What version of the Bible do you use?

[daveleau]

What version/s do you use and why?

What do you think of The Message?

Please answer both questions if you can. I was brought up with KJV, and I still like it for memorization. I also have had NIV, and I recently got ESV which I think is going to be my primary version in the years to come. Plus it is compact, so it is easy to carry around.

Jackie

I carry an NIV/KJV parallel Bible to church because I like to compare during sermons. My preacher preaches from the KJV/NKJV.

I do not demonize the Message as some do. I take it for what it is intended: something for light reading, not something for study. The Message, being a paraphrase, gets some of the language very wrong, so deep study of it is highly discouraged. But, it reads easily, so it is nice for a break from the study we are called to do.

I do have to say that I am not a fan of calling the Bible a "version." I prefer the terminology "translation" because "version" seems to indicate huge differences between the content, which is not really the case. KJV-onlyists or those who dislike the NIV would say differently, but there's overall not that much difference.

I like to study as many versions as I can. I have several parallel Bibles, and always look for versions I don't have yet. I prefer the translations based on the UBS4/NA27 text rather than the Textus Receptus, because the TR relies heavily on Jerome's translation of the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic into crude or 'vulgar' Latin, which is a very different language. But, I do study the TR versions too. Much can be had by studying different versions.

I hope this helps!

In Him,
Dave

 

[Papa01]

[BIBLE]I've used the NIV in the past, but now I mostly use the KJV and the NKJV.[/BIBLE]

 

[chris414]

NLT / NIV for reading and KJV (with strong) for study

 

[aisling7]

I prefer the translations based on the UBS4/NA27 text rather than the Textus Receptus, because the TR relies heavily on Jerome's translation of the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic into crude or 'vulgar' Latin, which is a very different language. But, I do study the TR versions too.

Can you explain this to the non-historian?

Jackie

 

[Anij]

I use a variety of different Bibles.

For personal reading I usually use NIV, which I find easiest to read aloud from, also because we use NRSV on Sundays I do read from that as well, and on occassion I will use Good News.

If I'm specifically preparing for Worship it depends on what service I'm considering:

For Sundays , I use NRSV ( it's the current version used in out Chruch) unless I find a specific passage which 'speaks' better using Good News or NIV.

On Wednesday ( which is a smaller more relaxed service)if I'm reading I try to use Good News, however other readers (though not myself) also use the Message on occassion.

Persoanlly I dislike the tone that occurrs in many places in the Message. It's abrasive, and doesn't 'fit' with me.

Though Generally I don't dislike NRSV, I do find that in some cases the NRSV loses some of the 'flow' and becomes at times somewhat akward in order to create a more 'genderless' phrasing, which may be important for some people but isn't for me (and I'm female)

My my overall belief behind versions/transliterations of the Bible is that they all have their good points, and their weak points, it's a matter of being wise enough and open enough to find the parts taht 'soeak' to you regardless of version. ( I've been known to have 5 different versions laid out on the floor examining a single passage.)

 

[AngCath]

1. My primary Bible is the Revised English Bible. I supplement this with the RSV, NAB, and Douay-Rheims.

2. The Message is fine as long as it is understood to be a paraphrase, NOT A TRANSLATION, and as long as it is not used for study purposes.

 

[Morghaine]

Does anyone have a list or a link that gives all the available translations that are out there? I think that would be interesting to view!

 

[filosofer]

Does anyone have a list or a link that gives all the available translations that are out there? I think that would be interesting to view!

Wayne Lehman has many links on his Better Bible Blog. Scroll down on the right side until you see the links for the Bibles. Keep following links to reviews. The reviews have been written by a wide variety of people, many experts in translation/linguistics, etc, many involved in non-English translation efforts. Wayne's speciality is Cherokee.

See also Michael's site Bible-Researcher.

 

[YellowSapphire]

I like christnotes.org because I can see their daily verse in a number of translations. I have to say, I find the NKJV way more confusing than the original. And the Amplified Bible is very confusing to me. I have both the NLT and the NIV. There's something about the NLT I don't like. It doesn't move me the way the NIV does... in fact, it almost gives off a dark vibe.

My dream parallel Bible would have the KJV, ESV, TNIV and the Message. I definatly think summary Bibles have their place. But most of the parallels on the market contain either of the translations I already have, or both. I found a parallel NT with 8 different translations in it, and I hadn't heard of 5.

 

[Bridgit]

What version/s do you use and why?

