Question:
What is the best version of the Bible?
Jess Q
2009-01-05 20:21:30 UTC
I know it depends on various things and that there is no official version. But I am new to Christianity after years of being a Wiccan. I bought a New James Version... but am wondering if that was the best choice. I really like the lessons Jesus has to teach such as "turn the other cheek." But many parts of the Bible just don't make sense to me....when Satan tried to tempt Jesus....why was Jesus in the wilderness anyway? Sorry for my naivety....like I said, I'm new and anything to help would be appreciated.
Fifteen answers:
† Lover of Knowledge ♫♪
2009-01-05 20:39:01 UTC
By far the most accurate version of the Bible regarding ORIGINAL translations from the Greek is The King James version. I recommend highly the NEW King James Version because it is identical to the King James except that it uses synonymous words for clearer understanding in Modern English. But the original meanings don't change and remain the closest you can obtain to the original scripts.



But the best version to buy for understanding difficult passages is The Clear Word. It LUCIDLY lays every scripture out into PLAIN & SIMPLE modern terms. I would say buy it for sure; it makes reading the Bible even more edifying and enjoyable. You will learn a great deal and get lots (if not all) your scriptural confusions cleared up with The Clear Word. You can buy it in most Christian book stores but the one store I know that always has it is the A.B.C. (Adventist Book Center) There are hundreds of Adventist Book Centers all over the continent. Just go to their website to find the nearest to you. I hope I helped you, I know that you won't be disappointed with The Clear Word.
?
2016-04-08 14:10:17 UTC
On the Jeopardy TV Program about 2 weeks ago, in the Category "Bible" the question was: "What is the most accurate translation of all Bibles?" The correct answer was "NEW WORLD TRANSLATION" that Jehovah Witnesses use. King James Version came into existence. That was in 1611. From almost every quarter the King James Bible met opposition. Criticism was often severe. Broughton, a Hebrew scholar of the day, wrote to King James that he “should rather be torn asunder by wild horses than allow such a version to be imposed on the church.” King James Bible has been changed; today no one reads the King James Version in its original form. Explaining why this is so the book The Bible in Its Ancient and English Versions says: “Almost every edition, from the very beginning, introduced corrections and unauthorized changes and additions, often adding new errors in the process. The edition of 1613 shows over three hundred differences from 1611, It was in the eighteenth century, however, that the main changes were made, The marginal references were checked and verified, over 30,000 new marginal references were added, the chapter summaries and running headnotes were thoroughly revised, the punctuation was altered and made uniform in accordance with modern practice, textual errors were removed, the use of capitals was considerably modified and reduced, and a thorough revision made in the form of certain kinds of words.” So many changes have been made, many of them in the readings of passages, that the Committee on Versions (1851-56) of the American Bible Society found 24,000 variations in six different editions of the King James Version! What, then, of the objections raised by persons who say they do not want the King James Bible changed? Since the King James Version has already been changed, they lie on a crumbled foundation. If these persons do not want it changed, then why do they use, instead of a copy of an edition of 1611, an edition that has been changed? One of the major reasons the Authorized Version is so widely accepted is its kingly authority. There seems little doubt that, had not a king authorized this version, it would not today be venerated as though it had come direct from God
enter name here
2009-01-05 20:30:00 UTC
People like different versions for different reasons... I like the New King James Version myself... but when I am reading the bible just to read it I like either the Message or the New International Version... You might look at a sight called biblegateway.com when you are studying the Bible as you can access many different versions instantaneously, for free, to get different perspectives and perhaps understand the text more fully... most of the newer translations are supposed to be translated straight from the original texts. I read the King James Version, the New Revised Standard Version, the Message, the New International Version and the New King James Version... and landed on the last one for readability and reliability... Some paraphrase while others don't... I am a big fan of using multiple versions for study and understanding....



