What is a good bible version to start my new spiritual journey with ? I only have the NWT , makes me feel upset just looking at it.
Can anyone help?
by judi8751 11 Replies latest watchtower bible
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pat1060
Hi,I know how you feel.I have been looking at different bibles my self.I was looking in a thrift shop the other day and found a modern day English version called New King James.It has text notes and cross references.I have been doing alot of reading in it and I love it.Is published by Thomas Nelson Publishers,Nashville.good luck...
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blondie
What is the best Bible translation?
Bible readers often wonder how to know the best Bible translation. Bibles may either be translations of the original texts or paraphrases of translations. It is important to understand that all Bibles are one or the other; the original texts written by the biblical authors no longer exist. The Bibles that we read today were translated or paraphrased from ancient manuscripts -- Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic. When choosing a Bible version, individuals should select a version that has been translated from the latest, most authoritative texts. For the Old Testament, the accepted most authoritative texts would be the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; for the New Testament it would be the United Bible Societies' third or fourth edition of the Greek New Testament.
Five popular versions of the bible fall into the following categories of translation:- The NASB is considered to be strictly literal.
- The KJV and NKJV are considered to be literal.
- The NIV is considered to be thought-for-thought.
- The NLT is considered to be functionally equivalent.
A strictly literal or literal translation takes the words from the original manuscripts and translates them literally, or word for word. When a Bible is said to have been translated as thought-for-thought, it means that the translator has taken the original words and applied exegesis, which is to say an understanding of the thought behind the words; this is conveyed in the rendering of the verse.
A functionally equivalent translation such as the NLT seeks to be literal but with greater freedom of exegesis. The difference may be seen in the rendering of Hebrews 1:3a. See how the five versions render the words:
"And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature" (NASB).
"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person" (KJV).
"Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person" (NKJV).
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (NIV).
"The Son reflects God's own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly" (NLT).
Note that the translators differ not only in the rendering of specific words but also in grammar, usage, punctuation, and sentence structure.
The best Bible translation will ultimately be determined by personal preference. In order for a translation to be considered good, it should be reliable and readable. Translators do well when they adhere to updated research with respect to original manuscripts and also to changes in the language. Meanings of words have changed over the years.
A classic example is Genesis 2:18: "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him" (KJV).
"The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him'" (NIV).
Note how the phrase in the King James Version, ". . .I will make a help meet for him," has become totally archaic. The word meet is no longer used to mean fit or suitable as it was in the seventeenth century.
The best approach for Bible readers is probably to use several versions of the Bible. A version such as the NASB might be used for study, while the NIV or NLT might be used during meditation or personal devotions. The choice of Bible version will ultimately be a personal one; however, a serious Bible student would do well to research those versions that are considered most reliable and accurate. Paraphrased Bibles such as The Message and the Living Bible are not translations; these Bibles have been put into the contemporary language of the authors' own words. They are helpful for personal Bible study.http://www.allabouttruth.org/best-bible-translation-faq.htm
http://www.witheringfig.com/ministry/5-keys-to-picking-the-best-bible-translation-for-you/
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judi8751
Thank you both, much appreciated, just going to amazon to order a bible
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possible-san
I have this Bible.
The interesting features include highlighted verses (in orange), either for positive-thinking verses or possibility thinking verses.
http://www.amazon.com/Possibility-Thinkers-Bible-James-Version/dp/0840706197/ref=pd_sim_b_2
possible
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possible-san
I think that "CEV" (drama version) is wonderful.
http://stream.faithcomesbyhearing.com/widget.swf
Faith Comes By Hearing
http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/ambassador/free-audio-bible-downloadI think that the Bible with MP3 is good.
Well, "NKJV Dramatized Complete MP3 Bible" (torrent) is here.
http://www.torrentdownloads.net/torrent/401884/NKJV+Dramatized+Complete+MP3+Biblepossible
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Nathan Natas
I don't know if any one version of the Bible is essentially "better" than another, but if I was going to study the Bible (and I'm not*), I would be curious about some of the bible versions that the WTB&TS has set aside in favor of their own "translation."
The WTB&TS used to use the Emphatic Diaglott by B. F. Wilson quite a lot. When I was a kid, before the NWT came out in 1961, I recall using the American Standard version quite a lot. After the NWt came out, the WTB&TS bought the rights to The Bible in Living English by S.T. Byington (1972). In my opinion, the WTB&TS bought the Byington Bible with the intent of supressing it. Some have suggested that this is a ridiculous notion, but I point to the Watchtower's sales figures for the Byington Bible compared to the NWT, plus the fact that the WTB&TS does NO propmotion of the Byington Bible. If you want one, you have to order it from the WTB&TS or the Kingdom Hall, and they will probably act as though taking your order is a major inconvenience to them. A funny attitude for a "Bible Society," no?
Digressing slightly, compare the sales figures for ALL the BIBLES sold by the WTB&TS with the sales of their other books, and see if you agree that they would more honestly call themseelves "The Watchtower Tract and Bible Society," or "The Watchtower Tract Society (with some Bibles)."
*I'm an atheist because it is VERY cool and hip and chic and fashionalble and stylish and makes the girls swoon, AND I get a discount when I buy tickets for the Hawking Space Elevator.
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Doug Mason
Get on your knees and worship him, not documents written by people.
Get to know him personally, not euphorically, not emotionally, in the quiet of your own home.
God GIVES us salvation through a living personal faith in him, not through intellectual assent to words written by people. Their words might help guide us, provided that when we read their words we recognise their local culture, their immediate intended audience, their immediate purpose in writing to them. It's not the words that matter, but the way we apply any principles we glean to our own lives.
Jesus came to make us free.
Doug
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jonathan dough
Throw away the NWT
New American Bible
KJV
English Standard Version
American Standard Version
Green's Literal
Strong and Vines Concordance.
Pick up two or three. Go to thrift store.
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Chalam
makes me feel upset just looking at it
Agreed!
Throw away the NWT
For sure :)
Plenty of great bibles for free here http://www.biblegateway.com/
I use the ESV quite a lot. NIV is quite readable but the ESV a tighter translation. CEV and NCV are cool. The Message is a paraphrase rather than a translation but well worth checking out.
Whatever you read, it is going to be like day verses night compared with reading the NWT, a total different book.
I'd start at the NT. Try one of the reading plans
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/readingplans/
The main thing to note is to let the Holy Spirit be your guide John 14:26; John 16:13; 1 Cor 2:10; 1 John 2:20, 27
Blessings,
Stephen
