Suggestion For The Best Bible Version?

Heart_for_Christ

Heart_for_Christ

Hi everyone. I'm planning to get a new bible. I was just wondering what version of the bible is best for studying. I really want to learn God's word, but I've heard about the bible being mistranslated. I've always been taught the King James Version is best, but I don't understand words like thee, thou, and cubit??? :confused:

Can anyone suggest a good bible version?
Oh and a good commentary?

Thanks. :)
 
There are many good choices and ALL translations come from the original Greek version, so even the King James bible is an interpretation. Don't believe anyone who says the KJ bible is the BEST or the ONLY bible you should have. Have several versions at hand if you want to really understand.

Right now, I use a NIV bible and the Message, but I should probably get another to round it out. :D
 
:cool: Wow! Great choices here. But first what are you wanting this new bible for? Casual reading? In depth study? Are you wanting one for simple clarity? Cause today we have a great many to help you choose from! Now each will also prevail with the background of the translators with denominational influence, which means that Baptists like this one, Methodists like that one, etc. There are other versions for simplicity like the NCV, CEV. Also there is the HCSB which is very good. The NET bible is online for free, its major point is that the translation notes are with it!!

That all said, if you want a nice one with simple info on certain points and doctrines, try the Quest bible in NIV. After that get whatever translation you like in a study bible. I hope this helps.
 
All translations will have some problems, because there is not a one-for-one correspondence between words and ideas between two different languages. English, especially our modern variety, is much less precise than the Greek of the New Testament for example. Translations don't always carry over the subtleties of meanings in the original languages. One translation can do an excellent job with most of the scriptures, and yet obscure the meanings of some verses. Another translation will translate those verses better, but obscure the meanings of other verses.

I much prefer literal versions myself because they are much easier to do word studies with, but sometimes I'll find a paraphrase to be more accurate on a particular verse. For example, in John 21:15-17, Jesus uses one word for love (agapao - i.e. godly love), while Peter uses a different word (phileo - brotherly love). Many literal translations such as KJV, NAS, NIV and ESV don't show this. But the Living Bible, a paraphrase, does show the difference. I believe it is important to translate these subtle differences of meanings because it was important enough have used different words in the original languages.

For reading and studying, I usually use a JN Darby translation because I like literal versions and the one I have comes with full translator notes. It uses the older English, which in some cases is more precise. For example, sometimes its handy to know if 'you' is plural ('ye') or singular ('thou'). But if you find old English difficult to read, there are plenty of good modern English translations available. The English Standard Version and World English Bible are two good ones. The World English Bible is a new public domain translation based on ASV. It has its quirks (such as in Ephesians 6:14: "Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist"), but all translations have their quirks. The NET Bible also has a very good set of translator notes available. These notes come in handy in identifying when words are difficult to translate or may have more than one meaning.

It's helpful to have more than one translation available so you can compare them. There are also parallel Bibles available that contain multiple translations in one. I have one that contains KJV, Amplified, New American Standard and NIV.

A Strongs exhaustive concordance is also useful because it contains information about the original words used and their meanings. (Strongs is based on KJV.)
 
Thanks everyone. All your responses are quite helpful.

ccfromsc said:
:cool: Wow! Great choices here. But first what are you wanting this new bible for? Casual reading? In depth study? Are you wanting one for simple clarity? Cause today we have a great many to help you choose from! Now each will also prevail with the background of the translators with denominational influence, which means that Baptists like this one, Methodists like that one, etc. There are other versions for simplicity like the NCV, CEV. Also there is the HCSB which is very good. The NET bible is online for free, its major point is that the translation notes are with it!!

That all said, if you want a nice one with simple info on certain points and doctrines, try the Quest bible in NIV. After that get whatever translation you like in a study bible. I hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I need it for in depth study.
 
Patricia Dalmadge said:
Hi everyone. I'm planning to get a new bible. I was just wondering what version of the bible is best for studying. I really want to learn God's word, but I've heard about the bible being mistranslated. I've always been taught the King James Version is best, but I don't understand words like thee, thou, and cubit??? :confused:

Can anyone suggest a good bible version?
Oh and a good commentary?

Thanks. :)
Click to expand...

Hi Patricia,

I would suggest one that is as literal as possible that way you get as close to the original text as you can. I would also avoid study Bibles as they are just someones opinion and sometimes just incorrect. I would also avoid commentaries as they are simply opinions too. If you must look at commentaries I would suggest looking at as many as possible so as to weed out the incorrect stuff. For history I would suggest the Ante-Nicene Fathers, this will give you the history of what the Church believed for the first 300 years or so. It's quite different than what the church believes today

For in depth study I would suggest a Bible software program as there are many resources available. If money is an issue there are two free programs that are really good and have a good bit of resources available. They are eSword and The Word.
 
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Butch5 said:
Hi Patricia,

I would suggest one that is as literal as possible that way you get as close to the original text as you can. I would also avoid study Bibles as they are just someones opinion and sometimes just incorrect. I would also avoid commentaries as they are simply opinions too. If you must look at commentaries I would suggest looking at as many as possible so as to weed out the incorrect stuff. For history I would suggest the Ante-Nicene Fathers, this will give you the history of what the Church believed for the first 300 years or so. It's quite different than what the church believes today

For in depth study I would suggest a Bible software program as there are many resources available. If money is an issue there are two free programs that are really good and have a good bit of resources available. They are eSword and The Word.
Click to expand...


I see. Thanks.
 
Hi Patricia, I have a King James version with a topical index. The topical index may be the most useful tool for in depth study, as it helps greatly with finding all of the scripture dealing with the subject you are researching. I use the NIV and NLT versions for help in understanding in a current language format. New KJV is nice because it keeps much of the poetic beauty of the KJV but replaces the "thee's and thou's" for easier reading.
Online has great resources to use for free. biblegateway.com has many versions available and is easy to use. biblehub.com gives you a verse with many versions of that verse on the same page. biblestudytools.com gives you multiple commentaries at the bottom of each page to choose from. http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html links you to the online Strongs concordance which is extremely useful in looking up the original Greek and Hebrew.
God bless
 
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