The Amplified Bible

[CredoBiblicist]

Does anyone here own or use one of these?

I've had limited contact with the Amplified Bible in my walk. Recently I was looking at purchasing a 4 translation parallel Bible and the Amplified was the 4th one in it which lead me to check it out online. I was expecting it to be pretty bad with all the "amplifications" but was actually surprised. Yes it's awkward to read, doesn't flow great and should never be used as your main Bible. But at least it's seeking to bring out the full meaning of the Hebrew and Greek and when used to supplement a good literal version, it seems to be a good study tool. I wouldn't call it a word for word translation (it can paraphrase a little at times in the amps which you'll notice)but it seems to be a lot more accurate and faithful to the originals than current popular versions like the NLT, CEV and the Message. Seems a shame that the latter 3 are used much more.

Literalness is the most important thing to me when it comes to translation philosophy and while the Amplified Bible isn't going to be first in that category (though is a project of the Lockman Foundation who publish the excellent literal NASB), it offers something different from a word to word translation and a paraphrase. I will take faithfulness to the Hebrew and Greek over readability any day and for the Amplified seeking to do that it gets the thumbs up from me.

My 2 cents.

 

[x141]

Without the Holy Spirit/teacher/guide, any translation is to no avail.

 

[ElainaMor]

I like the Amplified...I find the Amplications often match what I would find in my Hebrew/Greek dictionary. Also, I find the commentary found in the text often matches commentary I find in other study bibles. So for study or when I'm seeking clarification on a certain passage I find the Amplified Bible to be useful.

I carried my amplified Bible to church with me for a short time just to see how it matched up with what my pastor was teaching. I found that often when he would pause to clarify a text or define certain words it lined up with what was in my Amplified Bible.

 

[Purge187]

It's a good idea, so long as the person doing the amplification is doing it correctly.

 

[A New Day]

Without the Holy Spirit/teacher/guide, any translation is to no avail.

i like that thank you, i think that we also may be wrong and that our own understanding is to no avail without the holy spirit.

 

[deetwang]

Agree with A New Day, you must have the Holy Spirit to understand any version.
I prefer the KJV and sometimes the NLT.
I think the Amplified Bible is a corruption in this sense: It gives almost every possible word that could be translated from the Hebrew or Greek, instead of the "first" and "most likely" word as other translations do.

I agree also that it could be used as a study tool or for writing a sermon, for proper exegesis and teaching.

Blessings this Easter to all!

 

[REPHAIAHPEDAHEL]

I like the Amplified Bible but I use it along side my other bible translations.

 

[CredoBiblicist]

Agree with A New Day, you must have the Holy Spirit to understand any version.
I prefer the KJV and sometimes the NLT.
I think the Amplified Bible is a corruption in this sense: It gives almost every possible word that could be translated from the Hebrew or Greek, instead of the "first" and "most likely" word as other translations do.

I agree also that it could be used as a study tool or for writing a sermon, for proper exegesis and teaching.

Blessings this Easter to all!

I actually prefer this, when used as a study tool. I don't want the translators interpreting for me or putting what they think it means in the text with no way of knowing what other options there are. A good reason for using a literal version where it's just translated not interpreted.

 

[Unix]

filosofer, a Bible translator, tells his opinion about the Amplified Bible: Regarding the Amplified Bible:

but it seems to be a lot more accurate and faithful to the originals than current popular versions like the NLT, CEV and the Message. Seems a shame that the latter 3 are used much more.

 

[REPHAIAHPEDAHEL]

I love the amplified translation of these verses

Romans 4:24-25 AMP
But [they were written] for our sakes too. [Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, [25] Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God].