The New Century Version Bible? Advice please?

[Danijo]

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the right category so I apologize if its not. I asked in a different section but I dont think that was the right one to ask in.

Today I purchased A bible called "The Answer.. Authentic Faith for an Uncertain World". It's called "New Century Version"

I've never heard of this before today and I was wondering if anyone has read it/heard of it? Is it accurate?

I confess as a Christian I have yet to read the entire bible, but I want to start. I'd like to know if this one is accurate because I dont want to start reading it if it will lead me in the wrong direction.

 

[bsd31]

New Century Version - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think I'd go for the ESV, NIV, or NASB myself especially to begin with. Only because they are generally accepted as accurate. Of course everyone knows the most holy of holies is the KJV... or so some would like us to believe

 

[actionsub]

NCV is a good Bible for just reading the Bible. For what you're stating as your goal, it'd be one of the better ones. I use a "one-year" Bible prepared by Max Lucado for my daily readings which uses the NCV as its text.
The fact that it is based on a limited vocabulary limits its value for in-depth study. If you want to do some of that later on, I'd go with bsd31's recommendations.

 

[bsd31]

NCV is a good Bible for just reading the Bible. For what you're stating as your goal, it'd be one of the better ones. I use a "one-year" Bible prepared by Max Lucado for my daily readings which uses the NCV as its text.
The fact that it is based on a limited vocabulary limits its value for in-depth study. If you want to do some of that later on, I'd go with bsd31's recommendations.

Good point. Sometimes I forget some people just want to read and not study.

 

[Danijo]

Well, right now I want to just read it. I've been a Christian for many many years, but for as long as I can remember, Ive been a "luke warm" Christian. Recently I've been taking my faith much more seriously and it's been bothering me that in my entire life as a Christian, I've never read through the bible. After I read the entire thing, I would like to study it as well.

 

[ebia]

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the right category so I apologize if its not. I asked in a different section but I dont think that was the right one to ask in.

Today I purchased A bible called "The Answer.. Authentic Faith for an Uncertain World". It's called "New Century Version"

I've never heard of this before today and I was wondering if anyone has read it/heard of it? Is it accurate?

I confess as a Christian I have yet to read the entire bible, but I want to start. I'd like to know if this one is accurate because I dont want to start reading it if it will lead me in the wrong direction.

NCV never seems to have attracted much of the market, so I've never had anything much to do with it.

But all the mainstream bibles are reasonably accurate, and precision has to be balanced against readibility. It's more important that you read one you find readable than you try to pick the most precisely accurate. Ideally go to a bookshop and read through a section of each, and choose on that basis.

 

[Danijo]

I started reading it a little while ago. Mostly the introduction and what makes it different from other versions of the bible. Basically they changed the language to make it more 'current'. For instance seas, rivers and cities are referred to by todays name, instead of what they were called in Bible times, and some wording was changed (while taking care not to change the meaning). Like "He went to lay with his fathers" is changed to "he died" and where it says man and he in generic terms (not referring just to men, but mankind) are changed to "people" .. Stuff like that. Also, on different pages they answer common questions about things like sex, abortion, guilt, worrying, finances, etc etc.. Of course the answers given are just opinions but they try to base them on scriptures from the bible.


I asked my mother about it, she said it was a good starter for getting the basics of the bible, but when I want to really study it, I'll want to get a different version (as was already said here ) ..It's kind of like "Bible for dummies" ...Bible cliffnotes, if you will.

Since I havent read the bible, I figure it's a good starting place.

 

[heron]

You can quickly compare NCV with other versions at Studylight.org or Bible Gateway.

Psalm 55:22 - NCV - with Study Resources - Study Desk

Psalm 55:22 NCV
Give your worries to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down

Psalm 55:22 NASB
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Psalm 55:22 NKJV
Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22 Wycliffe
Caste thi cure on the Lord, and he schal fulli nurische thee; and he schal not yyue with outen ende flotering to a iust man.
(Lol, 1395)

Zondervan has a good chart that gives you a quick glimpse:
http://www.zondervan.com/images/cms/Bibles/bible_transchrt_js.jpg
Zondervan - About Bible Translations

 

[Danijo]

Seems pretty close. When I first started reading it I thought it'd be a bible I'd recommend to all my "trying to be christian" friends ....but one thing they added made me change my mind. In the first few pages someone put their opinion on sex. It said that alot of Christians try to say that sex is evil and should ONLY be done between married couples, ONLY for procreation, not pleasure. It goes on to say that God wants us to enjoy sex.

That might be true, I dont know, but it doesn't say anything about God wants us to enjoy sex ....with our husband/wife. It just says he wants us to enjoy it. I have friends who will say that means they can have sex with whomever, where ever, and God will be cool with it.

That's kind of a huge disappointment. I was looking forward to recommending this bible to my friends who are on the edge of Christianity, but not there yet.

 

[heron]

I get annoyed with commentary in Bibles.

Back in the old days, scribes and authors used to add "do not add or remove from this document" -- for good reason. It is as though they are declaring that statement part of God's Word to us.

Do you like the NCV Bible otherwise?

