Which English Bible Version is the Best?

Before answering this question it is important for us to give a brief introduction to the Bible, which is the Word of Life.

The Word “Bible comes from the Greek word for “book”. The Bible is a library of 66 books written by approximately 40 different authors over a period of nearly 1500 years (1400 B.C. to A.D. These books are divided into two major divisions:

. The Old Testament (Old Covenant)

. The New Testament (New Covenant)

THE PURPOSE OF THE BIBLE

One theme unifies all the 66 books. The theme is “salvation” or “redemption”. The Bible is an account of what God has said and has done in history to save (redeem) mankind from the bondage of sin and disobedience against his Creator. This is fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

In II Timothy 3:14-17, the Bible clearly state that it purpose is to

1) make people “wise to salvation which is through faith in Jesus Christ”

2) equip such believers for “every good work”.

Thus, after a person comes to faith in Christ, the Bible is profitable for four things in equipping for “every good work”;

. Doctrine (teaching)

. Reproof (showing the wrong)

. Correction (showing the right)

. Instruction in righteousness (right relationships with God and man)

THE STORY THE BIBLE TELLS

The story the Bible tells may be summarized as follows. God created man in His own image for fellowship and rulership over the earth on His behalf. Through willful disobedience, man lost this unique relationship with God and the destiny for which God had created him.

The Old Testament tells how God actively sought to restore making to His intended purpose. He did this by choosing the Jewish nation, through whom He would reveal His salvation and bring it to the whole word. But the Jews, God’s special chosen servants, violated the covenant by which God had promised to bless them with His salvation and make them a blessing to all nations of the earth.

Thus, they disqualified themselves as God’s servants, having been warned repeatedly by the prophets of the consequence of their idolatry and unfaithfulness to the one true and living God, the God of Israel.

The New Testament records the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation to redeem and restore mankind through His Son, Jesus the Christ (Messiah). As God’s perfect Servant who fully met the requirements of God’s covenant, He took upon Himself the penalty of death and separation from God in His death on a Roman cross.

Upon His resurrection and exaltation, God now offers forgiveness of sins and restoration of fellowship. God’s children – the Church – are all who, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, receive God’s salvation through the working of the Holy Spirit. Through the good news of God’s gift redemption is to be brought to the whole world.

The last book of the Bible, Revelation, shows how God’s salvation of His Creation will culminate in a new heaven and earth wherein man’s fellowship and rulership shall be fully and completely restored… to the glory of God!

In vies of the above, I will find it difficult to recommend a particular version of the English Bible that is most accurate for your use. Any version of the English Bible that represents the purpose already stated above will just be perfect. I agree that they’re many versions of the English Bible today in print to make us understand God’s word. You can make a choice since you have already known what the Bible should bring to bear upon your life.

God bless you as you respond to His salvation plan today, if His blood has not saved you!.

Rev Debo Adeyemo

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I believe all Bibles are good as they all teach the same words, and the Holy Spirit within is the actual teacher…..the more you read the more will be revealed

Xcaliba@aol.com

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As a new Christian, I read the NIV because it was easy to understand. After a few years (and Bible studies), I started using the King James Version because I understood that it was the “closest to the original transcript; i.e. Hebrew/Greek” than other versions. It was difficult to understand — but I started to use a Concordance to find out the original meaning/root word of the “difficult words” used in KJ. WOW! It’s very time-consuming, but there is SO MUCH more to learn, appreciate, and understand if you take the time to dig into the root meaning of every single word in the Bible. It brings it to life and makes it easier to understand. It’s almost as if there is a “hidden” message if you understand the root word. Of course, I also have to give credit to the Holy Spirit who gives me wisdom in understanding His word

Love in Him

Susie

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The original King James Version is the most accurate and it is the one true Bible. Any time a new version of the Bible is written it must have a number of differences in order to be considered a revised version. Most all other Bibles to not even have all of the verses that are in the King James Version. The King James Version was translated out of the original tongues . The following scripture says that if any man changes or takes away from the book of prophesy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life! I only use the King James Version and I trust no other to give me the fullness it offers me! Revelation 22: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.

Peace in Prayer, Viki Medley

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I would have to to say the King James Version of the Bible.

Dave

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It is my belief that though the KJV is by far, the oldest, having been published for general sale in 1611, the New American Standard is the most accurate. It is my understanding that it comes closer to the actual words and spirit than any other version.

Barbara Thorbjörnsson

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Your question, “What version is the Best”, has many answers, but I feel people are better off comparing versions. Each one has its good points. Each one has some verses which are hard to understand unless we compare. Paraphrases, on the other hand, are the individual’s interpretation.

Artmiles2000@aol.com

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In my ebooklet, ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE: A BRIEF CRITIQUE, I attempt to answer this question and others. The answer is in the conclusion, which I have reproduced below.

There are many new translations of the Bible today. Most people are confused about them. Questions arise: “Are they all needed?” “Which is the best translation?” “How accurate are they?” “Which is the best for me?” The ebooklet is free and can be downloaded in DOS and two windows versions at http://BusterSoft.com/JRCM .

