How many Bibles do you own?

[Mobiosity]

Just curious. Just to clarify, we're talking preferably physical, hardcopy Bibles. Whether or not it contains the Deuterocanon (Apocrypha) isn't relevant. Translation is irrelevant. Style is irrelevant. Anything from the most loose paraphrase translation to strict literalism. Child picture Bible to exhaustive scholarly study Bible. Poll is private. If you have a "family" Bible that is communal, please include it in your count.

Ten (I should go back and re-vote): I inherited my mother's, the one I got from my folks when I was a kid, the NIV that I wore out, a paraphrase called The Book, NKJV study bible, one with the Apocrypha - That's my current daily bible, but I'm not able to recall it's translation I think it's RSV, NLT that I keep in my cube at work, NCT woman's bible from Women of Faith, and the Word of Promise NT on CD-ROM.

And how many Bibles do you think one should have?

At least one.

How few is too few, how many is too many? And why?

None is too few, too many is up to personal choice. I don't think you can have too many; so long as one is being used.

Do you prefer to buy cheaper hardback, or purchase nicer bonded or genuine leather? Why?

I will buy what they have and/or what I can afford. I've got hard-back, paper-back, faux-leather, and leather. The leather ones were a gift and an inheritance.

I haven't noticed that any of them last longer or shorter than others. I like the different translations because if I'm stumped on a verse, another translation might make it more clear.

 

[MPaul]

After I hit about 50 Bibles, around 15 years ago, I quit counting. But I have added many more since then. However, why do you limit it to hard copy? My bible collection is increasingly digital -- it just makes things easier in many cases, and I've got some beautiful, rare editions as PDFs that way. In English, I use mainly the KJV, or the Sword Bible version of the KJV to be specific. If I think the language is difficult, I will consult the NKJV.

But why would the language be difficult, if I have the Sword Bible??? Well, I think in truth, the language can be difficult at times due to a different theory of translation with the KJV -- and a greater reluctance of the KJV translators to take discretion too far.

I look at the modern versions, which are based on dynamic equivalent translation theory (oh, I know, some of them deny it) and the critical NT text, not because I have any respect for them, but they are popular, and I like to be aware of what is going on with them.

 

[NorrinRadd]

Wow. I'll have to ponder this a while before I officially vote.

Off the top of my head --

-- A 4-version whole-Bible parallel (KJV, Amp, NASB77, NIV)

-- An ESV

-- An NASB95 "Open Bible."

-- An NKJV "Thompson's Chain Reference" that I never use because I noticed a large section of missing text in Acts, and so don't trust it. (Probably explains why it was so cheap.)

-- A basic NIV

-- An NIV Study Bible

-- A TNIV Study Bible

-- An NIV NT + Psalms + Proverbs "Pocket Testament"

-- An NRSV book of *only* the "Apocrypha"

-- An NASB77/NIV/Greek-Interlinear parallel NT

-- An ISV 1.0 NT

-- An AV7 NT

-- Two NIV Gospel Harmonies (well, two versions of the same one)

-- I think I may have an old Living Bible around somewhere.

-- I think I also have some kind of "NCV" NT, or some such thing.


Between "wholes," "partials," and "multiples," I have no idea how to quantify them!

 

[SummaScriptura]

What Bible I have and what Bibles I use are different. Here's what I use:

ESV
NETS
DSS Bible
RSV
NRSV
NAS
AMP
OSB
KJV
RV (Just the deuterocanon)

 

[SummaScriptura]

<snip>-- An NRSV book of *only* the "Apocrypha"</snip>

Which one?

Three I would heartily recommend are:

Cambridge Annotated NRSV Apocrypha,
Oxford Annotated NRSV Apocrypha (make sure you get one prior to the 3rd edition),

and be sure not to miss,

Oxford Annotated RSV Apocrypha

Of course there is the Parallel Apocrypha, which can be of use as a reference.

Of all of them, only the Cambridge edition comes with copious cross-references to the rest of the Bible and is therefore essential.

 

[daydreamergurl15]

Just curious. Just to clarify, we're talking preferably physical, hardcopy Bibles. Whether or not it contains the Deuterocanon (Apocrypha) isn't relevant. Translation is irrelevant. Style is irrelevant. Anything from the most loose paraphrase translation to strict literalism. Child picture Bible to exhaustive scholarly study Bible. Poll is private. If you have a "family" Bible that is communal, please include it in your count.

More than 9.

