Choosing the right bible

[Kaidao]

Hey guys, I was just wondering what versions of the Bibles do you personally use for Bible study?

I just recently purchased a new Bible, Zondervan's NIV Study Bible. It was either this one or Life Application, but yeah, I was just wondering what others use. Also, could you also say the cons and pros of the Bible you've chosen? Thanks.

-Kai

 

[justified]

Bible, Zondervan's NIV Study Bible

The NIV study bible is one of the best annotated bibles on the market. It's scholarship is slightly outdated, but was done extremely well. I know some people who contributed, and their work was and is excellent.

 

[daveleau]

My two favorites are the NIV SB, like yours, and the Nelson NKJV SB. These are the two best study Bibles I have in my library (I have most of the standard study Bibles: Scoffield, New Scoffield, Thompson Chain, Dake (not really standard), Life Application, NIV Topical Study, Liberty Annotated, etc). Aside from parallel Bibles (2 English translations in one Bible), the NIV SB is my favorite for its very appropriate and helpful notes.

Of the Bibles on the shelf, I think you chose one of the best.

Now, as with most discussions of this nature, there are going to be some that vehemently deny the usefulness of the NIV. But, any time there is a change from the norm (the KJV, in this instance), there are going to be those that want to stick with the older and more comfortable. Do not be discouraged by these critiques.

In Him,
Dave

 

[jon914]

The NIV study bible is one of the best annotated bibles on the market. It's scholarship is slightly outdated, but was done extremely well. I know some people who contributed, and their work was and is excellent.

Every one on this board has one they like over another. NIV is ok. I have many different kinds, but the one I have used the most is C.I. Scofield.

I would Highly reccomend John McAuthors New King James study Bible. Great notes.

The NIV was translated by thought of the verse, NKJV was word to word...Your call
I agree with the last post on his choises, but it is better to stick with one of your choice


John914
II Tim 2:2

 

[kelco]

Hey guys, I was just wondering what versions of the Bibles do you personally use for Bible study?

I just recently purchased a new Bible, Zondervan's NIV Study Bible. It was either this one or Life Application, but yeah, I was just wondering what others use. Also, could you also say the cons and pros of the Bible you've chosen? Thanks.

-Kai

Right now I am using the Greek Hebrew Key Word Bible with NASB text. Pros are lots of word studies help bring meanings out and sometimes help with the text.
Cons are relativly few study notes.
I have the NASB study bible by Zondervan and I really like it.

 

[justified]

Every one on this board has one they like over another. NIV is ok. I have many different kinds, but the one I have used the most is C.I. Scofield.

I would Highly reccomend John McAuthors New King James study Bible. Great notes.

The NIV was translated by thought of the verse, NKJV was word to word...Your call
I agree with the last post on his choises, but it is better to stick with one of your choice

I was referring to simply the notes, not the translation. You can stick whatever notes onto whatever translation you'd like. The NIV SB's notes are some of the best out there because of the quality of scholars they had do them. Scofield, on the other hand, was in my opinion a quack.

 

[M Paul]

Hey guys, I was just wondering what versions of the Bibles do you personally use for Bible study?

I just recently purchased a new Bible, Zondervan's NIV Study Bible. It was either this one or Life Application, but yeah, I was just wondering what others use. Also, could you also say the cons and pros of the Bible you've chosen? Thanks.

-Kai

The NIV is often more interpretation than translation, especially the NT, and more especially Romans. Cessationists like it a lot, as it tones down reliance on the Holy Spirit. Also, it depends on a theory of translation that only scholars really understand, which increases their prestige and the notion that we relate to God primarily through scholarship. One of the principal advisors to the translation was homosexual, and others are controverted.

The KJV uses a literal equivalent theory of translation, and it is still the best, IMO, but many people often find its old style of English difficult. However, it has a beauty of expression, and some mysterious quality that makes a person fall in love with the word of God. The KJ21 is a good revision of the difficult words. The NKJV is an acceptable revision, but it loses rhythm and often seems to make unnecessay changes. I use Greek and Hebrew texts, but in English, the KJV, then KJ21, then NKJV. I have virtually no respect at all for the NIV--well, maybe some of its OT poetry is good.

This is a long subject, and it often leads to unChrist like debates. Imagine that.

Regard,
M Paul

 

[HomeBound]

There has been many debates about the "missing" parts of the NIV. Look it up. There are lots of websites that discuss the issue. After doing research on the matter, I've lost lots of respect for the NIV. There are beautiful study bibles in all types of the KJV.

 

[justified]

There has been many debates about the "missing" parts of the NIV. Look it up. There are lots of websites that discuss the issue. After doing research on the matter, I've lost lots of respect for the NIV. There are beautiful study bibles in all types of the KJV.

And whatever you do, believe everything you read on the internet (written by people with nothing better to do). Needless to say, I disagree.

If you want to understand a matter, read books. You have a much better chance of getting real information. And I'd be happy to give you a bibliography which includes works on both sides of the KJV/NIV "debate" -- though it's nto really much of one any longer.

 

[HomeBound]

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And whatever you do, believe everything you read on the internet (written by people with nothing better to do). Needless to say, I disagree.

If you want to understand a matter, read books. You have a much better chance of getting real information. And I'd be happy to give you a bibliography which includes works on both sides of the KJV/NIV "debate" -- though it's nto really much of one any longer.

Well, I'm no idiot. When I say "after doing research on the matter" I don't simply mean I read the websites info!

But by all means, keep trusting everything contained in books. I hear that some are even "based on facts" according to the authors.

 

[PaladinValer]

1. Ecumenical (Why? Makes it less biased to one point of view; this is the major problem with translations like the NLT, NIV, etc)
2. Scholarly (Why? Because our understanding of the Scriptures in their context has improved; this is the major problem with very old translations like the KJV)
3. Formal yet Idiomatic (Why? Because dynamic translations tend to be influenced by the theology (ie: NIV). This is especially true for all paraphrases. However, a complete word-for-word misses the idiomatic importance, which actually makes it a worse translation (ie: NASB).

Your best picks (in no particular order): RSV, NRSV

 

[hlaltimus]

Just my two cents: If you want a Bible translation that you can spiritually write on your forehead, (which Old Testament figure of speech was no doubt intended to convey the idea of placing the Scriptures in one's mind or memory and not literally on one's forehead!) then forget the NIV as it is next to impossible to memorize.

 

[Papa01]

I use the Nelson Study Bible(now the NKJV Study Bible) for Bible Study.

I like the study notes, the "Indepth" word studies that are keyed to Strongs, and the extensive Concordance. I also like the fact that it is the NKJV.