What version is your bible?

[Sue J Love]

Yes it's a transliteration, and never intended to replace the likes of the KJV, NIV, NRSV. The author is a serious scholar and a godly man. I've read him in interview saying he's perplexed when he hears it read in church ending 'this is the word of the Lord'.

His aim was to present the message of the bible in modern idiom. A worthwhile project.

I found it to be sacrilegious, in places, and poking fun at what is very serious. What should have brought our students to tears, instead, brought them to laughter. I don't recall the exact passage, but I know it had to do with Satan. That was many years ago.

 

[Laura1557]

I think the best way to choose what Bible to read is to pray about it and see how the Lord directs you. He ultimately led me to stick with the KJV. Over the years, I've read and owned the NASB New Testament, the Good News for Modern Man New Testament (both acquired at age 10, grade 5, from Gideon's back when they were still allowed in schools and from Sunday school, respectively), the CEV, the NKJV, the NIV, the Amplified, and the NLT. And possibly others I've forgotten about.

Since childhood, I've preferred the King James because it just seemed holier and more majestic to me somehow. The wording of some of the MVs is too common, too slangy (especially the paraphrases), which seems an affront to a holy God. Plus, the differences in them are subtle, but can be significant to where fundamental doctrine gets changed. (For example, I think it's the NIV that calls Mary a ''young girl'' when she bore Jesus; the KJV specifies she was a virgin. Any menstruating teen has the ability to have a baby, but the fact she was a virgin shows the supernatural conception.)

Also, I don't particularly care about the originals because there isn't one original manuscript left in existence. There are copies of copies of copies, but the original mss as they came from the pens of the original writers are long gone. As I don't speak Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic, I want the best Bible in the English language. Having used many MVs as well as the KJV, in my experience the KJV is the most direct, clearest and easiest for me to understand when it's straight text and Holy Spirit-illuminated.

The KJV is also the gold standard to which the MVs are compared. That's often the selling point: this version or that version is better than the King James because....(marketers fill in the blanks). Then the publishers release new versions of their modern versions, which I don't know how that doesn't become confusing.

I still compare certain verses in four different Bibles with YouVersion though. Usually the KJV, ESV, NIV and NASB. I can get bigger print on the computer than my old parallel Bible had.

A person's relationship with the Saviour is between them and the Lord though and I figure that includes the Bible version they read as well.

 

[Christ4Ever]

She had a shiny new one with silver edges and commentaries and everything and it looked very expensive whereas mine was old and falling apart.

You know why I just love this to no end?

I appreciate the Bible that is "old and falling apart", because that is a sure sign of one that is used!!!!

If you ask a person if they have a Bible and they say sure......and pull it off the shelf and have to dust it off before handing it to you. I'd have to wonder how much use they're putting into reading it!

Thanks for sharing that story sister!

With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC
Nick
<><

 

[Hekuran]

I found it to be sacrilegious, in places, and poking fun at what is very serious. What should have brought our students to tears, instead, brought them to laughter. I don't recall the exact passage, but I know it had to do with Satan. That was many years ago.

Sorry to hear that. I've frequently found it has shaken me out of the sleepiness of familiarity, and shed new light on well-known passages.

I can't agree that it's Satanic, but i do understand that it's not helpful for everyone.

 

[Sue J Love]

Sorry to hear that. I've frequently found it has shaken me out of the sleepiness of familiarity, and shed new light on well-known passages.

I can't agree that it's Satanic, but i do understand that it's not helpful for everyone.

Oh, I wasn't saying that The Message was Satanic. Sorry for that confusion. I was saying that a particular passage of scripture, which was about Satan, was made light of by The Message, and that, rather than invoking a response of serious concern to our students, it brought them to laughter, instead. But, that was a while ago, and I don't recall the particular passage of scripture.

 

[Waggles]

We dont always read from the same bibles but just out of interest what bible does everyone have or their most preferred version.
I wonder if anyone reads the same one as me...I seem to cop a lot of flack for sticking with the one God gave me. Its KJV and He has always given me that one to read.
If God showed you a certain one or you just found it.

KJV for me. KJV has every word in the original texts. A real plus.
And I have a couple of good parallel Bibles that can help with understanding some difficult passages
in regards to Olde English.

