M30USA Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Preface: please don't turn this into a thread about how "the Bible has been lost in translation", etc. So which version do you prefer? Last year I explored the ESV. I had heard good things about it, but was disappointed. It seems rather awkward with regard to its phrasing and inconsistent with regard to its word selection. This year I'm going back to the NKJV. I believe the KJV is the most solid, yet I want an updated version of it without the "thou" and "thee". This is what the NKJV offers. I probably have most experience with the NIV. I'm definitely most familiar with that. I started out on this one when I first became a Christian. But I've selected the NKJV for my 180 day Bible plan. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
endlessabyss Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I'm using the Good News Translation. Everyone says to use the King James. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
autumnnight Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I like the NIV, but for study I use the NAS. I have an International Inductive Study Bible (the Kay Arthur thing), and I love the wider margins and study guides and references. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
angel.eyes Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I like the NKJV, although I acknowledge that it has some decided flaws in terms of translation. But I memorized Bible verses in that version growing up. Because I'm familiar with it, it brings me comfort. I will also reference the RSV Bible from time to time, and I typically read a passage in both versions. Bible Gateway has a nifty feature that allows you to compare and contrast different translations. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 New American Bible, revised edition is the one I teach out of. I never read any other variation of any other bible though so I can't really compare it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Author M30USA Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 I like the NKJV, although I acknowledge that it has some decided flaws in terms of translation. More flaws than the regular KJV? I know the only differences in the NKJV are: 1) Frequent removal of "and". 2) Modernization of words like "thee", "thou", "thine", etc. 3) Substitution of words that people no longer understand--such as "raiments" to "clothing". But overall the NKJV is pretty much identical to KJV. At least that's what the editors claim. Link to post Share on other sites
amaysngrace Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I stumbled on this and thought I'd share if that's okay with you, M30 History of the Bible - Who Wrote the Bible - Why It's Reliable 2 Link to post Share on other sites
pureinheart Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 I stumbled on this and thought I'd share if that's okay with you, M30 History of the Bible - Who Wrote the Bible - Why It's Reliable This is awesome AG:) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
youngskywalker Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 King James. I think it is the easiest to read once you learn some of the old English words. The other versions add to many extra words that don't need to be there to say what it needs to say. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author M30USA Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 King James. I think it is the easiest to read once you learn some of the old English words. The other versions add to many extra words that don't need to be there to say what it needs to say. Do you like the NKJV? If not, specifically why? Link to post Share on other sites
angel.eyes Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 More flaws than the regular KJV? I know the only differences in the NKJV are: 1) Frequent removal of "and". 2) Modernization of words like "thee", "thou", "thine", etc. 3) Substitution of words that people no longer understand--such as "raiments" to "clothing". But overall the NKJV is pretty much identical to KJV. At least that's what the editors claim. Therein lies its major flaw. For starters many older, more reliable, Greek manuscripts of the scriptures have been discovered since 1611, when the King James Version was published. There was also tremendous time pressure to complete the KJV translation, so it didn't benefit from the rigorous proofreading and editing that most other translations underwent. When the New King James version was being developed in the late 1970's the consortium involved made a conscious decision early on to base it on the King James version and didn't incorporate older, more reliable Greek manuscripts that had been unearthed subsequent to the 1600's. Other translations have benefited from considering and incorporating these other manuscripts in their version of the Bible. There are numerous other criticisms of the translation, but that's the biggie. Now, to be fair, the New King James version uses footnotes to discuss key discrepancies. And for the most part, outside of a handful of passages/stories, discrepancies are very minor and don't alter the meaning of a specific passage. Again, it's my favorite version despite its inherent flaws, and I account for those by reading a passage in at least one other translation. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
TheFinalWord Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Preface: please don't turn this into a thread about how "the Bible has been lost in translation", etc. So which version do you prefer? Last year I explored the ESV. I had heard good things about it, but was disappointed. It seems rather awkward with regard to its phrasing and inconsistent with regard to its word selection. This year I'm going back to the NKJV. I believe the KJV is the most solid, yet I want an updated version of it without the "thou" and "thee". This is what the NKJV offers. I probably have most experience with the NIV. I'm definitely most familiar with that. I started out on this one when I first became a Christian. But I've selected the NKJV for my 180 day Bible plan. Personally, I like the KJV, mainly for its poetic and majestic sound. But it probably is not the closest to the original. The KJV was translated from the textus recepitius. The NKJV is also based on the textus receptus (complied by Erasmus). NIV, NASB, are based on the eclectic text. Most of the differences will be subtle. Unless you are doing detailed word studies, I think any you pick will give you the basic idea. If you want to dig deep you will need a lexicon. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Author M30USA Posted January 2, 2015 Author Share Posted January 2, 2015 (edited) I absolutely LOVE my new Thomas Nelson NKJV Study Bible. It's like I'm reading the Bible all over again. The level of scholarship is unmatched. I don't mean to sound conceited, but I rarely find most study Bibles informative. Most are just inspirational and made for "life application"; they don't give me answers to difficult passages that I'm looking for. This one does. And even for highly debated verses, it accurately presents all views well. Not to mention it's loaded with color photos, word studies, and its own concordance. This beast of a book weighs about 4 pounds!! http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0529114380/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1420173919&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SY200_QL40 Edited January 2, 2015 by M30USA 1 Link to post Share on other sites
angel.eyes Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Impressive! I use a Thomas Nelson NKJV bible as well. But mine is a gift from when I decided to get baptized at thirteen. It's a leather-bound, light, portable version. I'm shocked at how well it's held up. Despite being dropped and squished into my pocketbook, it looks nearly new. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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