As far as Jesus being in the wilderness... He was there to talk and worship God before He started His ministry. God speaks in a still small voice so when trying to converse with God, the best way to hear Him is to get away from all the noise that life brings.
Think Before You Ink
2009-01-05 20:52:02 UTC
Personally I like the NKJV which is what you say you have. Its pretty easy to follow. Jesus went out to the wilderness in order to be tempted. The reasons are there in the Bible.. Its kind of hard to explain here in Y!A. If you are having trouble with the NKJV Bible then you may want to pick up a copy of the NIV or New International Version... and it would be good to get a STUDY BIBLE. They come in all the same versions as regular Bibles, but tend to add little bits of information the bible doesn't contain. Historical facts and more information on the person who wrote the certain book or who they wrote it to..
2009-01-06 11:39:24 UTC
OK, first, this plain-and-simple advice: if you have trouble comprehending the New King James Version (NKJV), you will have even more difficulty understanding the archaic language of the King James Version (KJV). Therefore, YOU do not want to use the KJV.



Now, that being said, I recommend that you read through this, which will help you to choose a bible that suits you

http://www.bible-reviews.com/selector.html



Considering that you have difficulty with the NKJV, I would recommend that you focus on the easy-to-read versions.



I was especially impressed when I recently (very briefly) examined this study bible

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585160172?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwjimpettico-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1585160172



Most "student" study bibles are full of biased commentary. This one seems to contain far more unbiased educational material and far less commentary. Use the "Look Inside" thing to see how this bible teaches you about the bible passages that you are reading in a way that is easy to understand. Note that this bible is a 66-book (minimal canon) bible.



If you have any more questions regarding bible versions, I will be happy to answer - just e-mail me.



Jim
guraqt2me
2009-01-05 20:56:49 UTC
Whatever, works for you. Yes; no doubt, you will have "tons" of questions, like we all do especially at first. May I suggest, just read the Bible from cover to cover or even, the first four books of the New Testament referred to as the Gospel accounts, at first. The Bible is the world's number 1 best seller of all time. The Dead Sea Scrolls found in a cave, prove that the accuracy of the Bible. These Scrolls written 1000 years prior to the most recent copy which Bible scholars had at the time, namely, the Book of Isaiah, were found to be written with pin-point accuracy in comparison to the current copy of the time. This proves the accuracy and you can trust the validity of the Holy scriptures within the Bible. The Jewish Scribes, who penned the book of Isaiah and other books of the Bible, were found to be flawless in their craft. If they made as much as, one mistake on even, a letter of the alphabet, they had to re-write the whole thing once, again ! Without the Old Testament of the Bible, you cannot understand the New Testament. It has been designed that way as an inspired piece of work authored by the very Holy Spirit of God, as he moved the men of the Bible to write down what God would have us to learn. (see: Second Book of Peter, chapter 1 , verses 19 & 20 )

A passage taken from the Book of Isaiah, tells us how we come to learn and understand the Bible as we relate to it in our study, thereof. (see: the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 28, verse 9 & 10 )

You will learn as you grow spiritually, it takes time but it is the real thing and you will come to know it, so. Good luck in your reading !
troll to troll
2009-01-05 20:33:11 UTC
King James Version

(The New KJV has to many alterations.)



For many reasons.

________



That is right the adversary did try and to tempt.



This would be an example to all what he would offer as reward if a person turns from God.

_______



After His baptism, the Lord Jesus Christ went into the wilderness in order to prepare in solitude by fasting and prayer for the accomplishing of His great work for which He had come to earth.. Jesus had spent many years training to be a rabbi and accepted as one. He wore the purple coat of the highest atttainment with the telling trimmings. That is why He was a respected teacher for a couple of years before the Phaisees, Saducees, and scribes began turning on Him.
Scott S
2009-01-07 11:40:48 UTC
Congratulations on getting away from Wicca. For someone new to Christianity who is reading the Bible, I recommend two things.



First, read the New Testament a few times before trying to read the entire Old Testament. It sounds like you started with Gospels – a very good choice.



Jot down questions you have, reflect on them, but keep reading. You will find that many of your questions will melt away on your second read through as you gain more knowledge of the Scriptures and Christ.



