My answer is ALWAYS the same...find a bible that you are comfortable with, one that you will read, buy it, read it, and keep on reading it! (what good is it to have a bible that you never read). That answer never really seemed to satisfy anyone...so finally I just typed up some thoughts and now I print this out and share it with those who ask...
Recommended
Bible Versions:
The
RIGHT bible depends on a LOT of variables—there a several good translations to
choose from. Here are the translations I choose to use and why I use them:
New American Standard Version: for my money the CLOSEST to the
original Greek and Hebrew. It retains
some of the “archaic” (primarily used in KJV) language (which I find useful in
the Psalms especially) but is readable too.
The New International Version:
***CAUTION…I prefer the 1984 version, which is now getting more
difficult to find)…newer versions are “casting a MUCH wider translation net”
and I have not agreed with their choices. The ’84 version still has some minor
issues but all-in-all true to the text and VERY readable.
King James: Yeah I know, not always the best
translation, and newer versions are based on better manuscripts…but if you are
over the age of 45 it is THE standard…I never preach or teach out of this
version…but keep an original and a NEW King James in my office for reference.
English Standard Version (ESV): a former professor put me onto
this version in the last 5 or 6 years (even though it has been around longer
than that)…I find it a fairly “happy medium” between the NIV and the New
American Standard. It is, in places,
easier to read than the NASV, but I also believe it stays pretty close to the
original text.
For PURELY
devotional reading:
These
are NOT “translations” of the text but mere “paraphrases” that are intended to
read more “conversationally.” I NEVER
study out of these versions but I do read them devotionally and I do consult
them after doing textual analysis. For instance, I would never teach the Sermon
on the Mount out of Peterson’s version The Message…but I really like the way
that he states SOME things.
The New Living Translation: I know they call it a
translation…and it is BETTER than the original “Living Bible” paraphrase…but I
still do not think this is anything more than a better paraphrase (others would
argue).
The Message: as stated above, this is my “go
to” paraphrase…again…I NEVER study out of it…but I do read it devotionally and
look at it when surveying a variety of texts.
Study Bibles:
Study
bibles come in a variety of translations—some are good, some are better for a
variety of reasons. I also caution those
who ask because study bibles, by design, also carry with them assumptions about
difficult texts, translation, and theology. To that end these are the ones I
recommend:
The New International Study Bible
(NIV version)
Thompson Chain Reference (used to only be available in
NIV…but now I think that they have expanded.)
The Quest Study Bible (NIV version)
ESV Study Bible (English Standard Version)
Others
I am familiar with but do not own:
HCSB (Holman Christian Standard
Bible)—I hear
good things about this though I have only scanned through them. I do know that they are also available in KJV
and NKJV. I have heard that many who are
disgruntled with the newer versions of the NIV have opted for this version
(since they come from a primarily Calvinist publishing house I always “approach
with caution”).
NLT Study Bible (New Living
Translation)—again
my preference is for another version…but some of the study notes are quite helpful.
Life Application Bible—I was given one of these as a
gift. It is, in my opinion, NOT a study
bible in the same sense as some of the others but it does have a lot of helpful
annotation and additional material.
There you have it. My advise is STILL the same...buy a bible you are comfortable with, one that you will read..take it home and READ IT!
I believe...help me in my unbelief.
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