Best Bible version for study?

[jengoesup]

I'm finally going to be starting some indepth Bible study of my own, and I want to purchase a study Bible. I've not actually looked to see if there are "study versions" of these Bibles, but I'm a bit torn between the NASB, the ESV and the NLT. Which one of these is better? Does anyone know of any other Bible versions which I should take a look at? I'm a pretty good reader, so archaic text shouldn't be a problem (unless of course, the meaning of the word has changed, as it does in the KJV). Right now, I have the NKJV and the GNB, which are both normal, "nonstudy" versions.

Thanks for all your help,
~Jen

 

[WashedClean]

There are so many.

I have the NLT Study Bible, and it's great. You can also look into the Amplified Bible, although I don't know if it has a lot of notes or cross referenced passages.

Another good one is The Message, but I know this doesn't have study notes. It's just written in really contemporary language (like late 90's to present!).

There is also a Bible with notes and excerpts edited by Max Lucado that's in CSV (Century version?). This is excellent as well, especially if you like Max Lucado's writings like I do.

Pray about it. Maybe God has a particular one in mind for you!

God bless,

WashedClean

 

[jengoesup]

Well, I heard that The Message wasn't exactly a translation, because it is a paraphrased version based off another translation (said translation being based off the original texts). I'll be sure to look into the other ones you mentioned. Thank you for your advice

God bless,
Jen

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

I use the New Revised Standard Version. There are no commentaries, no footnotes. Just plain Scripture. The way a Study Bible should be.

 

[DawnTillery]

I use Matthew Henry Study Bible KJV.. Matthew Henry was a commenatary write 100s of years ago.

Maybe a good parallel bible.
Another recommendation could be strongs concordance, but you might want to buy a magnifying glass if your buying their book, its huge but tiny print.. crosswalk.com has the same concordance.

 

[GregoryTurner]

To get a good bible study going, if KJV is a bit difficult to understand, I suggest sticking to NKJV. Other translation tend to weaken the Word of God. I do not want to start an arguement or anything but I have been told that the NIV takes the blood of Jesus out of the scripture. I just stick with the NKJV, that is my favorite. Get a good concordance and Matthew Henry Commentary. I like the concise commentary though I do own the 2800 page unabridged version. (Tough reading) Maybe even a good dictionary to help with some of the words, customs, musical instruments, meanings of not only words but situations, etc. A Bible encyclopedia is a handy gadget tool. Above anything else, when you begin any study, ask God for guidance. Pray before beginning each time. The neat thing about God and His word is that once you read scripture then go back to that same scripture, God will reveal something that you did not get the first time. I like the way one of the people put it on their reply to you, just a Bible, no notes, commentaries, just scripture. Be a frog. Fully rely on God. Let Him guide you comepletely as to what you should do. We can only offer suggestions. He may not want you to read commentaries or dictionaries. He may just want you to read His Word for what it is... His Word and not man's.

 

[laptoppop]

To get a flavor of a few different translations, go to blueletterbible.com and you can see the same passage in a bunch of different translations. Pray about it.

For *study*, I'd personally avoid the NLT - its a paraphrase, not a translation. The NKJV is a good solid Bible, as is the NASB. I'm currently REALLY enjoying the ISV (international standard version) - but they haven't finished the whole Bible - just the NT and about 1/2 of the OT. You can download it free (www.isv.org)

For computer enhanced study - check out www.e-sword.net. AMAZING *free* Bible program with a lot of versions (missing some of the latest ones, though because of $ arrangements). You can also download Bible word studies and commentaries, etc. When you look at a particular passage, the program links automatically to the right part in various commentaries and dictionaries, etc. Wonderful program - and its free.

 

[BeLedbyHisSpirit]

I use the New Revised Standard Version. There are no commentaries, no footnotes. Just plain Scripture. The way a Study Bible should be.

The NRSV is a sexist bible. It takes takes the ocassions of malehood out of names for God, so that it does not offend women who want political equality.

 

[praisenworship]

I read the NIV and am looking forward to reading the NLT. I think it is of prime importance to pray to the Holy Spirit for wisdom so we can best understand scripture no matter what the version. God bless you for seeking and pursuing him!

 

[Sketcher]

For study, I recommend the NASB because it is the most literal translation. It also does not suffer from the antiquated language problem that the KJV has. However, I also recommend the KJV because that is the Bible that many great scholars and commentators have used over the last 4 centuries. Their works - commentaries, lexicons, dictionaries, concordances, etc - use the KJV as their English reference, so being familiar with it makes getting into them a little easier.

 

[cynthiamarie]

i use the niv, study version of that. it's great. i enjoy it, helps me alot.

 

[millerrod]

i will not get involved in a debate over which bible to use however i can tell you how you can find out by your self in a quick easy method, look at 1Cor13:4-7 this defines Love and it happens to be found in one spot and one spot only, no room for error or twist, Love is defined by 12 manners-characteristics-fruits, even in the original Greek there are 12 listed, considering the Bible states God is Love then the definition of Love shouldnt be messed with and if it is its in error, i would compare this scripture in each translation and any thing short of twelve i would stay away from. just my opion for what thats worth.