Second, get one or two study Bibles. They contain notes written by Biblical scholars that address most of the questions readers have. You are not alone; the notes will be your companion and teacher.



The main reason Bible versions differ is that the translators have different goals. The best Bible depends on what you are looking for.



You mentioned owning a “New James” version, look closer at the title, that may a New Kings James version (NKJV). That is an essentially literal translation. Since you are having difficulty understanding it, I’m guessing that the notes are not adequate to help you, so here are my specific recommendations.



Purchase an ESV Study Bible. It is a better essentially literal translation than the NKJV. Essentially literal translations try to reproduce the original Greek and Hebrew in the closest possible English words. They are the best translations for study and reflection. http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=502415&netp_id=524958&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers



Purchase an easy to read translation. These are known as dynamic equailvent (DE) or paraphrase, which seek to render the same meaning to today’s reader that the ancient reader understood. Difficult words and verses are rephrased for modern reader. This means that figures of speech are dropped in favor of declarative statements, shorter sentences are used, and simple vocabulary is employed. Since translators don’t always agree on the best way to rephrase for the modern reader, DE translations vary quite a bit from one another in some verses.



The dynamic equailvent method was originally developed to help missionary translators. It was thought to best for English also, but that thinking is hotly disputed by scholars and serious students of the Bible.



Nevertheless, easy to read DE versions are very helpful for the new Bible reader, they get the basic point across in a very readable way. They also can function as a commentary when reading an essentially literate translation.



Excellent easy to read Study Bibles are:

NLT Study Bible http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=355704&event=1003NLT|188914|57544

NLT Study Bible sample http://g.christianbook.com/netstorage/pdf/sample/317571.pdf

or

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (check out excerpt) http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=938965&event=1003NIVSBU|1960297|57355#curr

The NLT is easier to read than the NIV. The NLT study notes have received excellent initial reviews, but are new. The NIV study notes are 20 years old and have been found excellent by a generation of readers.



** To those promoting the 400 year old KJV and the NKJV **



I have been studying the subject of English Bible translation for over 20 years. While I appreciate zeal over defending Scripture from alteration, this zeal must be matched with knowledge. The KJV only arguments are based on misinformation. I implore you: learn the other side the issue! KJV only folks must face this question:



The KJV (and NKJV) are based upon manuscripts collectively known as the Textus Receptus. They retain the traditions of the church rather than the actual word of God. One has to face the question are you really going to place Roman Catholic church tradition on the same level as the actual word of God?
2009-01-05 20:27:57 UTC
I prefer the New King James version myself. However it is a personal choice. You should choose one that you are most comfortable with.



I would also suggest that you get a bible that has a good concordance with it. Also, there are study bibles that break down verses for you to make it easier to understand.



Don't let anyone tell you that if you don't use a certain translation you are wrong.
me
2009-01-05 21:07:59 UTC
The King James version.



For ANYONE to say, "Any "version"(even the New King James version has flaws!) is fine" has NOT read the scripture and doesn't realize how dangerous that is to say that.









Revelation 22:18-19 (King James Version)



For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:



And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.









The King James translation was done VERBATIM, word for word from Greek in 1611 from ACTUAL CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE.









All of these have whole verses and WHOLE CHAPTERS REMOVED; they are NOT ACTUAL CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE. They are derived from what's called, "The Alexandrian manuscripts"; written by a cult basically. (Too much info - just google it.)



THE ALEXANDRIAN MANUSCRIPT "BIBLES"

(AMP) Amplified Bible

(1901 ASV) American Standard Version of 1901

(CEV) Contemporary English Version

(Darby) Darby Version - 1867-1872-1884

(Douay Rheims) Roman Catholic Version

(ESV) English Standard Version

(GNB) Good News Bible

(HCSB) Holman Christian Standard Bible

(The Message) by Eugene Peterson

(NAB) New American Bible of the Roman Catholic Church

(NASV) New American Standard Version

(NCV) New Century Version

(NIV) New International Version

(NKJV) New King James Version

(NRSV) New Revised Standard Version

(NWT) New World Translation of the Jehovah’s Witnesses

(RV) Revised Version of Hort and Westcott of 1881

(RSV) Revised Standard Version

(TNIV) Today's New International Version





Please heed this warning if you're not using a KJV!