 

[Danijo]

I'm annoyed with that take on it, especially since they left out that it's for married couples .. I mean, I know that but like I said, I have friends who will say "woohoo, I just got the green light on sex from God himself! .....right here in the bible!"

Other than that, I haven't gotten very far in it, but it seems like it'll be a good one just to read through. Every time I've attempted to read the bible in the past, I'd stop after every paragraph with about 47 questions. (Which is why I havent gotten very far) ..Hopefully with this one I'll be able to make it through atleast 3 pages question free.

 

[heron]

Lol.

Every time I've attempted to read the bible in the past, I'd stop after every paragraph with about 47 questions. (Which is why I havent gotten very far)

Oh, well that's a good reason to have the comments. Good point.
No rush to complete it -- it's better that you understand concepts, than to dash through to the end and not understand the heart of God.

The woohoo... you could send a note off to the publisher, and let them know how it appears. Publishers print revisions, so you could have an influence on the next run. Then you can recommend it to friends. (-;

 

[Danijo]

Good point, I might do that! Hopefully they'll read and take that into account. I picked up this bible at the Goodwill for a buck. It's in brand new condition so I figured for a dollar, I'll either like it because it's a good bible, or I'll save someone else from reading it and getting lost because its a bad one. I havent gotten far enough in to say it's great or it's terrible, but right now I'm liking it.

 

[Samuel Coleridge]

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the right category so I apologize if its not. I asked in a different section but I dont think that was the right one to ask in.

Today I purchased A bible called "The Answer.. Authentic Faith for an Uncertain World". It's called "New Century Version"

I've never heard of this before today and I was wondering if anyone has read it/heard of it? Is it accurate?

I confess as a Christian I have yet to read the entire bible, but I want to start. I'd like to know if this one is accurate because I dont want to start reading it if it will lead me in the wrong direction.

Sto listening to the devil, and do all that God tells you. And you will be going in the right direction.

 

[TheDag]

personally when it comes to reading the bible it does not make much of a difference. Remember always be careful about building a belief on one or two words in a phrase or sentence. That is how arguments start and division within the church. Heron in post #8 mentioned two websites that will allow you to compare a passage from different versions at the same time. This is always useful to do to help in the understanding. Of course I believe that the bible is the inspired word of God and that through translation it loses some of its meaning or can be misunderstood. there is also the matter of censorship because we wouldn't want the bible mentioning people having sex!!!

A commonly accepted way to understand passages is to ask the following three questions
1. What does the verse/passage mean in the context of the chapter
2. What does the chapter mean in the context of the message of the book
3. What is the book saying in context of the bible
Then remember the bible points to Jesus

 

[Danijo]

I honestly think my problem with getting very far in the bible is that I am, and always have been, a person that takes things extremely literally. When I start reading and I see things like "If you do this you will be in danger of the fires of hell" (Paraphrasing a bit, but thats the gist).

When I start reading that I get scared and have about a million questions and it throws me. I know that salvation is through Jesus and if I accept him and proclaim him before others, I am a christian..but like I said, taking things VERY literally and seeing all the ways I could be in danger of hell really scares me .

I dont have any christian friends, so it's not like I have anyone I can discuss this stuff with.. which is why I'm here. My mother understands the bible and has read it and usually can explain things to me but I'd like another point of view.. plus when I get her going on the bible its hard to get a word in there.

 

[TheDag]

it can be hard when the bible is always taken literally as it is not meant to be. there are certainly some parts that should be taken literally. perhaps what might be more helpful is asking the questions here or in the ask a pastor forum

 

[Danijo]

It does get confusing. I'll just have to continue reading and remember all the questions I have so I can clear them up on here, until I get some Christian friends.

 

[razeontherock]

Add to your circle of influence to examine your question with. Don't replace one with another. Add to the people here a good Pastor at a local Church G-d plants you in, attend their Bible studies and Prayer meetings, and put friends on the bottom of the totem pole until they prove they're reliable.

"in the multitude of counsellors [there is] safety." Proverbs 11:14, 24:6

For a Bible to recommend to friends, The Message. A very faithful rendering in modern English. It's good to compare passages between translations, too. You best bet for reading the Bible is to do it prayerfully, asking G-d to speak to you through His word and make it come alive in you. I say humility is more important than finding answers to all your questions, especially now. You're going to have to come to terms that on your first read-through, you are NOT going to understand it all!

Best sermon I have ever heard was from a 90-something little old man, no-name Preacher. He was on his 1000th + read-through of the Bible. That says a lot!

You can only fail if you quit.

 

[TheDag]

It does get confusing. I'll just have to continue reading and remember all the questions I have so I can clear them up on here, until I get some Christian friends.

get a piece of paper and write them down if it helps you to remember. For me often if it is not written down then it may as well have not happened.


Do you have a church? If not is there some reason you don't? Is it fear, medical, accessibility, don't like crowds or meeting new people or something else? If you do go to a church is there something stopping you from finding good mentors there? I strongly recommend getting people of various ages to help. People of different age or generations often have a very different perspective. That doesn't always make them right but it is good to get another perspective. It was when I did this that my faith grew consistently.