Bible Preference

[chosen1975]

Hi all I am a goyim, I hope that is the right word, anyway my question is, Is there a preference of bible versions that Messianic Jewish people use. thanks MDE

 

[simchat_torah]

from my experience, most messianics use the complete jewish bible (david stern). A few others use the hebrew roots version (james trimm). and still others use the orthodox jewish brit chadasha (artists for israel).

that's NT though.

For ot, some use the JPS (jewish publication society), and some might use a hebrew/english interlinear.

shalom,
yafet.

 

[iitb]

I like the Stone Edition Tanach, personally.

I'm still undecided on a NT translation. I have the Complete Jewish Bible, as well as the orthodox Jewish Brit Chadasha(which I find more confusing than helpful).

 

[Henaynei]

Hi all I am a goyim, I hope that is the right word,

It's close - but your can't be a goyim unless you have multiple personalities - try goy or just plain "gentile" or "non-Jew." All work equally well, but aren't always necessary.

Is there a preference of bible versions that Messianic Jewish people use.

LOL - that is kinda like asking, "is there a fast food establishment that Americans prefer" [grin]

As s_t said - most seem to use the CJB for at least some of their bible reading. It is a "all things even out" thing. Every translation, in all denominations, has it's problems. The CJB is no different - but it is a "restored Jewishness" version, that includes both the T’NaKah and the K'tuvim Natzrim (writings of the Nazarenes - a.k.a. Brit Chadasha/New Testament) in one volume, and has the divisions for the Torah reading cycle.

Some folks are like me: the CJB for easy reading and "Messianic" Jewishness, the Stone T'NaKah for real study, the Stone Chumash for following the Torah readings in English and Hebrew - including some rabbinic commentaries, the KJV for quickly finding verses (some STILL resound in my brain in dear King Jimmy), the Hebrew-English Bible for regular bible study so I can find the place (in English) and then look for the Hebrew word for clarity...... I carried a sizable book-bag into shul before Shabbat on Friday evenings and kept it there until end of services on Shabbat.

Now that we no longer attend a local shul I have our various volumes scattered all over the house!! LOL

 

[Islander]

I like the Jewish New Testament translated by David Stern and it seems to be the most popular translation among Messianic Jews. Stern knows Ancient Greek better than Ancient Hebrew so he translated the New Testament, which I have, and combined it with an Old Testament translated by rabbis in the late 19th Century. He tried to used an OT translated much more recently but the translators didn't want to work with a Messianic Jew and their work used to evangelize Jews so Stern had to use a translation too old too still be covered by copyright. It's not the only Messianic translation though and more importantly Messianic Jews tend to study the Hebrew language which means many are able to read the OT in its original language instead of a translation.

Like most Goyim I mostly use the NASB and the NIV. I attended a Messianic congregation when I lived in an area that had one but I'm not Jewish. I might also add the people witnessing to Jews frequently use the NIV because of the way it was translated. During the time of Christ few Jews read Hebrew but many read Greek to the Scriptures were translated into Greek and this was called the Septuagint. The NIV mostly used the original Hebrew in translating the OT but also used the Septuagint and no other translations use the Septuagint. One difference this makes is that the NT writers quoted the Septuagint and not the original Hebrew so OT quotes in the NT frequently are worded slightly differently but using the Septuagint makes the NIV OT and NT agree more. More importantly the Septuagint in some cases is more messianic than the original Hebrew. I can't remember any particular verses but I was on a different Messianic bbs and Jewish nonChristian came to the bbs to tell us how evil he considered the NIV. He wanted to point out to us that although the NIV translated certain verses in a way that is Messianic that no other translations translate those verses that way. That's when I did research and found out about the influence of the Septuagint on the NIV.

 

[chosen1975]

I thank you all with the depest of appreciation for responding to my question.
and just for the record.I have a deep affinity for my Jewish brothers

 

[ServingHim]

I'm messianic, but not Jewish so I don't know if you'd want my opinion. But I use the Complete Jewish Bible and the NASB.

 

[SonWorshipper]

I have a copy ( or even two ) of just about every translation out there ( I even have a russian and chinese translation) as well as a 10 pound concordance. I take "search the scriptrues" seriously and take no one man's word for anything. So I guess I am not helping you at all.

Now I will say that my favorite Bible ( the one I use the most) is most likely the KJV and that is because I have two electronic versions of the Franklin Bible ( I love my Franklin! ) where I can quickly type in a keyword or two and find the passage I am looking for. Then I more times than not though compare that to other versions, depending how serious an issue is involved.

 

[chosen1975]

appreciate your input as well serving Him I also have multitudes of translations concordances and commentaries as well. I just want to make sure I get it right. I don't know Greek or Hebrew nor Aramaic. Maybe in His time I will get to learn. What I want to do most is study from the languages and get the real impact of what is written. until then I guess I'll just have to rely on the diff translations and commetaries thanks