In need of guidance. Which is the best translation?

Kings servant said:

Hello everyone. I want to learn and grow in my understanding of the Word Of God and since coming to Christ. I have primarily been a KJV reader but because of my church, I sometimes read the NLT as well. I love the King James but I do not like the NLT because of the things that have been left out or changed. My pastor says that the NLT is the best one to use because of its ease in reading but I think we should be more concerned about the truth rather than what's easy. But I am fighting a loosing battle in trying to get Him to change His mind.

So with that said. What I'm looking for is the most trust worthy translation as well as other study material I can use to learn and grow and by doing so, be better prepared to help others do the same. I am a member of a non denominational church, I do not follow the teachings ( doctrines ) of man and go by what's contained in the Bible. But honestly, I can't help but wonder how much has been changed by men over these many years in order to satisfy their own selfish desires regarding what " they think " the Bible should say.

Help me. Point me in the right direction. What Bible translation is the best to use and what Bible study tools, other books and such, would you recommend that will help me grow in knowledge and truth?

Thank you.

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The KJV is not too bad.
The Douay-Rheims preceeds it, and is also a good English version.

My person favorites are the Revised Standard Version (second Catholic Edition - aka "The Ignatius Bible". It is used often for apologetic purposes because of it's great balance.

For my own reading, I have recently fallen in love with the Knox translation which is back in print after being out for many years, by Baronius Press. I'm waiting anxiously for my paper copy in the mail. In the meantime, it is free online at this address: NEW ADVENT BIBLE: Genesis 1

This was the Bible of choice for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen when he wrote his masterwork "The Life of Christ". The language is true in meaning, while being poetically powerful as well. It is a beautiful Bible.

The best version is the one you'll read and use daily.

First off the accusations of "things" left out of the KJV is incorrect in that it was made from documents that were the best at that time but later have been found to have "added" things compared to earlier dated documents.
I would say there isn't one "best" version personally I have versions I read for enjoyment, versions that I use for quoting and versions for studying.
I would say IMO the KJV is good for quoting but not as good for studying due to it is one of the less accurate versions out there these days. I like the NASB and earlier NIV versions (not the newest ones). The NLT is not too bad for casual reading.

I find the GOD'S WORD Translation (GW) to be one of the more evenly balanced for the true intent of a passage.

Check this to see what I'm talking about...

http://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Luke 14:26

Kings servant said:

That's just it. How does one know if what was taken out or added to or which translation is what God originally intended? Someone once said...it's God's Word but mankind's finger prints are all over it!

When it comes to the many different translations of the Bible, where does man stop and God begin?

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Scholars look for the earliest versions of the scripture itself and compare it with the later versions to see what has changed. They also try and go back to the original texts in the original language and check the translation of it comparing it to the Bible version for accuracy. There are websites out there that compare the versions of the Bible

https://bible.org/article/why-i-do-not-think-king-james-bible-best-translation-available-today

Willie T said:

I find the GOD'S WORD Translation to be one of the more evenly balanced for the true intent of a passage.

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I find if you rely on only one translation of the Bible you can end up getting in trouble as you can miss nuances that make things mean something other than the "obvious" that one translation equates. We see cults use one version of the Bible (usually KJV) sometimes they make their own version (often based upon the KJV at its core).

Sophrosyne said:

I find if you rely on only one translation of the Bible you can end up getting in trouble as you can miss nuances that make things mean something other than the "obvious" that one translation equates. We see cults use one version of the Bible (usually KJV) sometimes they make their own version (often based upon the KJV at its core).

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Exactly why my computer has a "parallel" view of 5 different versions... and I often switch them out to see more perceptions.

Willie T said:

Exactly why my computer has a "parallel" view of 5 different versions... and I often switch them out to see more perceptions.

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I find it interesting that sometimes when you look at multiple translations you see multiple meanings and all of them make sense at the same time.

Kings servant said:

That's just it. How does one know if what was taken out or added to or which translation is what God originally intended? Someone once said...it's God's Word but mankind's finger prints are all over it!

When it comes to the many different translations of the Bible, where does man stop and God begin?

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Nihil Obstat and Impramatur are certifications that the Bible you have doesn't teach error. Beyond that, we don't really have anything since the reformation and the printing press. It's a free world, and people can print all the bibles they want. For study, choose something as close to the Latin Vulgate compiled by St. Jerome. In English, this is going to be the D-R, The kJV (with Apocrypha), Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition), and several others. If it's a Bible of protestant origin, such as the KJV, there are printings available which contain the apocrypha and deuterocanonicals. These are useful books from the OT Septuagint for bible study, writing, etc.

The only bible being produced which is produced from an actual intent of teaching false doctrine, is one called the "New World Translation". This Bible has been edited to deny the divinity of Christ, and is in error. It can not have an imprimatur or Nihil Obstat.

Many other Bible are paraphrases, and though they don't intentionally teach error, you are getting a push towards some agenda or other. They may also have agenda driven footnotes for a particular type of reader. i.e. the women's bible. The soldier's bible and many others that I've seen in Christian bookstores. These are usually themselves the NIV or NKJV or some such with footnotes developed for the particular audience.

I like my Bible studies to be from several versions. I have over 7 of them, including Greek and Latin interlinears. You can look at the same verse in many of these, and I often do. I think the best bible ever produced in the English Language for Protestants is the King Jame Bible from the Oxford press with the Apocrypha and Deuterocanonical books. Though, many protestants, (none who post here that I've seen), are perfectly happy with a Douay Rheims for the same reason. It is older English. They are closely tied to the latin Vulgate and the Greek, and they are straight up translations without a lot of nuance.

