What's Best??

[Turk]

Can anyone help me?

I'm just about to buy the first copy of the Bible that I've had since I was about 4 years old.

I'm looking at the King James Study version: £20.66 (leatherbound) or the NIV: £7.46 (hardback).

Can someone tell me which one is best?

Thanks


Turk

 

[Morghaine]

I have "The Life Plan Study Bible, NKJV", I really like it. I used to use NIV, which I like as well, but I now prefer the NKJV.

 

[billwald]

Get a plain copy with no notes and read it for yourself, underling interesting stuff and making your own marginal notes. Then get other people's opinion.

In The USofA there the Salvation Army type stores are full of good Bibles you can buy for less than $5. Some charity stores give them away.

 

[justified]

Can anyone help me?

I'm just about to buy the first copy of the Bible that I've had since I was about 4 years old.

I'm looking at the King James Study version: £20.66 (leatherbound) or the NIV: £7.46 (hardback).

Can someone tell me which one is best?

Thanks


Turk

The NIV is more accurate in terms of translation and the text behind it because it was made in the 1970s; the KJV, translated in the 1611, simply lacked much of the knowledge we have today on the languages and manuscripts.

If you are looking for a bible with study notes, the NIV Study Bible is one of the best out there. I know a bunch of people who contributed to it.

Dan.

 

[AngCath]

I'm going to recommend the NEB or REB (since you're in England) and Oxford makes a nice study edition of the REB if you want notes.

 

[Turk]

I'm still really confused now. I don't know what all of the abreviations mean. And how come there are so many different ones. How do you trust a certain version since it would be so easy to take out of context?

I never thought buying a good bible would be so stresfull.

 

[pugby]

I think it is best to have multiple translations. As far as NIV versus KJV, I prefer KJV but it is a personal preference. Read through different sections of each and see which you understand better. I like ESV best.

 

[revrobor]

"Study" Bibles are the opinion of those who entered the study note. That does not mean they are correct. I agree with what billwald said about a "plain copy".

I prefer the CEV (Contemporary English Version).

 

[Santo]

I'm still really confused now. I don't know what all of the abreviations mean. And how come there are so many different ones. How do you trust a certain version since it would be so easy to take out of context?

I never thought buying a good bible would be so stresfull.

It would be best to find someone who has several versions and ask them to let you look through them and read certain passages, that way you can pick the one that it is easier for you to understand and study with. If you are not comfortable with a particular version, then you might not read it and that defeats the purpose.
If you really want to study the bible and come up with your own conclusion with the help of the Spirit, then get an amplified version with wide margins for notes.

 

[pugby]

Study Bibles are nice, but I prefer plain texts, with footnotes for cross-referenced passages and red letters where Jesus speaks.

 

[CardinalBaseball]

I'd get the NIV because it's eaier to understand, and read.

 

[kaljay]

Hi Turk

God will be faithful to you in the reading of His word in whatever translation you read...

Here's what i did: i started off with a bible that was easy for me to understand... NIV was a good choice. I then moved on to the New King James Version (which is based on the King James but with more familiar dialogue), this version made more sense because i understood a bit more of what the bible was about and what God was saying because i had read one that was easier to understand first.

God bless you in whatever version you do decide to buy...

Kaljay

 

[Turk]

Thanks for all of your opinions, I ended up going for the King James Version. I'm about 1/3 the way through Exodus so far and although It can be difficult to read at times, i'm really enjoying it. It's nice to hear the old English wording for a change.

So for now, I think I've made the right choice.

Thanks for your help everyone!!