If it ain't King James, it ain't Bible!

[spiritfilledjm]

Me and my wife were eating at a local Mexican restaurant when I looked outside and there was a bumper sticker that stated, "If it ain't King James, it ain't Bible!" I started cracking up. Since I married into a baptist missionary family I've had some flack from my father-in-law's church because I don't use the KJV (my father-in-law has no problem with it stating that he believes that the NASB is the most accurate, which is what I use.) I answered them that I'm not going to read something that my physical side doesn't enjoy. I also let them know that the NASB is viewed as the most accurate Bible to date. I read it because I can enjoy it. If I'm reading from Psalms though I will read from the KJV because of how poetic it is.

What Bible/s do you use? Why?

 

[Solidlyhere]

I read the New Testament in Greek.
I usually use "The Interlinear Bible" version (with a King James II English version in the margin).

I also have a 4-column Parallel Bible: King James, New American Standard, New International Version, and the Amplified.
This is nice to use, so I can gather-up all the nuances of main-line versions.

These 2 are what I usually use to read the Bible.


I also like the Revised English Bible, for its clarity and simplicity.
And, the New Jerusalem Bible, when I want to read Apocrypha.

 

[Svt4Him]

Many, because English is lacking words sometimes, so many give an overall view of different ways to look at the same verse. I also like the Jewish NT as it adds the Jewishness that is lacking in our gospel understanding.

 

[NorrinRadd]

...

I also have a 4-column Parallel Bible: King James, New American Standard, New International Version, and the Amplified.
This is nice to use, so I can gather-up all the nuances of main-line versions. ...

That would be the Comparative Study Bible.

I'm a fan of parallels, and that's my favorite of the ones I can find and afford. For many years, it was my main Bible, but for the past few years its small print -- which is pretty much a necessity when trying to squeeze 4 translations into one volume -- had been incompatible with my aging eyes.

And, the New Jerusalem Bible, when I want to read Apocrypha.

If it weren't OOP, and if the extant copies weren't so $$$, and if it weren't for the aforementioned small-print difficulties, I'd like to get a Complete Parallel Bible. Four respected translations, all (IIRC) including the Apocrypha.

I'm eagerly awaiting the completion of the ISV (International Standard Version). I'm sure I still would not be satisfied, though; I'd want it in parallel with at least one other translation.

I'm just never satisfied with only one.

 

[nephilimiyr]

Many, because English is lacking words sometimes, so many give an overall view of different ways to look at the same verse. I also like the Jewish NT as it adds the Jewishness that is lacking in our gospel understanding.

Interesting...

I mainly use the NIV, but sometimes use either the KJV or the NKJV.

 

[Eurasia]

To be honest i think i need a bible with pictures to motivate myself to read it more often,, However, I do read the NIV and New Living Translation.. and also the online bible which is heaps of translations to choose from..

 

[ShammahBenJudah]

I use the NKJV first, because it is closest to the KJV. Not that it has to BE KJV, its just the version I grew up with and know...when I need to search a reference, I know it in the KJV.

I wasn't particularly fond of the NIV, but I like to reference to the NLT and NASB a lot. I was looking at the new ISV. It isn't quite finished, but what I've seen of it looks decent.

 

[hopeinGod]

I have only a handful of times resorted to searching through translations that are not KJV. It must be that I am attached to it after over many years of study. The greatest benefit, I find, in using the KJV is that I accomplish word searches with ease when using a Strong's Concordance.

It is the "rightly dividing," (2 Tim 2:15) I think that makes the KJV difficult for some Bible students. For instance, the words "saved" and "perfect" or "perfection" do not always relate to justification, simply because they are used again and again. (Good examples: Heb. 6:1 and Matt. 10:22)

Also, the word "spirit" does not always mean the part of our body that was quickened when we were justified. When read in the verse that states, "filthiness of the flesh and spirit," (2 Cor. 7:1) it speaks of attitude....and, when David wrote, "take not thy holy spirit from me." (Ps. 51:11)

Dave

 

[ShammahBenJudah]

I have only a handful of times resorted to searching through translations that are not KJV. It must be that I am attached to it after over many years of study. The greatest benefit, I find, in using the KJV is that I accomplish word searches with ease when using a Strong's Concordance.
Dave

This is me, too. Although there are programs available that allow us to search all versions of the Bible, they do me little good. Because the wording I'm most familiar with is KJV.

 

[HephzibahBenJudah]

Whatever you preference. I personally use KJV/NKJV/Amplified..with Strongs concordance and other Bible reference guides as well as the Spirit-filled study Bible...I was taught the key is this....when you open the pages and turn to .. John chapter 1 it should start with...
Jhn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

and if it doesn't I don't buy it...you asked and thats IMHO.

 

[Peaceful Dove]

I have about 7 or 8 translations I use for study, including the KJV.
However, my favorite is the St. Josephs edition of the New American Bible.

Here is the thing. Spending time in the Bible is so important that whichever translation makes you feel comfortable and encourages you to read it is the one you should use. At least that goes for all of the ones mentioned here. I haven't heard of any that would cause harm.

 

[spiritfilledjm]

That's exactly right Dove! Only thing I say is to make sure you have a Strong's concordance with a Greek/Hebrew dictionary. Bible Explorer (A free Bible software.) has a Strong's concordance included along with a lot of other books and stuff that you can get for free.

 

[JAS4Yeshua]

I use the NKJV primarily, followed by the NIV. If I was doing more in-depth studies, I'll look at other versions, like the NLT, KJV, and Strong's concordance, to try to get the full visual for the passage I'm reading.

 

[cyberlizard]

my paper preference is two fold: complete jewish bible by david stern and new king james.

computer wise: i use the International Standard Version (http://isv.org), and a the Internlinear Scripture Analyser (http://www.scripture4all.org).


Steve

p.d. i cannot stand 'the message' i think it is absolutely aweful.

 

[~RENEE~]

Amplified, KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASB, Bible in basic english

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

I don't even own a KJV, though I have a pretty good collection of others. I'll probably get one just to round out the collection, but it isn't a translation I much care for. Puzzling out the sense of an archaic turn of phrase isn't something I want to have to deal with when I'm trying to understand what God is telling me. If I want Elizabethan English for its poetic qualities, I have Shakespeare already.

These are the ones I use most often: HCSB (my favorite), NIV, NKJV, ESV, NLT, NRSV, TNIV.

Online, I like BibleGateway.com.

 

[New_Wineskin]

Me and my wife were eating at a local Mexican restaurant when I looked outside and there was a bumper sticker that stated, "If it ain't King James, it ain't Bible!" I started cracking up. Since I married into a baptist missionary family I've had some flack from my father-in-law's church because I don't use the KJV (my father-in-law has no problem with it stating that he believes that the NASB is the most accurate, which is what I use.) I answered them that I'm not going to read something that my physical side doesn't enjoy. I also let them know that the NASB is viewed as the most accurate Bible to date. I read it because I can enjoy it. If I'm reading from Psalms though I will read from the KJV because of how poetic it is.

What Bible/s do you use? Why?

The translation that I use is the NIV . I use it because , when it came out , it was the only accurate translation around that was in the language that I spoke . I had the NASB before and it was always strange to me .

 

[DevotiontoBible]

Lately, I've been using the TNIV.

 

[New_Wineskin]

Lately, I've been using the TNIV.

I have been seriously thinking of going to that version . After almost 30 years of the NIV , it may be time for a change .

 

[DevotiontoBible]

I have been seriously thinking of going to that version . After almost 30 years of the NIV , it may be time for a change .

It's more accurate to the way we talk today than the NIV is.