and learning the text of the bible itself, or if you intend to study scripture more deeply and intensely in order to gain a greater understanding and to help you interpret the scriptures accurately. This is the difference between a "standard" edition bible and a (scholarly) study bible. I will refer to this as "purpose" when I make recommendations below.

Finally, you need to decide whether you want a translation that offers 1) ease of reading 2) literalness of translation or 3) accuracy of translation. I separate these even though they are not *necessarily* mutually exclusive. Different versions *do* (must) follow primarily one of these three criteria, however, and so should you when you make a decision. I will refer to this as "style" when I make recommendations below.

A note about the King James Version: although excellent for its time, and including nearly the entire body of scripture, as well as marginal notes from the translators providing possible alternate translations (making it a passable study bible), the King James Version uses 400-year-old English, 400-year-old scholarship (read: they didn't know as much as scholars today), and texts that lacked the last 400 years of archaeological discoveries. By no means was the King James Version the first English version of the bible. It's main advantage today is that most people use some form of the King James Bible and it is often useful to use the same version as others in discussions of scripture.

Recommendations: you can look at a fairly thorough comparison of technical details of different versions here: http://www.jimpettis.com/bibles/chart.htm , but what follows are my recommendations.

Comparisons of "literalness" of translation can be found here: http://www.preceptaustin.org/tool_commentary.htm#obt and here: http://www.cs.indiana.edu/~port/teach/relg/bible.scale.html and here: http://www.zondervan.com/images/cms/Bibles/bible_transchrt_js.jpg . An important note: "literal" does *not* equate with "accurate". A translation that is more literal does *not* equate to a translation that is more accurate. Indeed, in *any* language translation, literal translation is likely to lead to significant failings in accuracy of translation.

Style: Translated for Ease of Reading
....Purpose: Reading (Ease of Reading is not a relevant style for a study bible purpose)
........Content: Complete
............CEV (Contemporary English Version) - may have difficulty finding a complete version in print http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHoly-Bible-Deuterocanonicals-Apocrypha-Contemporary%2Fdp%2F1585160210%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1187556958%26sr%3D11-1&tag=wwwjimpettico-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325 , but available as an e-book on CD http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FHoly-Bible%2Fdp%2F1585160059%3Fie%3DUTF8%26qid%3D1187556881%26sr%3D11-1&tag=wwwjimpettico-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325 . Second choice: NAB (New American Bible) - not as easy to read but still easy, translation accuracy may be slanted slightly by Roman Catholic bias.

Style: Translated for Ease of Reading
....Purpose: Reading
........Content: Open
............NIV (New International Version) - one of the easiest-to-read modern translations with higher marks for accuracy than most easy-to-read bibles

Style: Literalness of Translation
....Purpose: Study
........Content: Complete
............RSV (Revised Standard Version), New Oxford Annotated Bible - one of the most literal translations with some of the most scholarly study notes, though somewhat archaic language. 2nd choice: NET (New English Translation) - literalness uncertain but copious translator's notes help the reader achieve this goal. Deutero-canonicals incomplete.

Style: Literalness of Translation
....Purpose: Study
........Content: Open
............NASB (New American Standard Version), Scofield Study Bible - most literal modern translation, but study notes are for the most part independent of the translation. 2nd choice: RSV (Revised Standard Version), New Oxford Annotated Bible - not as literal as the NASB but more comprehensive and scholarly study notes.

Style: Literalness of Translation
....Purpose: Reading
........Content: Complete
............RSV (Revised Standard Version) - most literal complete version, but somewhat archaic language. Make certain to get a version that includes the Apocrypha. (All "Catholic" bibles include *most* of these books).

Style: Literalness of Translation
....Purpose: Reading
........Content: Open
............NASB (New American Standard Version) - most literal modern-text bible, high marks for accuracy

Style: Accuracy of Translation
....Purpose: Study
........Content: Complete
............NJB (New Jerusalem Bible), Regular Edition - copious study notes, word use demonstrates great concern for accuracy of translation, my favorite version, now hard to find. 2nd choice: NRSV (New Revised Standard Version), The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition - includes complete deutero-canonicals, excellent scholarly study notes on par with NJB, but translation suffers slightly from over-zealous use of "inclusive" language

Style: Accuracy of Translation
....Purpose: Study
........Content: Open
............Same as above. New Oxford Annotated available without the Apocrypha.

