Which bible?

[jiggyfly]

The modern versions contain the Word of God somewhere, but they have so many additions, deletions and corruptions, that unless that is all you have they should not be completly trusted. The simplifying the language line has been around for nearly 130 years but knowledge of the Bible among Christians and non-Christians seems to have declined dramatically.

Look in a greek lexicon and you will find this is true of the KJV also. It doesn't do any good to read, memorize and even understand scripture if you don't do it. Even the very simplest requests are ignored.

 

[KJV]

Actually Tyndales translation of about 1525 was the first English translation from the Textus Receptus (though not called that then). There than followed a series of English Bible's from the TR including, Matthews, Coverdale; (mostly used Tyndales) The Bishops and probably most importantly the Geneva. There was also the Roman Catholic translation the Douay Rheims.

The KJV was a brand knew translation, with the former translations, including foriegn languages, diligently compared. They were supposed to use the Bishops Bible as their guide; but their work was influenced by all the then extant versions, but especially Tyndales and to a lesser extent the Geneva.

So you can see the KJV as the end product of an 80 year or so purifying process.

 

[JC4ME]

...

Thank you for the replies everyone, although I must say that I'm probably just as (if not more) confused than before LOL!
I met someone this weekend that was kind enough to give me a bible (NIV), and I have been reading it every day. It may not be the best version out there, but it's certainly a good start... at least for me, anyway, as it's my first experience reading the bible as an adult (with the exception of the KJV online). As a child I would look at my grandmothers bible and get intimidated with all of the big words... in small print... and found it quite boring mg:
Anyway, I find it very comforting to read the word of God and I see a big change in my attitude and outlook on life already- and I haven't even scratched the surface yet.
I found a KJV "1611 edition" on Amazon.com, and I'm thinking about ordering it- the reviews sound really good.
Much love,
JC4ME
P.S.- 4Jesus... I apologize for not recognizing your typo

 

[Chad]

Myself I have the NIV, NKJV, ESV and Max Lucado's Devotional Bible (NCV) which is very nice and simple English to understand.

I also have Matthew Henry's Commentary (very big book).

For some simple study books as well I recommend these:

What the Bible is All About Handbook
Halley's Bible Handbook
Talk Thru the Bible

As others have mentioned, KJV and original Greek perhaps if your willing to learn, closest best method.

Let us keep in mind that GOD is Almighty powerful. The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Book and can enable any heart to understand the Word whether they read the Greek or the new modern translation.

 

[CliffS]

The modern versions contain the Word of God somewhere, but they have so many additions, deletions and corruptions, that unless that is all you have they should not be completly trusted.

Now that's the kind of statement that instills faith and trust in the power and will of God to communicate with those that seek him.
NOT!!
You just told who knows how many out there that the bible can't be trusted. If the inspired word of God is not all (every printing,translation, version) the enspired word of God then NONE of it IS!!!!!!
God is not the authur of confussion! Nor is He absent from His word or our lives.!
He created the world, and He can and does see to it that His word reaches us individualy just as He wills us to see it.
Pick up a bible, Any bible. And inspirational book, no matter who wrote it. Read a religous post card, A billboard with the ten commandments on it. If it speaks to you, if it touches you in your heart or soul if it answers a question for you then that I God's message to you. Don't waste precous time sorting between bible translations looking for the best or only true one. Open anyone of them, anything on or about God or Jesus or listen when another speaks about him from their heart. That is the word of God! That is your Lord speaking to you.
God is everywhere. Not just in anyone single translation of a book. A new born babies cry, the words of a freind, the tears of a loved one. They all are messages from God. And the bible? Just helps us see and undestand that. Nothing more. The Bible is no more God than the church is. They are both just means to an end . Hopefuly that end for you is a sincere relationship with Our Lord and Savour Christ Jesus.
If one is truely seeking Jesus then no bible is wrong.
If they are not then No bible is right.

 

[jiggyfly]

Let us keep in mind that GOD is Almighty powerful. The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Book and can enable any heart to understand the Word whether they read the Greek or the new modern translation.

Amen Chad, the Holy Spirit has to give us understanding.

 

[4Jesus]

My dear brother JC4ME,

In the precious name of Jesus I would implore you not to take lightly what Brothers Chad and Cliffs are saying to you. What they are saying is Amen and Amen!

The author of confusion is the enemy of our souls; the Destroyer! Confusion is his voice.

