Is it wrong to read from the ESV bible?

Sketcher · Apr 3, 2020

baptistgirl21 said:
I've been told that if I'm reading anything other than the KJV, then I need to stop because it's not the true word of God. I know some people, especially those with disabilities, have a hard time understanding the KJV, as I do myself. I find it easier to read simpler versions of the bible. What do you think? Is the ESV really not the true word of God? Am I sinning if I read any other version other than KJV?

You were told wrong. KJV-onlyism relies on dishonesty to trash the other translations. The KJV is just one good translation, there are better ones. Including the ESV.

Bible Highlighter · Apr 3, 2020

baptistgirl21 said:
I've been told that if I'm reading anything other than the KJV, then I need to stop because it's not the true word of God. I know some people, especially those with disabilities, have a hard time understanding the KJV, as I do myself. I find it easier to read simpler versions of the bible. What do you think? Is the ESV really not the true word of God? Am I sinning if I read any other version other than KJV?

I believe the KJV (Cambridge Edition circa. 1900) is divine and perfect, but that does not mean we cannot read other versions. The 1600's English is pretty difficult sometimes. I find the Modern Translations can help update what the KJV is saying many times. Now, that said, I do strongly dislike the ESV. For one, I never felt right with God's Spirit when looking at that translation in comparing different translations online at Biblehub. Two, the ESV appears to be the popular all the rage translation these days, as well. What is popular is not always good in my view. While they have their flaws, I do like the AMPC, NLT, and GNT; I read these alongside my ole trusty KJV.

PaulCyp1 · Apr 3, 2020

Actually the KJV is the poorest translation still in common use, with more than 6,000 translational errors.

charsan · Apr 3, 2020

baptistgirl21 said:
Is the ESV really not the true word of God?

Yes

baptistgirl21 said:
Am I sinning if I read any other version other than KJV?

Absolutely not, don't let anyone tell you that you are.

zoidar · Apr 3, 2020

baptistgirl21 said:
I've been told that if I'm reading anything other than the KJV, then I need to stop because it's not the true word of God. I know some people, especially those with disabilities, have a hard time understanding the KJV, as I do myself. I find it easier to read simpler versions of the bible. What do you think? Is the ESV really not the true word of God? Am I sinning if I read any other version other than KJV?

No, no, no...and no! The best you can do is read a few different translations and compare. Sometimes we find things in one translation the other has missed. I mostly use NASB, which I think is one of the best, easy language, and close to the manuscripts.

SoldierOfTheKing · Apr 4, 2020

Josheb said:
You have been told a falsehood.

I have an IQ two standard deviations above the norm, several graduate degrees from a variety of state and private universities, a dozen different English translations of the Bible, 35 years of diligent study and I find the KJV difficult to read. It has nothing to do with disabilities and everything to do with the fact it is 400 year old English not commonly used any more.

It could have something to do with the quality of education today. It’s no more difficult than Shakespeare. It’s written at an eleventh grade reading level, whereas the NIV is at fifth grade level. It really comes down to how well you understand the English language.

Josheb · Apr 4, 2020

SoldierOfTheKing said:
It could have something to do with the quality of education today. It’s no more difficult than Shakespeare. It’s written at an eleventh grade reading level, whereas the NIV is at fifth grade level. It really comes down to how well you understand the English language.

I have slightly different metrics for the various grade levels, but the point is astute and well taken. You may consider my post adjusted accordingly .

pescador · Apr 4, 2020

baptistgirl21 said:
I've been told that if I'm reading anything other than the KJV, then I need to stop because it's not the true word of God. I know some people, especially those with disabilities, have a hard time understanding the KJV, as I do myself. I find it easier to read simpler versions of the bible. What do you think? Is the ESV really not the true word of God? Am I sinning if I read any other version other than KJV?

The KJV is indeed "not the true word of God". The KJV is a translation, as are all English Bibles. The original "books" of the Bible were in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and many of the source documents themselves are in disagreement with each other. In other words, there is not now, and never was, a single written "true word of God". The widely-used Bible of Jesus' time was the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Hebrew/Aramaic Bible, which Jesus himself quoted from.

Many people who use the KJV use it because of the beauty of archaic English. Perhaps they associate the emotion they feel with being holy -- holier than thou -- and superior to people who use other translations that have been developed by renowned experts in both the ancient languages and English. IMHO, everyone should use one or more translations that "speak" clearly to them.

pescador · Apr 4, 2020

SoldierOfTheKing said:
It could have something to do with the quality of education today. It’s no more difficult than Shakespeare. It’s written at an eleventh grade reading level, whereas the NIV is at fifth grade level. It really comes down to how well you understand the English language.

Okay, what does Luke 14:10 really mean?

"But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when
he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher:
then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat
with thee."

Why are unicorns mentioned eight times in the KJV? Do you really believe that unicorns have ever existed?

Why were the various books of the Bible written in the common languages of the day, a time when there were many uneducated people?

pescador · Apr 4, 2020

It is generally agreed by historians that Jesus and his disciples primarily spoke Aramaic, the common language of Judea in the first century AD, most likely a Galilean dialect distinguishable from that of Jerusalem. source: Wikipedia (emphasis mine)

pescador · Apr 4, 2020

SoldierOfTheKing said:
It could have something to do with the quality of education today. It’s no more difficult than Shakespeare. It’s written at an eleventh grade reading level, whereas the NIV is at fifth grade level. It really comes down to how well you understand the English language.