NLT - New Living Translation (but first editions) is a good version just to read through and get the gist
of what the OT says.

To many of today's contemporary versions in "easy to read" wording are woefully unscholarly and leave much out.
More like the work of unbelievers than scholars who tremble at the responsibility of handling the most sacred
word of God.

 

[Lanolin]

Sue will get back to you on charity but it is love towards humans and its an active love. And this is the kind of love God has because charity is described as kind, patient, not self seeking, doesnt keep record of wrongs, and all the rest. Charity is all these these things. Not because if anything that anyone else or even deserves but simply cos we are humans.

I dont know why kjv uses this word instead of the general word love in corinthians passage like all the other translations do but I think its because its being specific and that word encompasses love.

Very often people say they love you but they arent even kind, or they try to hurry love, or they just put themselves first. And they wil remember everything you did wrong. So i think the translators were careful to use the right word. Would you say non belivers love as well? I think they say they love others as well. But how many non believers would lay down their lives for others and help the needy. Only christians actually do this...this is why christians were the first to set up hospitals and orphanages, and they would go and tell the gospel to others all over the world even if they were poor, and why the salvation army goes and helps people in need who are homeless and hungry.

With absolutely no agenda, just to show who Jesus is. And we dont even have the resources ourselves to do this often christians are not rich wealthy or highborn people. Its because God provides everything we need to reach out...its his heart.

Charities are born out of this christian love for people...look at any charity initiative and it will be a christian behind it. Love is a verb and charity is a noun but thats just the different usage of the word. You dont faith someone and you dont hope someone either. You have faith, you have hope, and you have charity.

Wow hallelujah some people do read the same one I do..at least know am not alone. I dont need to explain things if you read the KJV

I find if people arent keen on KJV I keep on having to explain scripture when their translation falls short, because they just dont want to be bothered reading the KJV.

Please dont throw it away if you have one keep it as a reference, if you really dont like it give it to someone who would actually use it.

 

[Dave M]

Ok if you american it just seems everyone reads the nasb. Thats ok americans have their own language, just wondering if its much different. I think a lot of misunderstandings come from reading too many different versions thats all.

Lanolin
how many versions have your read to come to this conclusion? I have 2-3 versions on my counter in the kitchen at all times I think just the opposite of you, as it helps my understanding much better then just reading one version. I totally disagree with you but I totally respect you for reading the word of God and am so happy you do, I know not everyone will agree on things and that's just not a big deal.

So you say you read the kjv which version would that be? since it has been updated at least once that I know of?

I think the God has provided us with so many versions of the bible because we as people come in so many versions, JMHO

I dont care what version a person reads or how many versions they read, just as long as they are reading the bible. There are places in the world today that people would give anything for a bible and can not get one, yet here in America few people read it daily. I think reading the bible is one of the most important things a person can do in there life. And I admit these what seem like cult like followings of the "ONLY KJV" types gets under my skin at times. By no way am I saying that about you Lanolin.

 

[Lanolin]

Theres just one kjv, i dont mean nkjv or revised version.
It doesnt matter about spellings or edition or what binding kjv. If you read it you will know what am talking about.

I think it does matter if you serious about His Word. I think it matters if a person says they a christian but would call into question if they hated kjv for no good reason. Some of the reasons given arent good ones I mean just hating it cos its old is silly. Do we hate Gods word just cos its ancient. No, you respect it.

I dont know that God gave us many different versions of the bible cos people are all different. I think people do that. I think if He did that everyone would have their own version.

JEsus is the same yesterday today and forever, he is the rock and He is the Word you can rely on. He isnt the author of confusion, but with so many different bible versions I do see that people actually DO get confused. Cos they will flick from one to the other. Imagine if I read the bible to children and bought a different version everytime I had a class. Would they be confused? I think so! Imagine if I said during the middle of one story that I will just switch to another version cos I dont understand that one. What kind of teacher would I be.

 

[Dave M]

who said anything about hating Gods word

 

[Laura1557]

Theres just one kjv, i dont mean nkjv or revised version.
It doesnt matter about spellings or edition or what binding kjv. If you read it you will know what am talking about.

I think it does matter if you serious about His Word. I think it matters if a person says they a christian but would call into question if they hated kjv for no good reason. Some of the reasons given arent good ones I mean just hating it cos its old is silly. Do we hate Gods word just cos its ancient. No, you respect it.