I have many different translations so I can compare.
I have many diferent translations of study bibles.
One that I always keep in my car, and one that is always in my purse/bag.
Because I underline in my bibles, that I have in my purse, I constantly have to buy new ones, because I also write on the margins.

And how many Bibles do you think one should have?

As many as one wants...but be careful of some translations.

How few is too few, how many is too many? And why?

Too few: Zero, I believe everyone should have the opportunity to read the word of God.
Too many: no such thing--but if someone else needs one, I think you should be giving them away so others can have the word as well.

Do you prefer to buy cheaper hardback, or purchase nicer bonded or genuine leather? Why?

I have both. It doesn't matter to me.

 

[SummaScriptura]

I almost forgot to mention this one.

I'm consulting it almost every day for reference purposes with great results.

For instance, from yesterday...

Did you know the writer/compiler of Chronicles referred to a different version of Kings in the Hebrew language than we have today in the MT? The DSS version of Kings is closer to the Chronicles version on certain points than it is to our MT for the Book of Kings.

 

[NorrinRadd]

Which one?

Three I would heartily recommend are:

Cambridge Annotated NRSV Apocrypha,
Oxford Annotated NRSV Apocrypha (make sure you get one prior to the 3rd edition),

and be sure not to miss,

Oxford Annotated RSV Apocrypha

Of course there is the Parallel Apocrypha, which can be of use as a reference.

Of all of them, only the Cambridge edition comes with copious cross-references to the rest of the Bible and is therefore essential.

It's just a skinny little orange-and-white hardback from Cambridge. It has the base NRSV text, and a respectable quantity of translation footnotes, but AFAICT no x-refs. I've had it a couple of years and have not yet used it. I don't recall where I found it, just that I saw it, noticed it was very inexpensive, and thought it might be good to have a copy of the Apocrypha apart from the ones in e-Sword (which computerized copies I have also used rarely if at all).

 

[laconicstudent]

I admit to being slightly surprised by the number of 9, I wasn't imagining that we'd have too many of those, I should have put in a "or more".


I also note a distinct bimodal distribution. It looks like if you have more then 2-4 Bibles, you continue accumulating more, generally. I should do a study.

 

[SummaScriptura]

I admit to being slightly surprised by the number of 9, I wasn't imagining that we'd have too many of those, I should have put in a "or more".


I also note a distinct bimodal distribution. It looks like if you have more then 2-4 Bibles, you continue accumulating more, generally. I should do a study.

Hey! I think you could apply for stimulus money for that!

 

[SummaScriptura]

It's just a skinny little orange-and-white hardback from Cambridge. It has the base NRSV text, and a respectable quantity of translation footnotes, but AFAICT no x-refs. I've had it a couple of years and have not yet used it. I don't recall where I found it, just that I saw it, noticed it was very inexpensive, and thought it might be good to have a copy of the Apocrypha apart from the ones in e-Sword (which computerized copies I have also used rarely if at all).

If you could find a pic online to post or if you could post the ISBN I'd appreciate it.

 

[jpcedotal]

9+

Better question is

How many have you read cover to cover?

 

[NorrinRadd]

If you could find a pic online to post or if you could post the ISBN I'd appreciate it.

For now, at least, I'll take the easy way out and just do the ISBN: 0521507766

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

9+

Better question is

How many have you read cover to cover?

Only one (NLT) but I'm working on the second (ESV).

 

[rosella999]

Just ordered my 7th, an ESV study bible; Cordovan.

I was relieved to find this thread; thought I was the only one. And yes, I read them all.....

 

[SummaScriptura]

Just ordered my 7th, an ESV study bible; Cordovan.

I was relieved to find this thread; thought I was the only one. And yes, I read them all.....

For quite some time I've kind of made a hobby of comparing study Bibles and have to say the ESV Study Bible is the best I know of.

 

[rosella999]

For quite some time I've kind of made a hobby of comparing study Bibles and have to say the ESV Study Bible is the best I know of.

thanks for your post; I have heard the ESV bible is excellent; I am anxious to compare it to other translations. Hopefully; it will arrive later this week.

 

[SummaScriptura]

thanks for your post; I have heard the ESV bible is excellent; I am anxious to compare it to other translations. Hopefully; it will arrive later this week.

It also comes with a code which allows you to access the cyber-version of the book online...

 

[NorrinRadd]

It also comes with a code which allows you to access the cyber-version of the book online...

Sounds so... gnostic, or something.

 

[SummaScriptura]

Sounds so... gnostic, or something.

Yes, and for $25 more, they'll make you great and tell you how to make people speak in tongues.