It is according to its intended use at the moment. For devotions and study, I prefer the NASB. It is a word for word translation. I do not like this one for public reading because its adherence to the original language makes some really awkward sentence structures. For public reading, I prefer the ESV. Of course, for certain passages, nothing will ever replace the old KJV version. A couple if examples are Luke 2 at Christmas time, or John 3:16. This, of course this is more nostalgic than rational!
Thank you! I am going to get NASB, because I have been thinking for a long time and which Bible is the best for me to understanding every verse and the meanings. KJV is kinda awkward understanding the meaning, not all of them, but few of them.
Here's the verse the Established Standard-until a better version is cobbled together leaves out: "And Phillip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the SON of GOD."
A Good and Decent Question. Much better than some questions. Like avoiding the In Progress Translation that China's Communist government is hoping to make the ONLY version available in Chinese Mandarin in China, and possibly even just the SOLE LEGAL version available for those who are allowed to study Christianity and/or the Bible. ( _Currently, it's illegal to even discuss the Bible, outside of China's state mandated education programs, for those who are younger than... I wanna say 16? But conceivably older as well. Let alone teach the Bible._ )
A literal word for word translation are the best versions of the Bible that should be used.. Translated from the original languages of Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek. The NKJV and the interlinear versions of the Bible are the best in my opinion.
There is not a power that is not given by God. Through providence God raised up the most powerful nation there ever was or will be, the U.S.A., and in its infancy it was given the preserved word of God; “Robert Aitken, a Philadelphia printer, was the first to publish the first American edition of the K.J.V. New Testament in 1781 and the K.J.V. Old Testament in 1782, omitting the Apocrypha. On completion, he petitioned and received from the Congress of the Confederation, an official endorsement that Aitken added to the binding of his Bibles, to assure colonists that they were buying a non-royalist edition: “Resolved, that the United States in Congress assembled… recommend this edition of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States and hereby authorize him to publish this recommendation.” As a result, the Aitken Bible is often referred to as “The Bible of the Revolution.” The nation was given the KJV, not the dead sea scrolls, not the book of Enoch, not Hebrew books etc. but only the KJV. If God wanted us to understand his word in Hebrew he would have raised this nation up speaking Hebrew. Back in the 1600’s God saw to it that the certain scriptures were translated into English “KJ bible” and was put into print so that all could read for themselves the truth that is in the scriptures. God did this because he knew that he would bring about this powerful nation [U.S.A. and the English language] of ours to lead the world. The scriptures were written by apostles and prophets inspired by God through the Holy Ghost. The compilation and translation to English was also done by the direction of God through the Holy Ghost and he did not make any mistakes, i.e., the fourth horse being “pale” was no mistake, the horse is not green. In Greek mythology, the name Chloris (Khloris Χλωρίς, from khloros χλωρός, meaning "greenish-yellow," "pale green," "pale," "pallid" or "fresh") appears... Pallid 1. pale; faint or deficient in color; wan: a pallid countenance. People say that they believe that scripture was written by the direction of God and the Holy Ghost, which is true. But what you people don’t seem to realize is that the compilation and translation of the bible (KJV) was also done by the direction of God and the Holy Ghost. If the bible was written and compiled by men of opinion and perspective and translated by incompetent translators then you might as well throw it in the trash. The prophets were told what to write and how to write it. The nation was given the symbol of the Eagle, 37 … Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. Luke 17:37 (KJV), the body being the church, the body of Christ. The nation has the motto and preamble “in God we trust” and “one nation under God”. This greatest and most powerful nation. the U.S.A., has been given the last and best chance to lead the world to heaven on earth or destruction. But like all other nations of power before it (symbolic Israels) the U.S. has chosen destruction and is now the great “liar” saying “in God we trust” and “one nation under God”, it is now the conglomerate of the dragon, beast, false prophet, and harlot, it is Satan loosed from the pit, 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Rev 20:7-8 (KJV). And yet no one seems to know of or speak of a very clear fulfillment of prophecy in our recent history. We (U.S.A.) are the ones who brought down fire from heaven in Aug. of 1945 and we are the ones that gave life to the image of the beast in May of 1948. Rev 13:13-15 (KJV). May God have mercy on his children. Amen
Great little video and I didn't expect it to answer the question it poses. One answer might be that any non-sectarian Bible you actually spend time reading is better than a Bible stuck on the shelf. In university I considered a career as a missionary Wycliffe translator. I was fascinated by their challenge of translating " bread of life" for the Papua New Guinea natives who have no bread. Answer, " Sweet potatoe of life". As for which translation I use today: 3 reads of any scripture. "The Message" for sitting at the Apostle Paul's desk while he explained a church problem, followed by the New Living with the Life Application Study Bible, then drilling down with "The Discovery Bible, New American Standard" which is about as close to having the original Greek in front of you for a non-Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic reader.
_The Message_ is a mess. It is not fit to even be called a paraphrase. Please go to the respected GotQuestions website and search 'the Message" there. You'll be shocked at the quotes that show Eugene Peterson's contempt for God's Word. Besides, Peterson endorsed the blasphemous _The Shack_ film.
The 1769 KJV. (All of the versions which came before it, and were translated form the Textus Receptus, are also good versions. Please, forget the rest.
Our academic translators messed up pretty bad. For instance translating "orge" to wrath in stead of passion. Currently best bible is the Mirror Bible. All translation errors are explained and now finally we have a crystal clear red line. God stooped down in Christ to give us back the divine life mankind lost in its fall. Yay!!!
It was a pleasant surprise to not find any KJV-only fanatics in the comments, but it's early. They'll be here. Hundreds of years ago, Satan inspired Rome to try to keep the Word locked up in an archaic language (Latin) so that most people couldn't understand it. Today, Satan still inspires people to try to keep the Word locked up in an archaic language (400-year-old English) so that most people can't understand it.
today, even "better" than locking it up is spreading the idea that scripture cannot be trusted. so we now have virtually unlimited access to the Bible on the internet, ie Bible Gateway, but if we can't trust it with our one life on earth what is the benefit?
How many great awakenings have happened under these modern versions? What fruit has the modern versions produced vs the fruit of the King James Bible? Only asking because you seem to think the modern versions will produce more fruit than the KJV. Show proof of it.
I love your passion for restoring our Christian heritage and values. May I encourage you to consider a year of study towards being a Colson Fellow. It's purpose is to help us better live and communicate a life that will help restore a Christian World view. As for proof that the esteemed KJV is no longer necessary I pull this quote from the not to trusted Wickipedia . I have been told by others that it is true. Christianity has been estimated to be growing rapidly in South America, Africa, and Asia. In Africa, for instance, in 1900, there were only 8.7 million adherents of Christianity; now there are 390 million, and it is expected that by 2025 there will be 600 million Christians in Africa.
Caleb, there is life outside of the USA. There have been many "awakenings" around the world using other good translations. Besides, the KJV had pretty much a monopoly for hundreds of years. Now we have hundreds of good translations.