God bless you all.
flwpai
2009-01-05 20:24:38 UTC
muslims will join paedophile mohammed and allah in hell in a violent orrgy
2009-01-05 20:24:31 UTC
The Rick James version
sausage wallet
2009-01-05 20:31:18 UTC
Well see that about sums it all up really. You guys don't know what to believe. I find it amazing that if there is any semblance of truth in it, there should not be any different 'versions' whatsoever. I find it the height of stupidity to not only believe in a book that was written by uneducated opium smoking nomadic ancients but you believe a derivative of it! Amazing.
Candi H
2009-01-05 20:24:44 UTC
New King James Version is by far the most accurate account of what happened.
♫♥ME♥♪
2009-01-05 20:25:27 UTC
The King James!!!



All others are corrupted!





(This imformation is gathered from the link posted:)



There Are Two Kinds of Manuscripts:



Accurate Copies



These manuscripts represent the manuscripts from which the "Textus Receptus" or Received Text was taken.



They are the majority of Greek manuscripts which agree with each other and have been accepted by Bible believing Christians down through the centuries. It is from these manuscripts that the King James Bible was translated in 1611.



Corrupted Copies



These manuscripts represent the corrupted copies of the Bible, also known as the Alexandrian manuscripts. These manuscripts, many times, do not even agree with each other. The Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts are part of this group. These are the manuscripts on which Westcott and Hort and the modern versions rely so heavily.



There are 5,309 surviving Greek manuscripts that contain all or part of the New Testament. These manuscripts agree together 95% of the time. The other 5% account for the differences between the King James and the modern versions.



The modern versions had to use the Textus Receptus, since it contains the majority of the surviving Greek manuscripts. The problem is that, when the Textus Receptus disagreed with the Vaticanus or the Sinaiticus, they preferred these corrupted manuscripts over the Textus Receptus.



That accounts for the 5% corruption in the modern versions. Even these two manuscripts agree with the Textus Receptus much of the time. When they do not agree, it is because Marcion (120-160 AD) or Origin (184-254 AD) or whoever, corrupted them.



Now, the fact has been established that the modern versions are different than the King James Bible (see LET'S WEIGH THE EVIDENCE for numerous, verse by verse examples). But, we still need to answer the question: Why are they different?



There are at least 5,309 surviving Greek manuscripts which contain all or part of the New Testament. Plus, there are translations into different languages which date back to within 100 years of the disciples. For example, the Peshitta is a Syrian translation from the 2nd century.



These manuscripts agree with each other about 95% of the time. The problem is, how does one determine what is right in the 5% of the places where the manuscripts do not agree?



Argument One



(Modern versions) "The Bible is just like any other book. It is not liable to Satanic attack. In order to find out what the original copy probably said, you just find the oldest copies available and use them.



"We don't have the exact word of God now anyway, so a few disagreements will not matter."



Argument Two



(King James Bible) "The Bible is not ‘just like any other book.' Satan hates it because it is the Word of God. Satan has been trying to destroy it ever since the Garden of Eden.



"However, God has preserved His Word for us. He preserved the Old Testament through the Levites as priests and He has preserved the New Testament through the body of believers through the witness of the Holy Spirit."



The vast majority of Greek manuscripts agree together. They have been passed down through the centuries by true Bible-believing Christians.



In 1516 Erasmus compiled, edited, and printed the Greek "Textus Receptus" (received text). This is the text that the Protestants of the Reformation knew to be the Word of God (inerrant and infallible). The King James Bible was translated from the "Textus Receptus."



