Any suggestions on a Bible and a Bible commentary?

DB

I currently use the New World Translation Of The Holy Scriptures, and it seems to be a pretty good bible. But I am looking for a good, modern-English version with which to do some comparison reading. Plus, I am looking for a good bible commentary for research. Does anyone have any suggestions/recommendations? Thanks!

Satanus

NRSV bible
New gerome biblical commentary

rhett

The best bible comentary I've ever heard was "The bible is not a book to be taken lightly, it should be thrown as hard as possible." Can't remember who said it though.

I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven.

Eyebrow

Rhett...
hahahah! good one! =)

individual

Believers Bible Commentary by William McDonald, published by Nelson, ISBN 084071972/8, priced at £25.99 in the UK. Excellent 2004 page commentary, I have several commentaries and this is by far the best in my opinion.

For a bible I would say the NIV version Life Application Study Bible published by Kingsway Publications, ISBN 085476947/1 priced at £29.99 for the soft backed version, again in the UK, should find both of these on Amazon or similar site.

I bought both of these from a Christian bookshop, for a new testament commentary I would suggest the Life Application NT Commentary, published by Tyndale House Publishers, ISBN 0842370668, priced at £23.99, an indepth verse by verse explanation of the new testament in 1275 pages.

Shame these books are so expensive but they are definitely worth it.

Skeptic

I like the Revised Standard Version myself. I also like the Jerusalem Bible. Both are modern English and are accurate translations.

http:://www.biblegateway.com has several bible translations on-line, so you can get a feel for the different ones.

I remember using a Jerome Bible Commentary and liking it a lot before I became a JW. I cannot remember if I got it at a Christian book store or a Catholic book store.

Most bible commentaries are pro-Bible; here is one that will show the downside, I recommend it highly: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/

Some links to bible commentaries...I can't vouche either way for their quality:
http://www.gospelcom.net/eword/comments/
http://bible.christiansunite.com/commentary.shtml

concordances:
http://bible.christiansunite.com/concordances.shtml

dictionaries:
http://bible.christiansunite.com/dictionaries.shtml

Here is my comments on various translations:
The Living Bible: not a translation, but a paraphase, so accuracy suffers for easy reading
NWT: bias towards JW teachings, translators had little or no knowledge of ancient languages
KJV: biased towards Trinity, English outdated, good for arguing with fundies as many will only accept KJV
RSV:Good translation, modern English
Jerusalem:Good translation, modern English; I like how they use Yahweh in OT and Lord in NT
Amplified Bible: biased toward born-again, poor accuracy
NIV:biased toward born-again, poor accuracy
Common Bible: tries to please everybody, poor accuracy
Douay Bible: about as good as KJV. Some Catholics only accept Douay.
ASB, NASB: modern English, reasonable translation; ASB uses Jehovah in OT; NASB uses LORD; I find this very disappointing. Accuracy should be first, pleasing audience second

Richard

RunningMan

For a Bible commentary, I recommend Assimov's guide to the Bible.

As for a Bible, being a cheapskate, I suggest:

link: http://etext.virginia.edu/rsv.browse.html

This will give you on line access to the Revised Standard Version. I also
downloaded the individual books.

As well, the following site is useful:

link: http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?

This link will give you about 10 comparative translations of any text you want.

funkyderek

Try Spike Milligan's version: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140239707/qid=1008014176/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_14_2/102-9184150-5253742

--
Those who can induce you to believe absurdities can induce you to commit attrocities - Voltaire

larc

If you are interested in comparing versions, you may want to get, "Eight Translation New Testement." All eight translations of several verses are shown on the same page for easy comparison. The introduction gives a description of how each translation was developed. There are fewer footnotes than in single translations. The eight tranlations are: King James, Phillips Modern English, Revised Standard, The Jerusalem Bible, The Living Bible, New International Version, Today's English Version, and The New English Bible. It is published by Tyndale House Publishers. The ISBN number is ISBN 0-8423-4690-2 for the cloth bound and ISBN 0-8423-4691-0 for the paper back.

Mum

Peake's Commentary is a good one.

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

Any suggestions on a Bible and a Bible commentary?

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