Which Bible Version does your church use?

Norman70 said:

There is no mention in this whole thread of the Good News Bible. I wonder why?

Click to expand...

The Good News Bible is still in print, and you can still buy copies, with or without the deuterocanonical/apocryphal books. When I bought a study Bible for my oldest daughter, back when she was a young teen, I chose one that used the Good News translation; it's nicely readable without being too much of a paraphrase.

If I were to pick one official translation to use in church, however -- to put in the pew or in the book of lectionary readings -- I'd probably pick one that's less of a dynamic equivalence translation. From this discussion, it sounds like most churches are making a similar choice.

NRSV in general. On occasion when I think the translation is not great in a way that matters for the sermon, I'll supply another (often my own).

The church I belonged to uses the NIV, but the pastor tells the congregation, "If you have a Bible . . ."

There are screen projectors like those teachers use in classrooms. When the pastor reads verses, they all appear on those screens so it is not a problem if people go there with the wrong Bible version or, like me, without one. People sit in stackable chairs, not pews.

redleghunter said:

Not looking for personal choice, but what Bible versions are found in your pews?

Click to expand...

The Bible, authorized for use in the Church of Denmark, by Her Majesty the Queen.

ChristianForCats said:

The church I belonged to uses the NIV, but the pastor tells the congregation, "If you have a Bible . . ."

There are screen projectors like those teachers use in classrooms. When the pastor reads verses, they all appear on those screens so it is not a problem if people go there with the wrong Bible version or, like me, without one. People sit in stackable chairs, not pews.

Click to expand...

The idea that we need to read it in print is interesting (novel). In the early Church many people of course could not read, and the idea of having many copies, or projecting the text was inconceivable.


If you have a chance to listen to a whole Gospel, or Letter, on tape of CD, with the mind that the text was written to be heard, I would recommend you take it. I have found it very useful, and helps focus on the big picture more than the nitty gritty.

KJV

Phillip, the same church also has ASL interpreters at one of the Sunday morning services. The pastor uses a hidden microphone to project sound as well. So it is very clear they try to make the text accesible to all members, no matter how good or bad their sense of hearing is.

LovebirdsFlying said:

We're all free to choose our own. The preacher reads from HCSB when preaching, and that's what the pew Bibles are. Any deacons substituting for the week might read from that, or from the NKJV, or from the old KJV, or whatever their choice. NIV is not common. It isn't forbidden; no version is, but a lot of us in the congregation don't like it much.

Click to expand...

Why doesn't your congregation like the NIV?

carp614 said:

"What's the best version of the Bible?"

"The one you READ!"

Click to expand...

I need to know the best English version of the Bible to choose one to read.

ChristianForCats said:

I need to know the best English version of the Bible to choose one to read.

Click to expand...

Pick any one you can find. the Best one is a matter of unending debate. NIV, NASV, NKJV, and ESV are good ones.

redleghunter said:

The Queen of England?

Click to expand...

Margrethe II of Denmark - Wikipedia

ChristianForCats said:

I need to know the best English version of the Bible to choose one to read.

Click to expand...

The NLT, New Living Translation, is great.

LynnSmith said:

The NLT, New Living Translation, is great.

Click to expand...

I did not know about that one. Have you compared it to any other versions?

redleghunter said:

The Queen of England?

Click to expand...

....there's a hint in my name
Edit: And in the "church of Denmark"-part of my post

ChristianForCats said:

I did not know about that one. Have you compared it to any other versions?

Click to expand...

Yes. I use KJV, NKJV, Amplified, NIV and ESV too. I use as many as I can when studying. But my main and favorite is NLT. Do you have YouVersion app on your phone? It’s free. You can read and listen to lots of translations.

I only have a cell phone to call Mom wehn she tells me to have it. The only computer device I use for any other function is my desktop.

ChristianForCats said:

I only have a cell phone to call Mom wehn she tells me to have it. The only computer device I use for any other function is my desktop.

Click to expand...

On your desktop biblegateway.com is great for comparing translations.

Since we meet in a rented space (theater with nice reclining chairs, I might add), we have no bibles in the pews. People bring their own or an app. Our pastor tends to spend lots of time looking into best known manuscripts and will, if he deems it needed, use the translation that he believes most accurately reflects the original language. Otherwise it's often NIV because so many people have that and it's pretty easy to read.

For my personal use I really, really like the 21st century KJV. It has updated the archaic words but still leaves the beautiful language of the KJV. I also have an ESV I use also.