The debate continues:



Argument One



(Modern versions) The oldest surviving manuscripts must be the most reliable. Therefore, when determining what manuscripts to depend on, the Vaticanus (350 AD) and the Sinaiticus (about 350 AD) should be accepted as correct (even if 998 other manuscripts disagree with them).



Argument Two



(King James) The oldest manuscripts (the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus) are not reliable at all! But wait, the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus disagree with each other over 3,000 times in the gospels alone!



Facts About the Vaticanus



It was written on fine vellum (tanned animal skins) and remains in excellent condition. It was found in the Vatican Library in 1481 AD. In spite of being in excellent condition, it omits:



Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 46:28

Psalms 106-138

Matthew 16:2-3

The Pauline Pastoral Epistles

Hebrews 9:14-13:25

Revelation



These parts were probably left out on purpose.



Besides all that, in the gospels alone it leaves out 237 words, 452 clauses and 748 whole sentences, which hundreds of later copies agree together as having the same words in the same places, the same clauses in the same places and the same sentences in the same places.



The Vaticanus was available to the translators of the King James Bible, but they didn't use it because they knew it is unreliable. The Vaticanus also contains the Apocrypha.



Facts About the Sinaiticus



The Sinaiticus is a manuscript that was found in 1844 in a trash pile in St. Catherine's Monastery near Mt. Sinai, by a man named Mr. Tischendorf. It contains nearly all of the New Testament plus it adds the "Shepherd of Hermes" and the "Epistle of Barnabas" to the New Testament.



The Sinaiticus is extremely unreliable, proven by examining the manuscript itself. John Burgeon spent years examining every available manuscript of the New Testament. He writes about the Sinaiticus:



"On many occasions 10, 20, 30, 40 words are dropped through very carelessness.



Letters, words or even whole sentences are frequently written twice over, or begun and immediately canceled; while that gross blunder, whereby a clause is omitted because it happens to end in the same words as the clause preceding, occurs no less that 115 times in the New Testament."



That's not all!



On nearly every page of the manuscript there are corrections and revisions, done by 10 different people. Some of these corrections were made about the same time that it was copied, but most of them were made in the 6th or 7th century.



Phillip Mauro was a brilliant lawyer who was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in April 1892. He wrote a book called "Which Version" in the early 1900's. He writes concerning the Sinaiticus:



"From these facts, therefore, we deduce: first that the impurity of the Codex Sinaiticus, in every part of it, was fully recognized by those who were best acquainted with it, and that from the very beginning until the time when it was finally cast aside as worthless for any practical purpose."



The Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts are the oldest, but they are not the best manuscripts!!!



That's where the modern translators went wrong! They foolishly accepted the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus simply because they were old.



They did not attempt to find out why they were so vastly different from the Greek text that real Christians have known to be the infallible Word of God.



When the modern versions say in the footnotes, "Some of the oldest mss. do not contain vv. 9-20," or "This verse not found in the most ancient authorities," they are taking their information from the corrupt and unreliable Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts!



Don't fall for the "oldest are the best" line! The oldest are not the best! For example, the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus both leave out the last 12 verses of Mark, concerning the resurrection of Christ.



But, there is not one other manuscript, either uncial or cursive, that leave out this passage. There are 18 other uncial (capital letter) manuscripts that have the passage in and at least 600 cursives (small letter) manuscripts that all contain these verses.



The evidence is at least 618 to 2 against the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus. Yet, look in your modern version.



The New American Standard Bible puts all these verses (Mark 16:9-20) in brackets, saying that these verses probably were not in the original writings. The other versions use brackets or footnotes.



That's ridiculous!!! In a court of law, if you had 618 witnesses that saw something happen, and you had two witnesses that said they did not see it happen, would you accept the testimony of the 618 or the testimony of the 2?



You see, it is foolish for any translator to accept a manuscript simply because of age, without checking to find out where it came from and if it was reliable or not.



Why do the modern versions question the virgin birth of Christ, attack the doctrine of the deity of Christ, the infallibility of the Bible, the doctrine of salvation by faith and the Trinity?


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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