 

[walkmeonthewater]

I would say the KJV, because you can then also get a Strong's Concordance relatively inexpensively, that you can open up and go through to find desired verses with amazing speed. True, we now have other Bible versions on software that can be electronically searched, but if you put that beside an opened Strong's, the page layout is still faster. At the same time, a Strong's will be giving you countless incidental close-matches to what you're looking for, making for an open-ended learning experience that the computerized Bibles can't give you. I know the KJV is archaic, but it's also 'frozen'. Nobody messes with the meanings. The text is set, safely locked between the covers, where modern politically correct speech movements cannot warp the meaning and twist it all around. There may be countless people who were safely kept from getting confused and converting to Jehovah's Witnesses, because they were raised on the KJV, and taught to stay with it and never to accept any other substitutes.

 

[dalej42]

I have the NRSV, New Oxford Annotated Study Bible. I love it. I think the notes and maps really help to understand the text. I enjoy reading other translations, but this is the one Bible I've used for serious study.

 

[GodismyRefuge]

New Believers Bible NLT to get a 'handle' on Scripture and solid doctrine then step up to NKJV Bible with a Concordance, Bible Dictionary, Bible Handbook and possibly some commentaries; Matthew Henry.

www.e-sword.org is good

 

[Bernergirl]

I'll put my vote in for e-Sword, too.

I have two student study Bibles, one NLT and one NIV and I hope to get a KJV study Bible soon. The NIV is my church Bible and I use the two for study rather interchangably. I wouldn't recommend the Message for study, as it is a rather loose paraphrase (though it is, IMO, great for light reading, especially while traveling).

I would recommend a version that you can get a Bible dictionary and a topical Bible or concordance to go along with. I know that you can get these for at least the KJV and NIV, though I don't know what other versions. They make Bible study a lot easier, especially when you are looking at specific topics.

Whatever you do, may you be blessed!

Lissa

 

[Radagast]

I read the NIV ...

So do I.

 

[LifeInChrist]

I'll appreciate all the replies to encourage you in the Bible Study.

No Bible-Version is Perfect and No Study-Bible is Perfect. They have their own strengths and weaknesses. Christians have been benefitted from the different Bible-Versions and Study-Bibles available.

Whichever Bible-Version it might be or whichever Study-Bible it might be, it is God who gives you the understanding and wisdom, either directly or indirectly, of the Bible Scriptures if you have the desire according to the verse below -

Proverbs 18:1 - Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

I used to read a KJV version Bible during the initial years when i experienced being born-again. Although it was difficult to understand initially, i struggled with it and understood to some extent by God's grace and help of Believers-In-Christ. I also have a Scoffield Reference Bible (which is of KJV version) bought by my Father for his Bible-study and which was recommended to me by a Spiritual-Father-like Christian. He also recommended to me Halley's Bible Handbook which i have got and appreciate reading it.

Now and then i read the NIV Bible also.

We need to remember that there is bound to be some amount of Learning, Unlearning and Relearning when it comes to studying our Bible.

We need to remind ourselves of this verse when it comes to Bible Study -

1 Corinthians 8:1 - ...Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.

1 Corinthians 13:2 - And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.

May the Lord Bless you.

 

[Radagast]

i will not get involved in a debate over which bible to use however i can tell you how you can find out by your self in a quick easy method, look at 1Cor13:4-7 ...

A wonderful passage.

The NIV (my favourite) has:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The KJV (in an older style of English) has:

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

The NLT (a looser translation) has:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

For what it's worth, as a beginning Greek student, my personal translation is:

Love is patient and kind, love isn’t jealous, love doesn’t put itself forward, isn’t proud, doesn’t behave shamefully, doesn’t seek for itself, doesn’t burst into anger, keeps no account of past wrongs, doesn’t rejoice over others’ misfortune, but rejoices with the truth. Love forgives all, trusts all, hopes all, endures all.

The Greek is:

‘η αγαπη μακροθυμει, χρηστευεται, ‘η αγαπη ου ζηλοι, ‘η αγαπη ου περπερευεται, ου φυσιουται, ουκ ασχημονει, ου ζητει τα ‘εαυτης, ου παροξυνεται, ου λογιζεται το κακον, ου χαιρει επι τη αδικια, συγχαιρει δε τη αληθεια, παντα στεγει, παντα πιστευει, παντα ελπιζει, παντα ‘υπομενει.

-- Radagast

 

[laptoppop]

Its wonderful to see the richness in comparing translations. Here's the ISV:

Love is always patient, Love is always kind, Love is never envious Or vaunted up with pride. Nor is she conceited, And never is she rude, Never does she think of self Or ever get annoyed. She never is resentful, Is never glad with sin, But always glad to side with truth, Whene'er the truth should win. She bears up under everything, Believes the best in all, There is no limit to her hope, And never will she fall. (1Co 13:4-7 ISV)