Dr. John E. Russell 103 South Heritage Street Apt A Fair Grove MO 65648-7909 http://BusterSoft.com/JRCM http://jrcm.faithweb.com

CONCLUSION

THE BEST TRANSLATION

What is the best translation? There have been and there will probably will be many good translations. The Lord will probably inspire people to make new translations to communicate his good news. Whether the recipients speak another language or the language has changed so that it seems like another language, new translations will be needed as long as there are human beings. However, abstract words on paper or other media are not of utmost importance. People are of infinite value to our Heavenly Father. So, please understand the following statement: THE BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT TRANSLATION IS A HUMAN BEING TRANSFORMED BY GOD’S WORD. The place for God’s Word is not on the coffee table or a fireplace mantel, but the human heart. Jesus was the Word of God incarnate and we are to be like him. Paul said that we are “living letters”:

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3, New International Version)

How do we become the Word of God incarnate, like the Lord Jesus Christ? The scriptures tell us how. First, realize that God loves you!

1. GOD LOVES YOU. Realize that God loves you and desires a life of joy and peace for you:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV).

Not only did God tell you that he loves you, but he proved his love by sending his Son to die for you! His love is also expressed by the full and high quality life he has planned for you NOW–in this life as well as in the life to come. Jesus said,

“The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they [believers] may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10, NIV).

Why is there so much evil in the world and why do many people not experience a life of peace and joy?

2. SIN HAS SEPARATED YOU FROM GOD. Because people are sin- ful, they are cut off from God and his blessings. The Bible teaches and human experience confirms that we are sin- ful:

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23, NIV).

We were created for fellowship with God, but that fellowship was broken when we rebelled against God. Sin brought us spiritual death:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, NIV).

We continually strive for the abundant life but always fall short. Business success, wealth, education, religion, fame, drugs, pleasure and all human substitutes cannot fill the God-shaped void in the human heart. How do we become reconciled with God and experience a life of peace and joy?

3. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY ANSWER. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision to forgive our sin and give us abundant life. Jesus died for us–he took our penalty of death:

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US [Italics Mine]. (Romans 5:7-8, NIV).

God demonstrated that Christ’s death was accepted as a sacrifice for us by raising Christ from the dead:

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he ap- peared to me also. . . . (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, NIV).

Christ is the only way to God:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, NIV).

It is not enough to know that God loves you, that sin has cut you off from God and that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.

4. YOU MUST RECEIVE CHRIST PERSONALLY. You must personally receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. The Bible states that,

Yet to all who received him, to those who be- lieved in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13, NIV).

You receive Christ by faith:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).

If you choose to receive the truth about Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit will give you faith to trust him as your personal Savior. Then, when you receive Christ, the Holy Spirit will give you a spiritual rebirth. Jesus called this being born again:

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” (John 3:3, NIV).

You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.’ (John 3:7, NIV).

This is the most important experience that you will ever have. God will bring new life into your being. This new life will make you more like the Lord Jesus. The Prophet Isaiah painted this beautiful word picture concerning the ministry of Christ:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3, NIV)

Isaiah speaks of the joy of deliverance from past guilt and bondage of sin. However, it does not happen auto- matically. Christ stands at your heart’s door, but you must open the door:

Look! I have been standing at the door and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellow- ship with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20, The Living Bible).

You can receive Christ in your heart right now. Pray this prayer from your heart:

Almighty God, I confess that I have sinned against you. I ask you to forgive me. I receive Christ as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Tell someone that you have accepted Christ as your Savior. Please write me and tell me the good news also. (This presentation of the plan of salvation was adapted from Dr. Bill Bright’s “Four Spiritual Laws.”)

END

Copyright 2001 John E. Russell ch.russell@juno.com

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To read the history of the English Bible, visit: http://www.greatsite.com/engbibhis/index.html

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I feel that the King James version is the most accurate but there is nothing like the Spirit of God to show us the truth and teach us His word.

Gary Hodges

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I believe the King James version is most accurate. To my knowledge the King James version has not being rewritten.

Gertrude

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I believe the King James version of the Holy Bible to be the most accurate on earth as it is the least translated. It appears to me that with each translation, a bit different version or interpretation exists.

Cynthia

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I am partial towards the King James version as well as the New King James Version as being the accurate word of God. I like the New King James version in particular only because I was never good learning the grammar of Shakespeare in our english class. I find the new king james version is simply put as the King James version, but in our language we can understand. I often pray that God would reveal the fullness of His precious truth to my heart. I am satisfied that the NKJV and the KJV has the significant spiritual impact that encourages my heart. However, I can also say that I am not fond of the New International Version of the Bible. Matthew 17:21, and Mark 9:29 omits the word added to the verse “and fasting”. I’ve found out many times that the NIV omits significant words and additional phrases of Gods word whereby it does not have the spiritual impact as the KJV. I think the people who translated the NIV Bible better take a close ! Look at Revelation 22:19.

Richard Poulin

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Be careful, those of you who’ve chosen the KJV. Let’s remember that it was commissioned by the Church of England, and because of this, there is a slant which results in several mistranslations. Let me give you two of the more lesser known:

Translators took the Greek word baptizo and realizing it means “immerse”, there was an immediate problem presenting them, since the Church of England, which commissioned the KJV, did not immerse, but sprinkled. Thus the word “baptize” was created, and the KJV began a trend that to this day, spreads the wrong context.

The other is a scripture in the O.T. For those who deem the KJV the most accurate, surely you know why then in 1 Samuel 8:16, it speaks of “goodliest young men”, while most other translations instead say “best of your cattle”?

While no English translation is perfect, believe it or not, The NIV is incorrect the fewest number of times, when one compares it to the original Hebrew language, which, as a Jew, I’m quite familiar with.

Blessings to all!!

Messianic Rabbi Jack Zimmerman