For modern versions I stick pretty much with the Ignatius Bible (Revised Standard Version, second Catholic Edition), which is essentially the full book version of the NKJV. And for a bible which is a great blend of straight translation in the most beautiful language available, I just can't say enough about Baronius Press bringing back the Knox Bible. This later is for the sheer pleasure of reading the Bible for joy and inspiration, but can also be used without fear of error for Bible study and discussions. It is quickly becoming my "go-to" working bible as well as my "sit by the fire" and reading bible.

Just try to stay away from current lingo, also what the call "inclusive" translations, which can actually distort the traditional meaning and exegesis of the Holy scriptures.

Best wishes on your search. I love bibles themselves, and am becoming a bit of a collector. Some are pristene. The one I have that is dog eared, underlined, highlighted, noted in the margins, covers bent, and brought with me every where is my Ignatius Bible. It was the version used for my favorite Study Bible, (which is still being released piecemeal).

Kings servant said:

What I'm looking for is the most trust worthy translation

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Most translations are “trustworthy.” It depends what you're going for. All translations have strengths and weaknesses.

Kings servant said:

What Bible translation is the best to use

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Depends what you want to use it for or what you consider to be “best.”

If “best,” for instance, means taking into consideration the latest and greatest manuscript discoveries (like the Dead Sea Scrolls), benefiting from a century or more of linguistic study and development, and being informed by top-notch scholars, then you'll need a translation that is less than 50 years old and was completed by one or more highly educated individuals within the field of biblical studies (like NASB, NRSV, HCSB, CEB, NIV, NET, etc).

If “best,” for instance, means having a translation that attempts to capture the high degree of literary artistry in the text, then you'll need a translation done for the express purpose of bringing that out (like any translation by Robert Alter or Everet Fox, the Moffatt Bible, Rotherham's version, etc).

If “best,” for instance, means translation by Jews, then you'll need a bible that comes from Jews (like, for instance, the NJPS Tanakh, the Stone Edition Tanakh, etc).

If “best,” for instance, means a translation based on a particular manuscript (or manuscripts), then you will have to find the translation that is based on that (or those).

What does “best” mean to you?

Kings servant said:

Help me. Point me in the right direction. What Bible translation is the best to use and what Bible study tools, other books and such, would you recommend that will help me grow in knowledge and truth?

Thank you.

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As others have mentioned, if you are going to get into some serious study, you might want a couple of different translations as well as a decent commentary. The problem with any translation (and I do read koine Greek), is that you are going to miss nuances in any translation.

My prime example of this is the opening of John, "In the beginning was the Word", in Greek "En arche ein o logos" and the first question is what is "Logos". In Greek philosophy, which was adopted by some Jews (Philo, an Alexandrian Jew contemporary with Jesus), Logos means more than just "the spoke or written word", is the root for our word of logic or the suffix for biology, zoology, geology, etc. It is what separates us as rational creatures.

Personally, I like the RSV with the deuterocanonicals, the Jerusalem Bible and then commentaries by the church fathers (bishops and writers from the post-apostolic era such as Chrysostom, or for a western Christian, Augustine) to get a well rounded view of how a passage is interpreted for Christian living.

I have several recommendations:

1) Download a free Bible study program. There are several available. My favorite is "The Word."

2) Grab a copy of "How to Choose a Translation for all its Worth" by Fee and Strauss, and "How to Read the Bible for all its Worth" by Fee and Stuart.

3) If your eyes are sharp and your Bible-totin' arm is strong, get the Contemporary Comparative Side by Side Bible. That provides in one volume examples of four different approaches to translating, as well as Bibles based on different underlying mss.

GreekOrthodox said:

...
My prime example of this is the opening of John, "In the beginning was the Word", in Greek "En arche ein o logos" and the first question is what is "Logos". In Greek philosophy, which was adopted by some Jews (Philo, an Alexandrian Jew contemporary with Jesus), Logos means more than just "the spoke or written word", is the root for our word of logic or the suffix for biology, zoology, geology, etc. It is what separates us as rational creatures.
...

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From the IVP Bible Background Commentary, FWIW:

The Greek term translated “word” was also used by many philosophers to mean “ reason,” the force which structured the universe; Philo combined this image with Jewish conceptions of the “word.” The Old Testament had personified Wisdom (Prov 8), and ancient Judaism eventually identified personified Wisdom, the Word and the Law (the Torah).
By calling Jesus “the Word,” John calls him the embodiment of all God’s revelation in the Scriptures and thus declares that only those who accept Jesus honor the law fully (1:17). Jewish people considered Wisdom/Word divine yet distinct from God the Father, so it was the closest available term John had to describe Jesus.

Kings servant said:

I love the King James but I do not like the NLT because of the things that have been left out or changed.

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The NLT is not my favourite translation, but neither is the KJV. And this "left out or changed" stuff is just nonsense. Actually, it's the KJV that has stuff added.

Kings servant said:

My pastor says that the NLT is the best one to use

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Possibly your pastor actually knows something about this issue.

Kings servant said:

What I'm looking for is the most trust worthy translation

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I would say the ESV, myself.

Kings servant said:

But honestly, I can't help but wonder how much has been changed by men over these many years

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That's why modern translations like the ESV go back to the ancient Greek and Hebrew. Back to bibles like this one from 1700 years ago.

stevenfrancis said:

Nihil Obstat and Impramatur are certifications that the Bible you have doesn't teach error.

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Well, Catholic certifications.

stevenfrancis said:

For modern versions I stick pretty much with the Ignatius Bible (Revised Standard Version, second Catholic Edition), which is essentially the full book version of the NKJV.

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Not true. The RSV and NKJV are totally different translations.