I dont know that God gave us many different versions of the bible cos people are all different. I think people do that. I think if He did that everyone would have their own version.

JEsus is the same yesterday today and forever, he is the rock and He is the Word you can rely on. He isnt the author of confusion, but with so many different bible versions I do see that people actually DO get confused. Cos they will flick from one to the other. Imagine if I read the bible to children and bought a different version everytime I had a class. Would they be confused? I think so! Imagine if I said during the middle of one story that I will just switch to another version cos I dont understand that one. What kind of teacher would I be.

Full agreement here, sister. Excellent post.

There's lots of us around who hold to the superiority of the KJV, who aren't necessarily KJVO. We're more KJVP (KJV Preferred).

 

[Laura1557]

I'm not a scholar and I don't argue this topic, but I do have more thoughts continued from my post #31 in this thread:

The thing for me is that in several places, the Bible has instructions and observations specifically regarding God's words. Not God's ''ideas'' or God's ''message'' or ''the principles,'' but His w-o-r-d-s (plural). Not just the general "the word of the Lord" or "the word of God" which are also phrases that appear (close to 300 times combined) in my Bible, but *every word.*

Two OT examples

Proverbs 30:5 (KJV) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Psalm 12:6 (KJV) The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Psalm 12:7 (KJV) Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

So with the multitude of modern versions that change and omit God's w-o-r-d-s not just compared to the KJV, but even among themselves, where are these w-o-r-d-s that God promised to preserve? Because they have to be somewhere or God's a liar.

After reading and comparing multiple versions over the years, the conclusion I came to is that God's words are preserved for the English-speaking people in the King James Bible.

With every new version of the last new version that's supposed to be an improvement over the last new version and the KJV, there are changes. There have to be, or it couldn't be copyright as a new work (to the best of my knowledge). So no matter how I look at it, I see the modern version committees as putting their own spin on God's words, at least to a degree.

But God expects His exact words to be obeyed:

In Exodus 17:6 (KJV) when the Israelites first complained about the lack of water at Horeb, God told Moses to smite the rock.

In Numbers 20:8 (KJV) when the Israelites complained again at Kadesh about the lack of water, God told Moses to speak to the rock.

Numbers 20:11 (KJV) says Moses smote the rock twice at Kadesh. God forbade them both from entering the Promised Land "because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel."
[ Num 20:12 (KJV) ]

That passage shows me that Moses and Aaron found out first-hand that to give your own interpretation to God's words can be downright dangerous.

 

[Lanolin]

There is a christian publication called word for today that uses 20 different versions of the bible in english for its devotions. Why cant they just stick to one?

Looking up 20 different versions seems a bit of a waste of time..who has 20 different bibles?!

As I said I have read from differnt versions over the years and they are missing words..other ones I have read are good news, new king james, niv, cev, they just dont seem to have the full scripture. The message bible, you cannot call it the holy bible. Niv is like reading a novel version of the Bible. When someone quotes from esv often it glosses over important words that I know from reading KJV are there. Nasb seems the same.

Anyway. Would have less debate and confusion and misunderstandings if everyone reads the same version, wouldnt we. Every word from God is pure. To undermine it by omitting it or changing it or dividing scripture wrongly is quite serious...satan did this. It seems to me some versions/translations are only giving you half of Gods word.

 

[amadeus2]

There is a christian publication called word for today that uses 20 different versions of the bible in english for its devotions. Why cant they just stick to one?

Looking up 20 different versions seems a bit of a waste of time..who has 20 different bibles?!

As I said I have read from differnt versions over the years and they are missing words..other ones I have read are good news, new king james, niv, cev, they just dont seem to have the full scripture. The message bible, you cannot call it the holy bible. Niv is like reading a novel version of the Bible. When someone quotes from esv often it glosses over important words that I know from reading KJV are there. Nasb seems the same.

Anyway. Would have less debate and confusion and misunderstandings if everyone reads the same version, wouldnt we. Every word from God is pure. To undermine it by omitting it or changing it or dividing scripture wrongly is quite serious...satan did this. It seems to me some versions/translations are only giving you half of Gods word.

While, of course, you are correct in that a single version would understanding one another easier. The problem as always is in people. God confused languages in Genesis 11 because people who could understand each other were using their common language for a purpose other than God's purpose.

