I prefer my Bible version over others because: fill in the blank

[Lanakila]

I have been a KJV onliest at one time in my Christian walk. It took along time to get away from that line of thinking. I now prefer the NIV for its ease in reading, and sentence structure. I know all the dynamic equivalency arguments against that version, but like it anyway. Most of my memorized verses is from KJV though because that is what I read for so very long.

Please don't turn this into a KJV only debate!!

[rookie]

I have NIV and a Life Application one. I like them both, but I prefer the Life Application, only because it just seems easier to read and understand, for me.

rookie

[Lotar]

I have a NIV and a couple NKJ, personally I prefer the NKJ. I just like how it reads more.

[tigersnare]

I like the New Living for Paul's letters, but I prefere the NASB for the rest of the Bible.

[eldermike]

I have so many now. I like the KJ2000, and the plain english together.

What about computer bibles? My favorite is Sword Searcher

[Lanakila]

I have a program called the Bible Library. It has multiple versions. I don't like the search on it though, its not user friendly.

[eldermike]

Zondervan had a free computer bible dowload for the longest time (NIV), I am not sure they still have it on their site but it has the best simple word and verse search I have ever used.

[Lanakila]

Thanks Eldermike. :clap:

[BBAS 64]

I use the KJV mostly I would like to get a ASB though. My church uses KJV and I like it. I use E-sword on my desktop so I do read many other versions. I also use the The complete word study New testament.



BBAS

[Lotar]

Has anyone seen the (I think) NIV on cd? I saw it at Barns and Nobles yesterday, and it's supposed to be all done with different character voice, an origonal score, and sound effects. They have the NT alone, and the whole bible. It looked pretty cool, but the entire bible version is like $100, but it is like 64 cds.

[JOYfulbeliever]

I grew up with KJV, it really was all I knew until I got to college. Going to a Christian school and a church who were KJV only, I had never even picked up a different version. Throughout school, we had to learn Bible verses (multiple) every week. Everything was learned in KJV. Then I got to college, where everyone was using NIV. I will never forget being in a Bible study with a wonderful group of girls. We were discussing 1 Cor. 13 (which was one of the passages we had to memorize in school) and the leader asked someone to look up verse 4. Well, having it committed to memory, I just quoted it without really thinking about it. "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,". I'll never forget the look on their faces - "Puffed up?". Hehehehe.

It still was a year later before I got my first NIV Bible. I do prefer to use the NIV more often, because it is much easier reading, but at the same time, I can pick up my KJV and not think twice about it as well.

[Bruce S]

This one drives the Jews wild. I'm debating a few of them on another board, and they LOVE to tell us that we don't even have the word of God right, since we can't settle down with ONE translation effort. Of course, ,none of THEM read Hebrew well enough to read the Torah IN Hebrew, they don't like me mentioning that to them.

It is one of their main discussion points, our using "mistranslations" and that, to them, invalidates the entire message of Yeshua's coming.

For what it is worth.

[jbarcher]

I use the NASB...KJV looks interesting though, using "ye".

I prefer my Bible version, because, sadly, I am influenced by all this talk about translations being wrong and whatnot.

Well, actually, it's the only thing I have.

[Bayhawks83]

i use kjv, i like the way it sounds. also i like nasb

[Rechtgläubig]

I prefer NIV. It is the "official" version my Synod uses and is easy to understand. If I run across a difficult passage I can always go to my Pastor and get a translation from Greek/Hebrew anyway.

[Lotar]

Are you missouri synod or evangelical?

[Knight]

I have NIV and a Life Application one. I like them both, but I prefer the Life Application, only because it just seems easier to read and understand, for me.

rookie
The Life Application Bible is a study guide rather than a translation in and of itself. I have a Life App. In the NASB translation. Perhaps you have it in the NLT translation since it was first released in that.....

My preference for general reading is the NIV. I was raised on it and I think it teaches the message well.

For in-depth study I like the NASB. It is very word-for-word accurate and forces me to slow down my reading so I can actually study. (The grammar and syntax are a bit more complicated than the NIV)

The Amplified is also a good translation for intensive study. It's difficult to just read though.... Good for word studies.

I have grown to like the NLT for general reading. I do not own a copy myself but I've read it online a bit. Not bad for a paraphrase.

The KJV is good and very time-honored. However, I believe that some of the language is a bit out-dated when compared to modern english. KJV-only people drive me crazy. (Admittedly, a short trip.. :)) The NKJV is good though I have not spent much time studying it.