I challenge you to find ANY fifth grader who can explain, as just one example, Romans 6:19 (NIV):

"I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness."

pescador · Apr 4, 2020

SoldierOfTheKing said:
It could have something to do with the quality of education today. It’s no more difficult than Shakespeare. It’s written at an eleventh grade reading level, whereas the NIV is at fifth grade level. It really comes down to how well you understand the English language.

"Not everyone agrees about the minimum grade level of every translation or the formulas used to calculate them. But we offer as general guidelines the following range of USA school grade levels (taken from information provided by the publishers of the various translations wherever possible) and age levels: ... NIV (12th grade) (senior in high school)"

If, as you say, "the KJV is written at an eleventh grade reading level" then the NIV is written for those who are a grade above.

Soyeong · Apr 4, 2020

baptistgirl21 said:
I've been told that if I'm reading anything other than the KJV, then I need to stop because it's not the true word of God. I know some people, especially those with disabilities, have a hard time understanding the KJV, as I do myself. I find it easier to read simpler versions of the bible. What do you think? Is the ESV really not the true word of God? Am I sinning if I read any other version other than KJV?

Didn't you know that Jesus and his disciples only used the KJV?

Seriously, the ESV is a popular version that is used by many Christians, so don't listen to them. The KJV is not even the oldest English translation. Like every other translation, it has its merits and flaws and is influenced by the biases of the people who worked on it. We have greater quantity and quality of manuscripts available to us than they used for the KJV, so feel free to use it if you prefer the Elizabethan English, but don't feel like you have to use it especially if you have trouble understanding it.

Athanasius377 · Apr 4, 2020

baptistgirl21 said:
I've been told that if I'm reading anything other than the KJV, then I need to stop because it's not the true word of God. I know some people, especially those with disabilities, have a hard time understanding the KJV, as I do myself. I find it easier to read simpler versions of the bible. What do you think? Is the ESV really not the true word of God? Am I sinning if I read any other version other than KJV?

the short answer is no, it’s not wrong to read the ESV. The KJV is a fine translation and in many ways a monument to 17th century scholarship that has served and still serves the church to the day. The KJV is the version I grew up with and when I quote scripture it comes out KJV because that’s what I memorized. Yet there are several modern versions that are more accurate and easier to read than the KJV including but not limited to the ESV, NASB 1977 or 1995 revisions, NKJV, CSB and the older NIV. If you like the ESV, then stick with the ESV. It’s the version I use now and if you run across someone who insists on the KJV only just remember it’s the same argument they use that also had Rome insisting the Latin Vulgate was the only true translation of the Bible.

The best bibles are in tatters. Meaning it’s the one you read.

Albion · Apr 4, 2020

pescador said:
If, as you say, "the KJV is written at an eleventh grade reading level" then the NIV is written for those who are a grade above.

Actually, the best of the various alternative (to the KJV) translations are at the 9th grade level. Most are not even that.

Athanasius377 · Apr 4, 2020

Albion said:
Actually, the best of the various alternative (to the KJV) translations are at the 9th grade level. Most are not even that.

Agreed. I’ve never understood how the grade level argument was calculated but I can say with 100% certainty in my experience that no one I ever met ever ditched the NIV for the KJV because the former was too hard to read. Also recall, at least in the NT the language (koine Greek) is a simplified version of the language. Sans Luke, Acts and Hebrews the Greek is fairly simple.

SoldierOfTheKing · Apr 4, 2020

pescador said:
I challenge you to find ANY fifth grader who can explain, as just one example, Romans 6:19 (NIV):

"I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness."

Which words in that paragraph do you think a fifth grader wouldn't know?

Shrewd Manager · Apr 4, 2020

Well the ESV is ok, but it's not quite the double-inspired infallible word that's good enough for Jesus.

pescador · Apr 5, 2020

SoldierOfTheKing said:
Which words in that paragraph do you think a fifth grader wouldn't know?

Impurity (as it means in the Bible, not chemistry), righteousness, holiness.

By the way, Soldier, you didn't reply to my earlier post. Here it is again...

Okay, what does Luke 14:10 really mean?

"But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when
he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher:
then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat
with thee."

Why are unicorns mentioned eight times in the KJV? Do you really believe that unicorns have ever existed?

Why were the various books of the Bible written in the common languages of the day, a time when there were many uneducated people?

... or are you unable to come up with an answer?

Berean Tim · Apr 5, 2020

baptistgirl21 said:
I've been told that if I'm reading anything other than the KJV, then I need to stop because it's not the true word of God. I know some people, especially those with disabilities, have a hard time understanding the KJV, as I do myself. I find it easier to read simpler versions of the bible. What do you think? Is the ESV really not the true word of God? Am I sinning if I read any other version other than KJV?

I love the ESV. It's a very accurate translation. Stay away from the KJV only folks

Is it wrong to read from the ESV bible?

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