Romans 8:28

[Alenci]

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose. Footnotes:

1. Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God
2. Romans 8:28 Or works together with those who love him to bring about what is good–with those who

Aren't there some important differences between those three? I notice that most translations seem to take the standpoint that everything works out for good in the lives of those who love God, while The Message alone seems to take the standpoint of footnote b. Footnote a seems to be sort of an ambiguous combination of the other two, as it could read either way. What's going on here? Why are there such differences in the manuscripts? What's the best meaning?

 

[C.A.B.L]

Alenci,

Well, for one The Message is a paraphrase Bible, so that can make a huge difference. What version do you use? The best translation to stick with if you want accuracy is KJV, but if you can't understand it, then NKJV. I use the NIV for conventional reading, but for study always go with one of those two.

 

[johnd]

The language is meant to indicate that in the end over all everything that has transpired are used in some form or fashion by the Great Orchestrater (God) for his will and our benefit.

 

[Rafael]

The best way to understand a verse is to use it with at least the verse or two preceding it and the one or more after - in context. This reveals that this verse shows two aspects of God's character and power. He cause all things to work together for good; to those that love Him, and He knows who they are in advance by His powers of omniscience watching over them. This is supposed to comfort the believer and give them faith. Here is a translation I like to read along with the KJV, in parallel. It is the New Living Translation.
I may add that the NIV is coming to be known and reported as a very weak and watered down version of the Bible - one of the worst ones for taking away the blood of Jesus. The KJV and the NASB are the most accurate. Here is a comparison chart:
http://www.ibs.org/bibles/translations/index.php
For some reason, the KJV has always been the most memorizeable for me. I have a hard time memorizing any other translation but the KJV.

Romans 8:26 ¶ And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
29 ¶ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.

 

[Alenci]

Alenci,

Well, for one The Message is a paraphrase Bible, so that can make a huge difference. What version do you use? The best translation to stick with if you want accuracy is KJV, but if you can't understand it, then NKJV. I use the NIV for conventional reading, but for study always go with one of those two.

I don't read The Message; I was just looking at some of the translations at BibleGateway.com. They have a total of 19.

 

[Blazin4Christ]

in my opinion this is th reason I am KJVO, so I don't have this problem of multiple possibilities for verses, read the verse in KJV and you should havew an answer

 

[johnd]

in my opinion this is th reason I am KJVO, so I don't have this problem of multiple possibilities for verses, read the verse in KJV and you should havew an answer

Consider this Blaze,

I "prefer" the KJV though I cut my teeth on the NIV. But I use all orthodox English translations using the best version / translation that best reflects the original language. All translations of the original autographs have "difficulties" so the best way to get at the truth is to aim for the original intent.

Yes I know about the various families of Greek translations. What I do in comparing them is give God the benefit of the doubt (take his side of the debate) and always come up a winner (by gaining an understanding of the truth).

 

[FaithAlone]

The best translation to stick with if you want accuracy is KJV, but if you can't understand it, then NKJV. I use the NIV for conventional reading, but for study always go with one of those two.

Where did you get this info from? I've always heard that the NASB is the most acurate. I would like to know how to find out for sure. I like other versions just because they can get me to view some passages in a different light but I would like to know which one is closest to the original.