An Overview of Various Versions of the Bible
There are more translations and versions of the Bible and New Testament on the market than I can keep track of. Although the King James Version is acceptable because it is so universally used, it is not the most accurate version. I am thankful for the King James Version for it has allowed the Bible to be read by the common man. It has been used for many centuries and is still the most popular version in use today. If having a common text is the most important issue, then by all means we should all use the King James Version. But, if understanding and accuracy are the issues, there are many wonderful versions available that are either based on the King James, or build upon it.
Although I do not have a favorite version, I do have a number of versions in my possession that I use on a regular basis when both studying the Word as well as doing research. Some versions are very beneficial when needing a "second opinion" regarding a textual question, others are necessary when searching out various translations for a given word. Other versions are essential when attempting to understand what was written in Bible times in today's language, etc. I believe it is very nice to have the actual books as opposed to having to look on the computer for all the various versions.
Perhaps one of the best investments I ever made in Biblical research material was the "Comparative Study Bible" published by Zondervan. This Bible has the King James, Amplified, NASB and NIV in 4 columns. I have used this thick Bible countless times and love having those particular versions all in one place. For text based Biblical research, this is a tool well worth its hefty price tag.
If you have never had the joy of looking at the "Amplified Version of the Bible", you really should treat yourself and do it. There really is no other version out there that goes into such detail to define and document words and historical data as the Amplified. It amuses me to hear many men I know frown on this version as a "woman's Bible". I understand it was a woman, Francis Siewert who laid the foundation for the Amplified Bible; but I can assure you it is neither a "man's or woman's" Bible. It is an invaluable aid in working the Word of God and gives insight no other study Bible provides.
One of the most textually accurate translations ever done was the "American Standard Version" of 1901. The "New American Standard Version" was published in 1971 and sought to incorporate newer Greek and Hebrew texts as well as update the language. If you can find the 1901 version, it is truly a delight to read because of its scholarship and accuracy to the original texts. The NASB, as it is called, is certainly a very accurate version and is very easy to read and understand. If more teachers would use the NASB instead of the King James, there would be far less confusion and much greater understanding of the scriptures.
"The New International Version" (NIV) was a completely new translation worked on by over 100 scholars from numerous denominations. It was truly an ecumenical labor of love. As a general rule, people tend to either love or greatly dislike the NIV. Many Baptist churches use the NIV as their standard text. Next to the King James, it is probably the most used and read translation of all. The NIV Study Bible provides a wealth of valuable information on words, culture and history. The NIV will read differently than the 3 above mentioned versions, because it is not based on the King James. But, for comparison sake, I think the NIV is worth its weight in gold.
"The New King James Version" basically takes the King James and makes it readable. There are places where the New King James differs greatly than the King James; but in close to 90% of the verses, the only difference lies in updating language from Elizabethan era English to modern English. If you like the King James Version but don't like all the words ending in th or est, then the New King James is an excellent version for you. The only problem with this version lies in the texts it uses for the translation. They are the same texts basically as were used for King James.
Versions such as the "Revised Standard" are not well received due to textual concerns. It is interesting to note that, as was the case in the American Standard Version, many versions feel compelled to come out with "updated" versions after a number of years. This strikes me as somewhat like the sequels movies come out with. The original was a great success, so the writers and producers figure the sequel will be an even greater success. At times it is, but many times the sequel does not live up to the original.
In 1977 a group of Bible scholars, translators and other leaders met to produce guidelines for translation of gender-related language. From this meeting some versions, such as the NIV, have set out to produce newer versions seeking to eliminate gender classification in the scriptures. To many, including me, this is paramount to "watering down" the Word of God or caving in to the "political correctness" craze so prevalent in our culture. God is a He or a Him. God is not an "it". Any version that starts tampering with the Word of God to appease political concerns loses my respect immediately.
To combat some of the recent things being done to make the Bible more politically correct, some versions have appeared that are really accurate, readable and hold fast to the original texts. One such version is "Holman Christian Standard Bible". I sincerely appreciate this version for it dares to use some Greek texts that are a bit controversial, yet very accurate. The Holman Bible uses the Nestle-Aland text along with United Bible Societies Greek New Testament, 4th corrected edition. The hidden truth not too many people know is that Holman put out this Bible to counter the new NIV which was caving in to special interests. I admire folks who take a stand for what they believe in.
"The New Living Translation" and "The New Century Version" are two very easy to read modern versions which have not strayed from the original text. These versions, like many others, are attempting to translate the Bible in language that can be read and understood by people living today. This is a very difficult thing to do and not end up with a meaningless version like Good News For Modern Man which is only interested in modern language with no regard to the original text.
Perhaps some of the best "newer" versions ever produced are extremely difficult to locate anymore. Versions such as "Williams" and "Beck" are almost impossible to find. Even "The New English Bible", which is incredibly accurate and extremely easy to read, is not found in bookstores any longer. These three versions, which were all written in the language of today, have been replaced with versions such as "The Message", which is an excellent supplimental version, but cannot be used as a text based version. I am extremely leery of some of the ultra-modern versions, which take far too many liberties with the text to be trusted as honestly portraying "God's Word". They also come too close to the line crossed by "The Readers Digest Condensed Bible", which is 100% trash when it comes to true Biblical research.
Of all the Bibles in my library, which there are many more than I mentioned here, the most unique and the one used most often is "The Scriptures". This version is published by the "Institute For Scripture Research" in South Africa. This version is most definitely Messianic in nature, but in both the Old and New Testaments it goes back to the Hebraic roots of words and titles. Thus, it is perhaps the only version of the Bible that does not use English words for the titles of God and Jesus Christ.
In future posts I will be seeking to present various aspects of God using the Hebrew words such as Elohim and YAHWEH. A version such as The Scriptures becomes invaluable when doing this kind of research and teaching. It also provides a balance to the 100% Greek based translations of the New Testament. To fully research the Old Testament, one must on occasion use the Septuagint. To fully research the New Testament, one must on occasion use a Hebrew version.
Thank you for allowing me to share a little regarding the various versions available in Biblical research. Most people do not need more than a two or three of the most common versions, but if you love "working the Word of God" like I do, then the need for more and more detailed versions and study Bibles becomes greater. Please let me know if I can be of assistance on this subject or if I misspoke about any of the versions I mentioned. I tried to be as objective and unbiased as possible, but we all know that can be difficult at times. God bless you.
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Author: blessings2you
Location: Warrenton Missouri USA
Gender: Male
Age: 57
Blog Entries: 822 (archive)
Blog Comments: 6
god called me to serve him when i was 16 years old while on a church work trip in new mexico in 1969. in the 40 years since; i attended bible school/leadership training, been ordained to the christian ministry and worked full time for a non-denominational ministry for nearly ten...
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in 1969 god stepped in and transformed my life as a sixteen year old teenager. after a couple of years of intense emotional ups and downs, i decided i needed a firm foundation in my life that went beyond emotional experiences. it was the decision to become involved with a...
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