Which Version of the Bible Do You Read?

@gtargirl (5376)
United States
January 4, 2010 12:17pm CST
I really do like the original King James Version. The Thee's and the Thou's are so romantic. But I seem to read the NIV (New International Version) for my daily reading. The Message was a favorite of mine but the more I read it the more I realized it was kind of a watered down version, so I don't recommend it anymore. Anyhow, which version do you read and why? (You don't really have to answer the why if you don't want to.)
7 people like this
24 responses
9 Jan 10
I tend to vary with which one I read more as I sometimes find that the NIV is better for some of my moods, the NCV can be better, the NLT can be better, The Message may help me understand more and the KJV puts it into context! I find it weird when people say that they read just one type of Bible more because for me all translations can lose meanings in different versions and some are easier to understand. I think the worst one for me to use is the NLT but I am trying to use this more and get used to the translation!
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Mmm, a Bible to fit our moods. Very cool.
1 person likes this
@PastorP (1170)
• United States
4 Jan 10
Greetings gtargirl, and first I want to commend you in being sensitive to the Holy Spirit in that you instinctively realized there is something wrong with the NIV. In Bible Institute, the NIV was touted as the best of all translations, so, without much personal investigation, I accepted that viewpoint. Shame on me! After trying to show the proper relationship within the God to some Jehovah's Witnesses and not being able to do so with the NIV, I found out it was flawed in translating the Greek in those cases. Upon further investigation I found that the NIV did not adhere to Greek. For example, it uses the word "divorce" in 1 Corinthians 7 when that Greek word never appears in that chapter. There are some other cases where it differs from the Greek. So, though I encouraged our church to use the NIV and made it the standard translation, I apologized to my congregation for my stupiditiy -- and that's what it was--stupidity. I use the KJV too, but I also use the New King James Version, which we now use in our church.
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
I must admit PastorP, I haven't yet read the New King James version. I shall make it a point to check it out.
@PastorP (1170)
• United States
1 Aug 12
Greetings adgjmptw01 When it comes to what is called the Received Text, to my knowledge, neither the KJ or New King James omit anything. I can't recall saying the NKJV omitted verses. Post the link to that comment. Maybe the heat was getting to me! LOL. In the meantime, I'll do a little looking around.
@PastorP (1170)
• United States
1 Aug 12
Greetings again Greetings adgjmptw01. Now I think I know what you are referring to. If you check on whatever response of mine you are referring to, to my recollection I did not say the NKJ omits verses but I did say some editions of the NKJ have notes at the bottom of the pages when a verse is omitted from a critical (in a good sense) text such as the Nestle Text / 3rd edition United Bible Society (often abbreviated as "NU"). Example: One Acts 24:6 there is a note that "NU-text ends the sentence here, omits the rest of verse six and all of verse 7, and the first clause of verse 8."
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
5 Jan 10
I dont read it anymore. used to whe I was a kid .
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
11 Jan 10
DOnt think it was the reading as much as the seeing things that shouldnt have been if the people I saw was living up to what had been taught or told in churches. I guess you can say Life is my bible adn I like to follow the blessing way of the native Indians.
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Perhaps it's time to start again. In your timing, of course. I recommend it though, Lakota. Maybe you are strong today because of what you read as a child. I'm just sayin'.
• United States
16 Jan 10
One of my hobbies is making my own translation of the Bible. I just recently started over. http://shaunckennedy.wordpress.com
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
16 Jan 10
Wow! You are waaaay too intelligent for me. I bookmarked your blog. It will be very interesting to see what you're up to with this.
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
5 Jan 10
For me my version is new world translation why? because In this world we are in the new so it's better to get read of the new world translation.
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
It is a new world, for sure. I must say though, I've not read the new world translation. I am finding out from this discussion that there are quite a few translations I have not heard of. Always good to get educated.
• Pilot Mountain, North Carolina
21 Jan 10
The problem I have with the New World Translation is that it is the Bible produced by and for the Jehovah's Witnesses, which is recognized by a majority of theologians as a cult because of some of their pretty bizarre beliefs. Some of these beliefs have infiltrated the NWT of the Bible. One of those instances is the annihilationist belief by Jehovah's Witnesses which can be seen in Hebrews 9:27 or the denial of the trinity as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as one which is seen in John 1:1. The New World Translation has nothing to do with the fact that we live in a new world or society.
• United States
4 Jan 10
I read the King James Version. This is the real word. I think that if you are unable to read it, it may mean that you may have developed a carnel mind. If one does not have a carnal mind it is easy to read. Even a child can understand it.
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Mmm, those are interesting thoughts. A little harsh perhaps, but interesting nonetheless.
• Pilot Mountain, North Carolina
21 Jan 10
Or maybe it is because the English language has evolved and most people do not understand King James English. It has nothing to do with developing a carnal mind. Saying that even a child can understand the King James Version of the Bible is not accurate at all. The typical child or teenager today does not understand the King James Version. We must reach them with the Gospel, but we can't keep using the things we have always used to do that and expect them to adapt to us. The Church has always been able to adapt to their surroundings and remain relevant to the current society. That does not mean that the Church sacrifices their standards or morals, but rather that we accept that we are in a changing society, and we must alter our methods of reaching the world.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
7 Jan 10
I have about 6 bibles of my own. But the one I liked best was the large print easy reading bible where it made the bile easier to understand. It doesn't have thee's and thou's in it but my others do.
