Author Topic: What version of the Bible do you use, and why? (Read 3805 times)

Chris · « **on:** March 29, 2014, 05:56:03 PM »

Topic.

Alex_Olijar · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2014, 06:46:06 PM »

ESV, it's a literal translation.

TheMarti · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2014, 06:54:30 PM »

I flip flop a lot with the versions that I use. When I was still involved with youth ministry, I used the NLT because it is easy to read and understand. For my own personal reading, I either use the ESV or the NASB, because they're truer to the original translations, but still easy to understand. I can do the KJV/NKJV, but I feel like they're "clunky."

jbeers285 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2014, 07:44:05 PM »

Quote from: Alex_Olijar on March 29, 2014, 06:46:06 PM

ESV, it's a literal translation.

Is literal translation the best route? Sometimes literal translation to English means we lose the intended meaning of the author.

Lampy 2.0 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2014, 08:35:21 PM »

The good ol' KJV. It's my preferred translation because I grew up using it with Bible Drill and school as a kid.

Drrek · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2014, 08:46:56 PM »

I use the NIV a lot because I used it in bible quizzing. I also read NKJV because that's what the bible I got as a gift is.

TheJaylor · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2014, 08:55:10 PM »

I typically use NIV because that's the version my church gives to the Sunday School kids but I also commonly read NLT because I have one, there's really not much more reason than that.

Redoubter · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2014, 09:38:45 PM »

Whatever translation is on hand. I'm not picky, and it is sometimes helpful to have a few different ways of reading a verse handy. I have one bible around here that has side-by-side translations, but it doesn't matter much to me which one I get at any particular time.

Well, unless I'm doing Sunday School for the 4 year olds, then I prefer not to have the KJV

It is much harder to translate on the fly to their level, while I can do that relatively easily with any 'modern' translation.

_JM_ · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2014, 01:20:36 AM »

My primary is the NLT, but I'll bounce around in different translations if I come across something particularly interesting. I find that's the best way to really pick stuff out - you'll get the same ideas presented in different ways. That usually helps me grasp concepts a lot better.

Note that I'm usually on biblegateway or my smartphone app when I'm translation hopping. I'm sure it's a slightly comical sight when I've got my study bible open, my netbook up browsing biblegateway, and my phone out too for good measure...

AJ · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2014, 08:29:33 AM »

NKJV

EDIT just realized I should tell why I use NKJV

. I use the NKJV because I like the KJV better than the NIV but I like the easier read of the NIV so the NKJV gives me the best of both worlds.

Ironica · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2014, 03:45:33 PM »

I use ESV on my phone as it's more literal of the different translations and I use NLT or paper reading as I have The Chronological Bible in NLT.

jesse · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2014, 09:55:39 PM »

Quote from: AJ on March 30, 2014, 08:29:33 AM

NKJV

I use the NKJV because I like the KJV better than the NIV but I like the easier read of the NIV so the NKJV gives me the best of both worlds.

ditto for me!

Captain Kirk · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2014, 06:26:23 AM »

I think it is wise to look to multiple translations as the text may make more sense to you in one or another, especially with more complicated matters. Having a smartphone with all the translations at your fingertips is a great tool to help in that. It can be helpful to know which types of translations fall in different parts of the spectrum of paraphrases (such as the Message which is not a translation) to NASB as the most literal one I am aware of. NLT and NIV are right in the middle as very readable and easy to understand translations.

I use HCSB for most of my reading - I really like how it reads. It is also more literal than the NIV, NLT, etc.

I use the ESV for more in-depth study or to compare against and my pastor preaches from it.

I memorized in NIV and KJV growing up, mainly NIV and continue to memorize much in NIV. However, with the changes in the 2011 NIV version and disappearance if the 1984 NIV I have been memorizing more of whichever translation appeals to me more to memorize between HCSB and NIV and ESV (which means I almost never memorize ESV as it isn't conversational and feels more scientific to memorize).

Kirk

bmc25 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2014, 04:03:33 PM »

The NIV '84 is a great translation; I use that with my youth group, as I think it is has a good balance between word for word, thought for thought, and it uses common English vernacular. I use the NKJV with the Adults out of convenience, because that is what they all own and use.

My two favorite translations are the NIV '84 and the NASB, it really is a toss up for me between the two of them. I do however enjoy the KJV for the psalms because I think it sounds poetic.

NASB is more of a word for word translation, so sometimes the sentence structure seems a little out of order, but it is widely considered the most accurate word for word translation.

The ESV is becoming very popular because it strikes a good balance between word for word accuracy and readability. If the NIV '84 and NASB had a baby, it would be the ESV.

browarod · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2014, 04:20:29 PM »

I used to exclusively use the NIV or KJV, however with Redemption's switch to NASB for card references I've started reading that version more (if only to have accurate titles for card ideas

). I honestly haven't read the Bible just for the sake of reading it or studying recently (shameful, I know) but if I did I think I would start using the NASB. I don't really have any good reasons either way, though.

TheKarazyvicePresidentRR · « **Reply #15 on:** April 01, 2014, 07:49:49 PM »

MLT, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomatos are crisp and perky.

New Raven BR · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2014, 11:35:39 AM »

im pretty flexible when it comes to translations of the bible. I own KJV, NKJV, NIV, GNT, and HCSB in the NT but I mainly use New International Version cause it's easier to read, simpler to understand, and it helps me memorize verses cause of how simple it is to understand the translation

soul seeker · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2014, 12:06:04 PM »

The list below is presented in the order that I was introduced and read that translation in personal devotions. As far as ministry goes, I use the NIV because of its reading level and ease of use.
1. King James Version (KJV): I was raised in a very conservative church, and this is the version they gave out as gifts. My first 3 Bibles were KJVs and I was taught to memorize Scripture in KJV. If I was honest with myself: I avoid using this version in any kind of sense because of some Christians beliefs about it.

2. New American Standard Bible (NASB): This was introduced to me in college. Because of my major (Christian Ministries), I mostly had only 2 professors at Asbury University. The one encouraged us to buy this Bible from the bookstore for my Biblical Interpretation class. The main reason? It didn't have study notes with it...none. Not only did I use it in class, but I read it in personal devotions as well. When it comes to the Bible, I try to read the same version in my personal life and "professional" life.

3. New International Version (NIV): I've always enjoyed the NIV: Study Bible. The teens that I taught enjoyed it as well. This version helped the Word "make sense" in the world around them. The teens (a lot of whom were not raised in the church) felt they could understand it, and not being embarrassed not knowing tough words when they read aloud. The reason for this is that the NIV is the lowest (last I checked) reading level of any of the official translations.

4. English Standard Version (ESV): I made this switch a couple of years ago. I heard it is considered the most accurate of the translations, and I needed a new Bible so I thought "why not." I use it more for personal devotion and when I get to preach on occasion. I still favor the NIV when teaching youth, thus I read the same passage twice from 2 different versions when prepping for youth group.

New Raven BR · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2014, 12:13:13 PM »

this is a very interesting topic to discuss!

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Author Topic: What version of the Bible do you use, and why? (Read 3805 times)

Chris

TheMarti

Ironica

browarod