People are led by other people and quite often will lead both the leader and the follower into a ditch.

"Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. " Matt 15:14

I would never change from my KJV. While I would always recommend it over others to someone interested enough to ask me, I wouldn't push it. God is still in the end of any matter that matters the One who gives any increase that is needed.

 

[Lanolin]

Around Jesus time it seemed the jewish Hebrews had lost their language and everyone was speaking Greek, but its good that people are still speaking it today.

Nobody seems to speak aramaic, well I dont know anyone personally that does yet it was the language Jesus spoke. I am not sure why because I dont know much about the aramaic people if they were a separate people with their own language.

Nobody seems to talk about it!

I dont know if the overabundance of bible versions in english is the same for all other languages/tongues as well. But two dozen different versions of the bible in one language seems excessive. I suppose we can thank Him for gift of tongues and gifts of interpretation. For a new christian its really confusing...you think oh there must just be one Holy bible and its the same all over, but thats not the case.

The lady that snubbed my bible didnt actually offer me a new one. I have given away lots of bibles to people, anyone who asks can have one. I havent come across anyone who refused a KJV when its was free, but I seem to cross some people that have strange ideas about KJV. One said to me oh its good news for 17th century man.

People seem to be fixated on how old it is. Well so what. A thousand years is one day to God!

I do wonder if the original language before the tongues were confused was actually Hebrew. Is there any evidence it was...? We know the ten commandments were written by the finger of God, and that was in Hebrew. But what about before that. As far as I know there arent twenty different versions of the books of Moses..the torah is the torah there doesnt need to be different versions of that. Theres only one version of the greek septugint. It doesnt need to be updated every year. I think once you have it dont mess with it!

As a former esol teacher i do know english is a confusing language to learn so would rather keep it simple and stick with one text if teaching...your students dont want to have to buy ten different textbooks of the same story for example!!

 

[Brad Huber]

.... For a new christian its really confusing...you think oh there must just be one Holy bible and its the same all over, but thats not the case....

Jesus never took the time to put on paper what was hallowed and what was not, think about that. He made it a point to trust in the Holy Spirit because people can misinterpret words, translators can get stuff wrong, accidentally or on purpose. Yet just like in the time of Jesus, people prefer the written word. Now ask yourself why.

 

[amadeus2]

Around Jesus time it seemed the jewish Hebrews had lost their language and everyone was speaking Greek, but its good that people are still speaking it today.

If you check the history of modern Israel the ancient Hebrew language actually had to be reinvented. Along with those who were working from late 19th century into the 20th century to somehow establish a nation of Israel again, there was work being done to re-establish the Hebrew language. It existed in its former state no where. It remained as a literary language and a language used for religious purposes, but no one had spoken it for centuries. They re-worked the language and by the nation of Israel was established in 1948 it was again a language. Legal requirements by the new state of Israel regarding using the language helped do the second seemingly impossible thing regarding modern Israel. The first one of course was re-establishing the nation itself which had not been a separate nation for about 2000 years. The language had not been anyone's language for much longer than that. They actually reactivated a dead language which had not been anyone's language since several hundred years before the birth of Christ.

 

[Lanolin]

If you check the history of modern Israel the ancient Hebrew language actually had to be reinvented. Along with those who were working from late 19th century into the 20th century to somehow establish a nation of Israel again, there was work being done to re-establish the Hebrew language. It existed in its former state no where. It remained as a literary language and a language used for religious purposes, but no one had spoken it for centuries. They re-worked the language and by the nation of Israel was established in 1948 it was again a language. Legal requirements by the new state of Israel regarding using the language helped do the second seemingly impossible thing regarding modern Israel. The first one of course was re-establishing the nation itself which had not been a separate nation for about 2000 years. The language had not been anyone's language for much longer than that. They actually reactivated a dead language which had not been anyone's language since several hundred years before the birth of Christ.

Thats quite amazing.

I do know SOME hebrew words...

Hallelujah!
Hosanna.
Shalom.

I have heard in Israel they boast 100 percent literacy. Plus they now understand the dead sea scrolls. Not just scribes and Pharisees now but ordinary people. At the time of Jesus, palestine/israel was so hellenised that everyone was speaking greek. Its a good thing that people there are now learning their original tongue.
God can reveal to anyone His Word but its only people that prevent others from hearing and reading it.