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Uw, I think it's about time I got myself a large print Bible. I only have three Bibles to my name but being a pastor's kid I have access to a library full of them. I guess I could go explore the library.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
7 Jan 10
I read the King James Version, although it's probably more out of habit because I grew up reading it. The passages are so familiar that at times it's like meeting up with an old friend. I never cared for the NIV, although I read it for awhile. I have a copy of The Message, but read it like a story book (which it is) than the Bible. I would like to have a copy of the New American Standard... should have put that on my Christmas list!
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
It is like an old friend, huh? I like that. And you're right, The Message is more like a story book. Perhaps you can put the New American Standard on your birthday list now.
• Canada
14 Jan 10
I have two Bibles that I got from church. One if the Holy Bible, and the other is the Good News Bible. Both are pretty new and up to date in their language, but not in totally simplified English, so as to make me think that I am reading something below my reading level. They are very easy to understand, and I like them both.
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
16 Jan 10
I think I read the Good News Bible in my teens. I liked it.
@amirev777 (4117)
• India
5 Jan 10
hi i m really very sorry for this...but after reading the 'Da Vinci Code' and doing lot of research...i hv come to conclusion that the present Bible or the New Testament is not work of God but king Constantine..a life long Pagan, who was Baptised on his deathbed...Dont mind as I have nothin bitter abou Christianity, but sometimes thruth is bitter!!!
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
OH, but one thing . . . the Da Vinci Code is pure fiction. Plus, wasn't the Scriptures already written before Constantine? He just put the pages (or scrolls) together into the English language, right? Constantine didn't write it. Dan Brown writes fiction and all his research was through other fiction books. He even says so. But oh well, I'm sure it's an argument for another discussion.
• India
7 Jan 10
Hi, I like to read the King James version. If we read any version we should keep God's promisses in our life and we should follw the commandments of Jesus Christ.
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Absolutely!
@ramos7881 (344)
• United States
6 Jan 10
I like to read the King James Version as well. I feel that it is easier for me to understand, because I worry about other translations not being accurate enough. If I had enough motivation, I think learning Hebrew and Greek would be even better, but unfortunately I do not have the means (or motivation) to do so at this time. I have also found that I come away from bible study more fulfilled after studying with the KJV than with other versions, could be a fluke but overall I am simply more comfortable with it.
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Wouldn't it be awesome to learn Hebrew or Greek. I don't think I have the smarts for it. I know a few words and even sentences in Hebrew because I have Jewish friends, but it sounds Yitish to me.
@magtibaygom (4858)
• Philippines
7 Jan 10
The King James Version, because it is the closest to the original. We have here King James Version with Tagalog translation. I am from the Philippines and Tagalog is our national language. We know, the King James Version is harder to understand or comprehend because of its old English words, but since it has a Tagalog translation, it was made easier for us here to understand.
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
It's a wonderful thing to read God's Word in our own language. Very nice!
@nocturn98 (956)
• Venezuela
5 Jan 10
I prefer the new international version more. I can understand it clearly and easily. The thous, thees, cometh, and goeth are too shakespeare-y for me.
1 person likes this
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
That's funny. Yeah, that's me . . . Shakespeare-y. I like the thous, thees, cometh and goeth. See how poetic that is? And you're right, the NIV is easier to read and understand for quite a lot of people.
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
4 Jan 10
For church and Sunday School we are using both NIV and New American Standard Bible. I grew up memorizing the King James Version. The Message and other translations/paraphrases in new modern language have their place, but this is where you will find me for Bible Study.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Me too . . . I grew up with the King James version. I know most people say it's hard for them to understand, but I don't seem to have that problem.
@pastorkayte (2255)
• United States
4 Mar 10
I currently have 27 versions of the Bible and I read all of them. I dont know which one I prefer but the one I use the most is my NIV, and I usually try to use the KJ with it. But I love collecting Bibles and I have a few more versions I would like to have.
@ellie333 (21016)
4 Jan 10
Happy New Year to you, I personally read the NKJ Spirit Filled Life Bible as I find it has so many easy references at the end of each section. I also subscribe to United Christian Broadcasting which also has a daily reading. Another Bible I own is the Biker's Bible which has a lot of very inspirational stories at the back. Huggles Ellie :)
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
okay, you've peaked my interest . . . the Biker's Bible???? I must go check into this. Thanks Ellie.
@1hopefulman (45125)
• Canada
22 Jan 10
I also like the New International Version. Since to me all translations are as good as the translator I have about 20 different Bibles in my home. The Good News Bible (Today's English Version) for it's simplicity The King James for it's antiquity The New world Translation for its accuracy Also like Young's Literal Translation
1 person likes this
• Pilot Mountain, North Carolina
4 Jan 10
I have a lot of different versions that I read and use for my own personal Bible study as well as for my theological education. I grew up using the King James Version and memorize a lot of Scriptures from that version. However, it isn't always the easiest to understand with it's language and that sort of thing. I still use it when I preach for the most part because it is the one I am most familiar with. I am a youth worker also and find that they don't typically relate to the King James Version easily so I typically use the NIV because from my understanding and study, it is faithful to the Greek and Hebrew texts that it was translated from. In addition to the NIV, I do read use the NLT and The Message. The Message actually isn't a translation of the Bible, but is a paraphrase by a pastor who has studied and preached the Word for years. It's a great tool to read in order to get an overview of the passages you are studying. I don't use it as a primary source for biblical study though.
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@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Oh, you are right about our youth. They seem to relate better to the NIV than King James. Also, I like your thoughts about The Message. I never thought of it that way . . . that it's not a translation but a paraphrase. Nicely said.
@poingly (605)
• United States
5 Jan 10
I am very interested in reading various Gnosis versions of the Bible. They are often quite eye-opening and very recommended.
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
11 Jan 10
Gnosis versions? I might need an explanation here. Pardon my ignorance.