Dear brother, you have selected JC4ME as your 'handle ' here, which clearly makes a statement about yourself; "Jesus Christ for me", I therefore trust you are an Ambassador of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). As such you represent Jesus the Soveriegn and what He says. The Ambassador relays the Sovereins Word accurately with no confusion whatsoever.

You see brother, there is no confusion if we listen only to one voice ; listen to the one voice; the voice your your Soveriegn - the Holy Spirit, then the author of confusion will flee from you. ("Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7)

I am praying for you precious brother
David

 

[KJV]

That's a nice response thanks.

I believe God can use many things to communicate truth to sinners. Romans 1: 18-20, but that doesn't answer the question about where the inspired words of God are in the English (and other) language; and the fact that the modern bibles seem to be a money making scam that has led to an erosion of faith in inspired scriptures and objective revelation.

If the substance of what you say is true: then the multiplied thousands who died because of the word of God in the vernecular, had been better to stay with stained glass windows and Latin.

Respectfully put: I sincerely thank God that they they did not believe what you believe about Holy Scripture and God's revelation to man.

It is nice to read other peoples points of veiw however and I hope mine will give someone somewhere positive food for thought.

God bless thee.

 

[jiggyfly]

That's a nice response thanks.
I believe God can use many things to communicate truth to sinners. Romans 1: 18-20, but that doesn't answer the question about where the inspired words of God are in the English (and other) language; and the fact that the modern bibles seem to be a money making scam that has led to an erosion of faith in inspired scriptures and objective revelation.
If the substance of what you say is true: then the multiplied thousands who died because of the word of God in the vernecular, had been better to stay with stained glass windows and Latin.
Respectfully put: I sincerely thank God that they they did not believe what you believe about Holy Scripture and God's revelation to man.
It is nice to read other peoples points of veiw however and I hope mine will give someone somewhere positive food for thought.
God bless thee.

It all must be a money making scam, like tithing, pew buying and parking space purchasing.

 

[Rick S]

JC4ME,
It sounds as though you’ve found a Bible that you can read, Good! Stick with it.

I wanted to respond to your second question, as so many here have. I don’t know if your still reading this thread, or if any one else still is for that matter, but this may be helpful.

Some time ago I came across a chart that helped me understand this matter of Bible translations. The chart graphs the “Equivalency” of many popular Bible translations. Equivalency is a range that has two opposite endpoints. On one end you have dynamic (or functional) equivalency and on the other end of the spectrum you have formal equivalency. Dynamic equivalency attempts to translate an original source thought-by-thought. It attempts to capture the authors original meaning and intent. Formal equivalency attempts to translate an original source word-for-word. It attempts to replace each word in the original language with a suitable word from the desired language.

Both of these have merit and it would be a mistake to discount either form. That is especially true when you consider that even the strictest formal equivalency translation has to use some measure of interpretation by the translator. That’s just the nature of different languages. In any translation, you’re not always going to have a suitable replacement for every word, and languages can very greatly in their grammatical structure. For a good example, find a reference to the original Wycliffe-Purvey text. It was an extremely literal translation of the Latin Vulgate. It’s almost unreadable. Thankfully, by the time the translators of the first King James Version of the Bible went to work, the English language was more well-defined than the old Middle English of Wycliffe.

So, on to the chart. I’ve placed the dynamic range at the top of the chart and the formal range at the bottom. Many of the popular Bible versions are listed in the general order of equivalency.

Dynamic Equivalent Translations
-------------------------------------------------------------------
/\ The Message Bible (MSG)
|| The Living Bible (TLB)
|| Contemporary English Version (CEV)
|| The Good News Bible (GNT)
|| The New Living Translation (NLT)
|| New Century Version (NCV)
|| Today’s New International Version (TNIV)
|| New International Version (NIV)
|| The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB)
|| The New American Bible (NAB)
|| The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
|| Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
|| New King James Version (NKJV)
|| King James Version (KJV)
|| Revised Standard Version (RSV)
|| English Standard Version (ESV)
|| Wycliffe Late Version (W-LV)
|| The Amplified Bible (AMP)
|| New American Standard Bible (NASB)
|| Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
|| Wycliffe Early Version (W-EV)
\/ Interlinear Greek New Testament
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Formal Equivalent Translations

As to the debate about the appropriateness of dynamic equivalence, I would offer only this. Trust the Holy Spirit, allow Him to be the divine teacher (John 14:26). He will guide you in making wise decisions about what you read and give you discernment to rightly divide the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15). Prayerfully consider your choices and be open to change as the Spirit directs.