Style: Accuracy of Translation
....Purpose: Reading
........Content: Complete
............NJB (New Jerusalem Bible), Reader's Edition. 2nd choice: NET (New English Translation) - copious translator's notes may make this the most accurate translation, but requires study to absorb the translation; deutero-canonicals incomplete.

Style: Accuracy of Translation
....Purpose: Reading
........Content: Open
............NJB (New Jerusalem Bible), Reader's Edition. 2nd choice: NET (New English Translation). 3rd choice: NIV (New International Version) - highly regarded non-biased translation, not as careful as NJB but easier to read.


Recommendations for the true bible student (who doesn't know Greek or Hebrew):
1) Software including NASB, KJV, NRSV, NJB and NIV - I use Ellis (lacks NIV) but there is at least one other *affordable* (under $100) package providing this selection. Make certain a Strong's Concordance is also included.

2) NJB Regular Edition - get it if you can, don't settle for the Standard Edition. (My review here: http://www.jimpettis.com/bibles/njb.htm )

3) NASB - make certain to get the latest version. Get it in print if your software doesn't have it. Most literal translation.

4) The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition - NRSV translation demonstrates over-zealous use of inclusive language but the study notes are invaluable, perhaps better and less biased than NJB.

5) Oxford Authorized King James Version with Apocrypha - the complete books of the 1611 King James Version with printers errors removed and spelling modernized. No marginal notes.

6) KJV New Cambridge Paragraph Bible with the Apocrypha - the complete 1611 edition, *including* marginal notes, with modernized spelling. Probably more valuable than 5), but it's a tough call.

7) A good bible dictionary, such as HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. There are a few equally good alternatives.

Honorable mentions:

1) Tanakh, 1995 edition, by the Jewish Publication Society - scholarly translation of the Hebrew Bible by Jewish scholars, very highly regarded.

2) NWT (New World Translation), With References - a very literal bible with some excellent though incomplete study notes. Shows significant but infrequent Jehovah's Witness bias and is available only from the WatchTower Organization (Jehovah's Witnesses). Reading this with the awareness of the bias (which is mostly documented in the bible itself) can be quite worthwhile to a student of the bible.

I hope this helps.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

P.S. Read my review of the very biased Amplified Bible here: http://www.jimpettis.com/bibles/amp.htm

Answer 2

Winner at the bottom or go here: http://www.e-sword.net/

1. accuracy of translation
2. literalness of translation
3. ease of reading

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2. (RSV) Revised Standard Version
3. (NJB) New Jerusalem Bible
4. (NASB) New American Standard Version)
5. (ASV) American Standard Version
6. Scofield Study Bible
7. (NET) New English Translation
8. New Oxford Annotated Bible
9. Oxford Authorized King James Version with Apocrypha
10. Tanakh, 1995 edition, The Jewish Publication Society

___________________________

1. KJV (Companion Bible Version)
and a
Strong's Concordance

All around the best sources for a student .

Answer 3

As a fairly new Christian I had trouble understanding some wordings in the King James Version. I went to our local Christian Book Store and found a bible called the Answer. It is the Holy Bible in the NCV (new century version). I think this is a great choice, because it is loaded with todays problems and questions...and it gives you answers from the scripture. Here is a sample question that is in the Answer Bible. (What difference does it make if I believe in an Eternal home?) Good luck with your choice...there are so many wonderful choices available today.

Answer 4

Depends on my mood...I have six different versions at home. The Book reads like a novel, a bit easier to understand. The Message helps me get through some of the Old Testament easier.

The NIV and TNIV are good versions, a blend of contemporary language but with a dash of eloquence. KJV is probably the most accurate translation, but it's hard to read, so if you get at KJV, I encourage you to get another version to compare side by side.

The one I'm reading the most is the Max Lucado New Century devotional. But the notes are a bit weak.

I'm looking forward to picking up the Robert Lewis Men's Fraternity devotional bible when it comes out. I recommend Men's Fraternity for any guy interested in learning what authentic manhood means, and what God expects from us guys.