What do you think of The Message?

Please answer both questions if you can. I was brought up with KJV, and I still like it for memorization. I also have had NIV, and I recently got ESV which I think is going to be my primary version in the years to come. Plus it is compact, so it is easy to carry around.

Jackie

I use the NKJV. I like the KJV but am somewhat distracted by the "old english expressions" so I decided to use the NKJV.

Whenever I do not seem to grasp the meaning of a verse, I also use the Amplified Bible.

I do not use the Message because it is not like a Bible to me, but just an interpretation of the Bible.

Cheers.

 

[Nazaroo]

Does anyone have a list or a link that gives all the available translations that are out there? I think that would be interesting to view!

THE NEW TESTAMENT

30-95----------Original Autographs
150-------------Tatian's Diatesseron
200-------------Clement's Manuscripts
225-------------Origen's Hexapla
331-------------Vaticanus (B) - Constantine's Bibles by Eusebius
331-------------Sinaiticus (Aleph) - Constantine's Bible by Eusebius
400-------------Jerome's Latin Vulgate
450-------------Codex Alexandrinus (circa)
450-------------Codex Ephraemi (circa)
450-------------Codex Bezae (circa)
1481-----------Discovery of Vaticanus (B) Manuscript in Vatican Library

1582-----------Douay-Rheims New Testament
1610-----------Douay-Rheims Complete Bible (Jesuit Bible)
1611-----------Original King James Version
1657-----------Brian Walton's Polyglot
1707-----------John Mill's Edition
1774-----------Griesbach's Greek New Testament
1842-----------Carl Lachmann's New Testament
1844---Discovery of Sinaiticus (Aleph) in garbage pail at St. Helens Monastery in Sinai
1856-----------A Translation of the Gospels - Andrews Norton
1857-----------Tregelle's New Testament
1859-----------Tischendorf's 7th Edition New Testament
1861---The New Testament: Translated from the Original Greek - Ambrose Sawyer
1862-----------The Life and Epistles of St. Paul - W. J. Conybeare & J. S. Howson
1864-----------The Emphatic Diaglott - Benjamin Wilson (the original JW NT!)
1869-----------Alford's New Testament
1872-----------Tischendorf's New Testament
1873-----------The New Testament - George R. Noyes (Unitarian)
1875-----------The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
1881-----------The Revised Version of Hort & Westcott
1888-----------The New Covenant - J. W. Hansen
1890-----------The Holy Scriptures - J. N. Darby

1900-----------Epistles of the New Testament - Henry Hayman
1901-----------The American Standard Version
1901-----------Modern American Bible - Frank Shell
1901-----------Moffatt's Historical New Testament - James Moffatt
1901-----------Way's Epistles - Arthur Way
1901-----------Young People's Bible or the Scriptures Corrected - Harriet Jones
1902-----------The Emphasized Bible - Joseph Bryant Rotherham
1902-----------Godby's New Testament - W. B. Godby
1902-----------Twentieth Century New Testament
1903-----------The Fenton's Bible - Ferrar Fenton
1903-----------Weymouth's Translation of the New Testament - Richard Weymouth
1904-----------Worrell's New Testament - A. S. Worrell
1905-----------LLoyd's New Testament - Samuel LLoyd
1906-----------Forrester Translation - Henry Forrester
1907-----------Bourne's Gospel - A. E. Bourne
1907-----------Moulton's Modern Reader's Bible - Richard C. Moulton
1908-----------Rutherford's Epistles
1909-----------Bible in Modern English
1909-----------Weaver's New Testament - S. Townsend Weaver
1910-----------The Cunards
1912-----------The Improved Bible Union Version - American Baptist Publishing Society
1914-----------The Numeric New Testament - Ivan Panin
1914-----------Cunnington's New Testament - E. E. Cunnington
1916-----------The McFayden Psalms in Modern Speech - John McFayden


