I need help Christians please......?

Question

I'm about to buy a new Bible for studying and in-depth work. Which version do you feel is best, and why? Thanks in advance, God bless.

Answer 1

Get a comparative and a Strong's concordance.

Answer 2

Hi!
Great question!
The New International Version is the most accurate and up to date in terms of History and Scholarship. If you're doing in depth work, you really need a Strong's Concordance. It's the Bible 'deconstructed' down to each word. Really Amazing. If you can get an interlinear New and Old Testament too, this will really help you with linguistic stuff. Strong's will cite a word, but it may have a different form in the actual context. If you get an interlinear you can actually quote the original sentence in the original language.

On the subject of quotations, I've come to the conclusion that the King James really is the best for quoting. People today don't realize what an amazing poetic achievement the KJV really is. They talk about its inaccuracies, but these are pretty minor. The truth is, most English versions either sound like the KJV, or they pretty much stink. The language of the KJV is a little archaic, but here's the deal: Biblical Hebrew is archaic to modern Hebrew Speakers. Just as the Bible is the cornerstone of Hebrew Literature, the KJV is one of the cornerstones of English Literature. The experience an English speaker has listening to the KJV being recited is much the same as a Hebrew speaker has hearing the Original.
On the other hand, for the New Testament, the Koine Greek of the Apostles was very much a 'street' language, every day usage, for the most part. Paul's letters in particular benefit from a rendering into contemporary English, where as in the KJV they sound a little stuffy. One English Version I like is the 'Complete Jewish Bible' by ?? Stern. His NT in particular has a wonderful immediacy, and you also get all the propper nouns rendered into their original Hebrew forms.
Good Luck.

Answer 3

I think the New American Bible is probably the best scholarly bible. Today's English Version reads easier but the NAB is more accurate and has lots of notes. Also, don't cheat yourself. Get or borrow a Bible that has the Apocrypha in it. These books (commonly called the Apocrypha) were originally in the Bible at The Council of Nicea when the Bible was made canon. They were removed during the Reformation due to the fact that 2 Maccabees makes a reference to Purgatory. The Protestants argued that the Apocryphal texts weren't written in Hebrew & thats why they're not in the Old Testament. Politics has played a strange hand in Biblical codification and translation. For example... in the Old King James Bible there are references to Unicorns 8 times! My point is... the Bible is an excellent source of information. If you want a more poetic sounding Bible, try the New King James. It lacks the Apocrypha but Psalm 23 sounds like you'd expect it. Good luck!

Answer 4

For in-depth study there is no ONE best Bible version. Several versions should always be compared and evaluated to bring validity to your study.

However, I may suggest doing what I did when I first started to study the Bible. I didn't know which Bible version I should go with, so I bought a parallel Bible. It had four different translations presented in parallel format, and I could study each independently or comparatively.

Last I looked, Zondervan offered several choices in such Bibles.

Answer 5

The NIV (New International Version) study Bible is good. I like the American Standard study Bible even better because I heard that version is a little more accurate than the NIV.

A good concordance comes in very handy. Make sure the version of your Bible matches up with your concordance. It can be hard to find the word you are thinking of if your concordance is for King James translation and the word you are thinking of is NIV.

Answer 6

I think it is to each persons preferences. I myself prefer the King James Version. It is the first one that I started to study the Bible by. I have looked at some of the other versions, but I still prefer the KJV the best. I agree with your first answerer on getting a Strong's concordance. I have one and it is a big help when studying the Bible, which ever version you choose.

Answer 7

NIV with a Thompson Chain Reference for topical study.

King James for scripture memory.

Comparative Study Bible to investigate differences in English translations. [NIV, King James, NASB and Amplified versions will cover the ground you're investigating here quite nicely.]

The Dake Annotated Reference BIBLE if you wish to address beliefs specific to the charismatic movement.

Strong's Concordance for in-depth word study.

I notice others have mentioned linear translations but unless you're a minister or writing a book it is way too much -- same goes for literal translations.

If you have a computer and like to study that way, I suggest you get a computer program with all these tools included as that will be less cost prohibitive for you.

If you're on a budget and want books in your hand, get the NIV and add the Strong's Concordance when you can afford it. Then put the Comparative Study BIBLE in place and end with the Dake BIBLE to start your Biblical Study Library.

[If you have the funds, invest in texts that illuminate the historical context of scriptures like The Works of Josephus.]

Answer 8

I own several Bibles, The one Catholics use, the King James Version, and a New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. When I read Scriptures I compare Scriptures from all three Bibles. I prefer the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures because it puts God's name back in the more than 6000 places it should be. That alone shows the importance of using God's name. God's name, Jehovah, is to be sanctified or made holy as stated by Jesus.

Answer 9

It really depends on your study style. A Bible with a good concordance is a good choice. I also like a parallel Bible which has four versions parallel to each other: King James, NIV, Revised Standard, and Good News. It helps with understanding and one will be the version most understandable (readable) to you. May God bless you as you study His Word.

Answer 10

Get the version you prefer to read with wide margins. That way you can write in the book with plenty of room. I wouldn't get one with a lot of other stuff in it like some are suggesting. If you need commentary, get some commentaries. If you need a Bible Dictionary, get at least one of those too.

Don't limit what you can do by getting a Bible filled with stuff - I find wide margins allow me to write in the Bible, I can put what I need in it.

Also, I found that highlighter pens are great for study. If you come up with a great color code system you can save yourself a lot of time searching. Also! Get tabs. You can tab your Bible so that you can quickly turn to where you need to go.

BTW, I find that you get many more options with a King James or an NIV. There are complete dictionaries and concordances that are geared for them.

Answer 11

The ESV. Seriously. It's *exceedingly* literal and it is quite poetic. It is a newer translation --- just a few years old. But it has the literal-ness of the NASB (the prior benchmark) and the poetry of the King James. It is a favorite of modern intellectual heavies like R.C. Sproul and is widely respected among conservative theologians.

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Reference-Bible-Hardcover-Letter/dp/1581343167/ref=sr_1_11/103-1359383-9447047?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192773347&sr=1-11

I don't mean this to say that I don't love and use other translations. But this one is a nearly perfect marriage of style and substance, know what I mean? :)



Also, I strongly suggest that you get a literal translation of the Bible no matter what 'daily reader' you choose. By literal translation I mean one that doesn't even attempt to be readable --- though they are readable, if challenging. That way when you have a question in your reader you can go to the literal translation. I have really been utilizing this lately and it has helped me so much! For those of us that don't read Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic, it really is the next best thing.

http://www.amazon.com/Youngs-Literal-Translation-Bible-Robert/dp/0965307859/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-1359383-9447047?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192773320&sr=8-1