Some by keeping it to themselves or not sharing it I suppose, or misapporiating it.

Jesus referred to the written word when he was tempted by satan and satan left him. He said three times 'it is written' and had memorised deuteronomy. Also when Jesus was preaching in synagogues he would got up and read from Isaiah. Scripture was very important for Gods people as it is today. Moses was told by God to write everything down. When given a vision, write it down so everyone can read it.

Think about how its only humans who communicate with a written language. Animals dont read and write. Only humans do. Why did God write the ten commandments. He could have just told everyone, but no He wrote it down and those tablets were kept in the ark of covenant as they were Holy words.

 

[amadeus2]

Thats quite amazing.

I do know SOME hebrew words...

Hallelujah!
Hosanna.
Shalom.

I have heard in Israel they boast 100 percent literacy. Plus they now understand the dead sea scrolls. Not just scribes and Pharisees now but ordinary people. At the time of Jesus, palestine/israel was so hellenised that everyone was speaking greek. Its a good thing that people there are now learning their original tongue.
God can reveal to anyone His Word but its only people that prevent others from hearing and reading it.

Some by keeping it to themselves or not sharing it I suppose, or misapporiating it.

Jesus referred to the written word when he was tempted by satan and satan left him. He said three times 'it is written' and had memorised deuteronomy. Also when Jesus was preaching in synagogues he would got up and read from Isaiah. Scripture was very important for Gods people as it is today. Moses was told by God to write everything down. When given a vision, write it down so everyone can read it.

Think about how its only humans who communicate with a written language. Animals dont read and write. Only humans do. Why did God write the ten commandments. He could have just told everyone, but no He wrote it down and those tablets were kept in the ark of covenant as they were Holy words.

Part of the reason, I believe, that the scripture was written down was for forums such as this one and conflicts such we see here and other places with regard to which version to read. More important than the version we read, I believe, is the attitude [Spirit or spirit] in which we discuss it. People often do not realize that even the way they act and react in a discussion or debate or argument is also being observed by God. For God the tongue [which here also means the keyboard], that very unruly member according to James needs to be under control. Alone no one can control it, which is why God sent His Son and the Holy Ghost so that we could overcome even the unruliness of our tongue.

 

[Lanolin]

Whatever Jesus said, is GOLD. There are four versions of the gospel, right, in matthew, mark, luke and john. Why do people make it more complicated by having 20 different versions of these, I dont know. Its so unnecessary...God had four versions the gospel for four different types of people. If you want a simple straightforward action packed version, read Mark. If you want geneology and history, go for Matthew. If you want Mary's version, read Luke, he was her physician. If you want someone who was really close friend to Jesus, go for John. Read them all, but you dont need to go reading different versions of different versions.

The language of all these and the words are telling the story...people need go remember that it was more than 2000 years ago these events happened and so need to look past how old it appears. You are not going to find in the Bible txt speak and cars and modcons. That is unrealistic to expect Gods story to include all the wordly language and expressions we are so familiar with today and to change it to be more acceptable to us when it just needs to be true Gods words. Every jot and tittle.


Much of the hebrew language and idioms in the Bible when directly translated reveal Gods facility with words and His wisdom and holiness, its one thing to translate the Holy Bible..its another to edit or rewrite it. Revelation 22:18-19 suggests a serious charge against those who try to do this.

I dont know how people read the bible here, but a suggestion you read the entire bible of ONE version whichever one God shows you instead of reading bits and pieces of twenty different versions. It isnt the more bibles you have the better christian you are.

Its like do you want to eat a fullly prepared home cooked meal or do you just want to snack on microwaved junk food at your convenience. Some christian books or devotionals I read, they have quoted from at least twenty different versions you can see it in the copyright page, as if the author doesnt know which Bible to read and cant make up their mind.

Have a read of what Jesus says here in Luke 24:44-49

Esp verse 45. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.

Now these disciples, many had read and heard the scriptures, the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms every week being read out in the synagogue, but did they understand them? And here comes Jesus and does he give them a new version or translation? No he opens their understanding to what they have already heard and read. Jesus reminds them of what is written already! He doesnt try and rewrite the bible.