1917-----------Jewish Publication Society Bible
1918-----------Anderson New Testament
1919-----------The Messages of the Bible - Frank Sanders & Charles Kent
1921-----------The Pym
1921-----------The Shorter Bible - Charles Foster Kent
1921-----------A Plain Translation of the New Testament by a Student - Bird McCarron
1922-----------The Plainer Bible - Chaplain Frank Valentine
1923-----------The Riverside New Testament - William G. Ballenteen
1923-----------The Robertson Translation - A. T. Robertson
1924-----------The Labor Determinative Version
1924-----------Centenary Translation of the New Testament - Helen Barrett Montgomery
1924-----------The Moffatt Bible - James Moffatt
1925-----------People's New Covenant
1925-----------Children's Bible
1927-----------Kent's Student Old Testament
1927-----------Smith's and Goodspeed's Translation
1928-----------The Christian's Bible - George LaFever
1928---Good News acc. to Matthew for use by "Christian Spiritualists" - J. W. Potter
1929-----------The Galwyn's Psalms
1930-----------The Loux Mark Edition - Dubois Loux
1931-----------The Wales Psalms - Frank Wells
1932-----------The Chaplain Ballenteen Edition - Frank Shell
1932-----------The Kleists Memoirs of St. Peter
1933-----------Torrey's Four Gospels - Chaplain Cutter Torrey
1934-----------Royd's Epistles and Gospels
1934-----------The Old Testament in Colloquial English
1934-----------The Wade Translation - G. W. Wade
1935-----------The Westminster Version
1937-----------The Cornish Translation of St. Paul
1937-----------Greber's New Testament
1937-----------Martin's New Testament
1937-----------21 Canonical Epistles
1937-----------Spencer's New Testament - Francis Spencer
1937-----------Williams New Testament - Charles B. Williams
1938-----------The Book of Books
1938-----------Buttonweiser's Psalms
1938-----------Clementson's New Testament - Charles B. Williams
1939-----------The Osterley Psalms
1940-----------Dakes's Gospels
1941-----------St. Mark in Current English
1944-----------The Gallin Psalms


1946-----------Linsky's Interpretation
1946-----------The Revised Standard Version of the NCC
1947-----------Eerdman's Psalms
1947-----------Swann's New Testament - George Swann
1948-----------The Letchworth New Testament
1949-----------The Basic Bible
1949-----------The Lesley Psalms
1951-----------The Authentic Version
1951-----------Vernon's Mark
1951-----------Sacred Writings of the Apostles and Evangelists of Jesus Christ - G. Campbell, J. MacKnight, P. Doddridge
1952-----------The Revised Standard Version update
1952-----------The New Testament in Plain English - Charles Williams
1952-----------The Penguin Bible
1952-----------The Four Gospels - E. V. Rieu
1954-----------The Cassain's Psalms
1954-----------St. Paul's Shorter Letters - Hobart G. Hoerber
1954-----------The Moore's New Testament
1954-----------The Amplified Gospel of John
1955-----------The Knox Translation
1956-----------The Inspired Letters in Clearest English - Frank C. Laubach
1957-----------The Concordant Version
1957-----------The Lamsa Translation
1958-----------The Amplified New Testament
1958-----------The Hudson Translation
1958-----------The Meisner's Gospels
1958-----------Phillips New Testament - J. B. Phillips
1959-----------The Cresmond New Testament
1959-----------The Modern Language Bible
1960-----------Reina-Valera Revision (Spanish)
1960-----------The New American Standard Version
1960-----------The Children's King James
1961-----------The New English Bible
1961-----------The New World Translation (Jehovah's Witnesses)
1961-----------Noli's Greek orthodox New Testament
1961-----------One Way Bible
1961-----------Simplified New Testament - Plaf M. Norlie
1961-----------Wuest Expanded New Testament
1962-----------The Children's Version
1962-----------The New Jewish Version
1962-----------Four Gospels and the Revelation - Richard Lattimore
1963-----------Beck's New Testament
1963-----------Holy Name Bible
1963-----------The NT A New Translation in Plain English - Charles Williams
1964-----------The Anchor Bible
1964-----------The Hadas Psalms
1965-----------Bruce's Expanded Paraphrase
1965-----------The Complete Amplified Bible
1966-----------Today's English Version (Good News for Modern Man)
1966-----------Jerusalem Bible
1966-----------The Bible in Simplified English
1966-----------The Burke Translation
1966-----------The Living Scriptures
1967-----------Dale's New World Bible
1967-----------The Liverpool Vernacular Gospels
1968-----------The Cotton Patch Version
1968-----------Hansen's Psalms in Modern Speech
1968-----------Restoration of Original Name New Testament
1969-----------Barclay's New Testament
1969-----------The Children's New Testament
1969-----------The New Life Testament - Gleason H. Ledyard
1970-----------King James II New Testament by Jay Green
1970-----------New English Bible
1970-----------New American Bible (Roman Catholic)
1971-----------Blackwell Exegetical Translation
1971-----------The Living Bible
1972-----------J. B. Phillips Translation
1972-----------The Bible in Living English - Steven Byington (Jehovah's Witness)
1972-----------The Alba House New Testament
1972-----------Today's English New Testament
1973-----------New International Version
1973-----------The Common Bible
1973-----------The Translator's New Testament
1973-----------The Better Version of the New Testament
1976-----------New Life Testament
1976-----------The Heart of Paul: A Relational Paraphrase of the NT - Ben Johnson
1979-----------New King James Version
1979-----------English Messianic Jewish Version
1980-----------The Four Gospels: An Exegetical Translation
1981-----------The Simple English New Testament - International Bible Translators
1982-----------The Basic Bible
1985-----------New Jerusalem Bible
1988-----------The Everyday Bible: New Century Version
1989-----------The New Revised Standard Version
1993-----------The Message - Eugene Peterson
1995 ---------- New American Standard Version Update
1996-----------New Living Translation
1996-----------Bible in Worldwide English
2001-----------English Standard Version (National Council of Churches production)
2002-----------Today's New International Version
2003-----------Holman Christian Standard Bible
2003-----------Revolve New Testament (New Century Version)
2004-----------Good As New: A Radical Retelling of The Scriptures - John Henson of the One Community