Good luck with your search. If you have a favorite verse or chapter in the bible, I recommend you give yourself 2 hours, go to Barnes & Noble or Borders and sit down in the aisle with a bunch of different versions. Read that particular verse or chapter and whichever one rings most true to you, that's probably the one you should get.

Answer 5

The New Jerusalem bible is a nice text. I also really like the Revised English Bible (REB) whose editorial committee heavily emphasized structure, grammar, and style in the resulting translations.

The NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) is what I read most, however. Despite the gender controversy, it is otherwise quite well regarded as a translation.

While I admire the KJV's influential prose, it does have some errors that certainly bely any claim that it is "non-corrupted." It contains quite a few late interpolations, such as 1 John 5:7 that are clearly in error.

Answer 6

I like the NIV because it is easy to understand, and according to people I know that have studied Greek and Hebrew it is a more correct translation than the KJV. New American Standard just seems too everyday for me. I mean the language is very easy to understand, and to me feels like a lack of reverence. I actually have a Bible that has the NIV, KJV, NAS and the Amplified (which I think adds too much). When I use that one, I still stick to the NIV translation for reading, but in Sunday School we try to see what how different version interpret different phrases.

Answer 7

Go to the used book store. You can buy a bag full of bibles for what you will pay in a religious book store. While I have other versions I use KJV and NIV primairly because I have concordances for them. I got them all at flea markets, second hand stores, or used book stores. Well, the KJV is a Gideon's

Answer 8

on the Jeopardy television software approximately 2 weeks in the past, interior the class "Bible" the question replaced into: "what's the main precise translation of all Bibles?" the splendid answer replaced into "NEW international TRANSLATION" that Jehovah Witnesses use. King James version got here into existence. That replaced into in 1611. From purely approximately each quarter the King James Bible met opposition. grievance replaced into generally intense. Broughton, a Hebrew student of the day, wrote to King James that he “could quite be torn asunder by using wild horses than enable one in all those version to be imposed on the church.” King James Bible has been replaced; in the present day no person reads the King James version in its unique variety. Explaining why it quite is so the e book The Bible in Its historical and English variations says: “purely approximately each version, from the very commencing up, presented corrections and unauthorized transformations and additions, generally including new blunders interior the technique. The version of 1613 shows over 3 hundred transformations from 1611, It replaced into interior the eighteenth century, although, that the main transformations have been made, The marginal references have been checked and demonstrated, over 30,000 new marginal references have been extra, the financial disaster summaries and working headnotes have been thoroughly revised, the punctuation replaced into altered and made uniform in accordance with modern-day prepare, textual blunders have been bumped off, using capitals replaced into extensively changed and decreased, and a radical revision made contained in this form of particular varieties of words.” maximum of transformations have been made, a lot of them interior the readings of passages, that the Committee on variations (1851-fifty six) of the american Bible Society got here upon 24,000 transformations in six diverse variations of the King James version! What, then, of the objections raised by using persons who say they do no longer choose the King James Bible replaced? through fact the King James version has already been replaced, they lie on a crumbled commencing up. If those persons do no longer choose it replaced, then why do they use, as a exchange of a replica of an version of 1611, an version that has been replaced? between the main motives the authorized version is so extensively conventional is its kingly authority. There looks little question that, had no longer a king authorized this version, it does not in the present day be commemorated as though it had come direct from God

Answer 9

My personal favorite, for bible study, is the NIV called The Quest Study Bible. I find the NIV to be much easier to understand than the King James. It also has questions and answers, about the text you are reading, in the margins. And somehow the translators knew what "key" scriptures would pop up questions in your mind, because invariably I find those are the ones addressed in the margins.

I've been using it for 10 years in my studies and really like it.

Answer 10

Get the New Standard Revised Version. It has the latest translations, and is closest to the original version. Avoid King James and any paraphrased "modern" version. Both are highly edited and subjective.

Answer 11

The NIV Evidence Bible! the NIV translation is easier to read and understand then the KJV. The Evidence Bible is from the way of the Master. It has hundreds of witnessing tools and tips. Questions and answers to many non believers claims. I use it everyday! :o)