I have fond memories of the Good News translation (GNT). My dad carried one of those for most of my childhood that I can remember. He took it to work with him and used it so much he wore it out. (I learned from this that it is possible to repair a Bible with duct tape.... Thanks Pop.) This is a paraphrase and a decent one. I do not personally care for some of the wording but it gets the message across without problem.

I do not care for the Message translation (MSG). The wording is a little too dumbed-down for my tastes. I can see how this could be used as an evangelism tool to those who are not familiar with God's Word but I would not do any intensive studies from it. I think the NIV does a fine job of translating the Bible into plain, easy to understand, english.

BTW, Does anyone know if an objective study of the merits and flaws of the different english translations exists? The subject is of interest to me and I have not been able to find much that could be classified as objective. Most I've found on the internet are KJV-only..... (Grrrrrr. :mad: )

[wvmtnkid]

I generally use the NIV. I too grew up with the KJV, and frankly I just had a hard time understanding it. When I was a teenager, we started attending a church that used the NIV, and when I started reading it, it just clicked, and I have been using it ever since.

I recently have been using a One Year Book of Psalms as a devotional and it is in the NLT. The more I read, the more I like it. However, I do find my mind going back to what I am used to in the NIV. I also have The Message, and I haven't quite decided how I feel about it. Sometimes I think it is too contemporary, if that makes sense. But I do enjoy using it with the youth group to make comparison in scripture, or rather, they enjoy it.

[Rechtgläubig]

Are you missouri synod or evangelical?

Hi Lothar,

I am a member of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod).

[Lanakila]

BTW, Does anyone know if an objective study of the merits and flaws of the different english translations exists?

I have some excellent books on this topic. The main one that influenced me away from KJV only is the KJV Debate by D. A. Carson. James White has some books on this as well. There was a good book called Word About the Word that I read long ago, its more of a laymans guide to picking a Bible Translation. But, it was written before the new ESV which I hear is an excellent translation.

[Knight]

Thanks, Lana. I'll keep that in mind.

Or perhaps I'll do a study of my own.

[Bayhawks83]

I think this is accurate:

"New International Version-Today’s best-selling translation, offering a unique combination of scholarly accuracy and easy readability. The thought-for-thought approach to translation allows today’s reader to better understand and apply the intended meaning of the original Bible writers.


King James Version-The classic, word-for-word translation, beloved by Christians through the centuries for its dignity, poetic language, and timeless truths.

New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition-The most literal word-for-word English Translation available, updated to provide greater clarity of meaning. Vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure have been carefully revised to improve readability.

New Living Translation-A popular modern translation with roots in the Living Bible, featuring easily accessible vocabulary and language structure."

http://www.biblegiftstore.com/todparbibniv.html

[ByGrace]

I get lost when I read the KJV though I love the poetic flow and feel of it. When reading about the birth of Jesus during Christmas I love to hear it in KJV because it just sounds so nice.

I use the NIV mostly because that is the translation my Pastor teaches from but really like the accuracy of the NASB

[BarbB]

Well, I like nearly all of them.

NIV for church.
NKJ for trip to Israel with Pastor Jack Hayford!
Good News - saved by reading this version, still used for bedtime reading!
NASB - got one in a yard sale and like it also.
King James Version - is there a better version for the Psalms and Proverbs? I don't think so. I still recite the Psalms from memory in KJV!
Oh, and amplified for explaining some phrases.

That about does it, I guess!

[MorphRC]

I got the NAB but i want the DRV cause its the best translation there is:clap: .To bad it costs a lot of money...:|

[Serapha]

Hi There!

:wave:

I am a King James "preferred", but my favorite Bible for years was a parallel translation of KJV/NIV. Now... I use whatever is handy, XMT the NWT.

I have always understood that the best translation is the one that is applied to life.

~malaka~

[MorphRC]

I love the DRV! but i only got the NAB :cry:

[JeffreyLloyd]

I really like the NIV too. It reads very well so I use that a lot. A also really like the New American Bible.

I haven't really looked at the NKJV. what do you guys think of that?

[Lotar]

I love the NKJV, it reads very well. I have The MacArthur Study Bible, and a tiny version to take to school and work.

[MorphRC]

When im online and in a discussion ** cough: ARGUEMENT :D : cough ** I use the DRV or douay rheims version..but if im in person with someone i have to use the NAB which is a kinda watered down version of the DRV :wave:

and now for the reason:

** Drum Roll ** :holy:

I love the DRV cause it was the first english translation AND it was translated from the Original copies of the OT and NT..so its the closest ud get to Gods word in english anyways..unless we went and learnt hebrew and greek then we'd have the exact Word of God..which would be cool! :D