Here's a brief list of English xlations. Interesting or (in)famous translations are in bold.


(the Brick NT isn't included since it has no real text.)

 

[filosofer]

A couple more for your list:

1969 Berkeley
1976 Beck's (entire) Bible
1995 God's Word (to the Nations)
1972 Williams' NT

 

[Morghaine]

Wow! Thank you both for your posts!

 

[Rich48]

I use the NASB or KJV.

Rich

 

[Bernergirl]

My first Bible was a KJV from the Dollar Store. It is sitting on my night stand. I like using it for copying down verses in my prayer journal. I think I should probably get a study bible from the KJV. I have heard it said that "Satan is trying to change the Word through different Bible translations" (this quote from a KJVOist). Opinions? I want to learn more about whether there is any substance to that accusation...

My first study Bible was a NLT youth Bible called the "Jesus Bible." I also have a copy of the Message New Testament. I agree with the sentiment that it is a paraphrase and not a study text, but I like reading it on the bus and such.

I have e-Sword on my laptop, too. And I have a few different versions on it. The ones I use most often in it are the KJV-1611, the KJV, the NKJV, the CEV, and the BBE. I like using e-Sword to create parallel Bibles for study.

 

[Happygal]

i have kjv which read it before i becaome a christian. Now i'm using nkjv and another God's word for service and cell group

 

[Celticflower]

I was given an RSV by the church when I was in 3rd grade. I still use it from time to time.

My husband bought me an NIV study Bible about 12 years ago that I like for a few reasons. It is the one used the most a church, it has lots of helpful notes and is the same translation my kids have and enjoy.

I also have "the Bible as Living Literature" which is KJV but not a "full" Bible. It is useless for study, but if you just want to read the arc of the story from Genesis thru Revelation it is wonderful.

I almost forgot, I have a Good News for Modern Man NT that my 5th grade Sunday school teacher gave as Christmas gifts one year. I made a little cover for it and it lives in my purse so I always have something good to read with me.

The youth pastor at church often uses "the Message" and I can't say I have strong feelings one way or the other about it.

The only one I can say I've read and didn't like at all was the Modern English Bible my brother got in 3rd grade. There was no beauty in the language at all and was difficult to read.

 

[Gwen'sMom]

Since I am a new Christian I purchased The Living Translation. The message is so clear to me when I read it. My Bible is also the Study version. If I am having difficulty with a passage I have help right there. But the only problem I have are things like The Beautitudes or The Lords Prayer just don't seem to have as much meaning as when reading KJV.

 

[Mikey68]

my first Bible was the KJV my mother presented to me.
Her latest Bible is the Good News Bible that i read because the text is a little bigger and i still keep the KJV close by if i want to reference any verse.our Presbetarian Minister reads from the Message during church.the Gideon Bible Society was at our church last Sunday & i was talking to one of the members & he reads the New American Bible Edition.

 

[Izdaari Eristikon]

My primary translation is the ESV, though I like the HCSB almost as much.

I also have study bibles in NRSV, NIV, NKJV and NAB, and they all get some use.

For casual reading I prefer the NLT. Sometimes The Message also, though as others have noted, that's a paraphrase rather than a translation.