Bible Question: What do you think is the best version of the Bible? (the one that best captures the intent of the original authors) |
Bible Answer: I would guess that there are few linguistics experts here so I will give it my novice attempt. I have read several critiques of differing versions. Personally, I use the NKJV - specifically, the New Geneva Study Bible. The ASV is good to, at least to my knowledge. I started out with the KJV but I would not recommend that for anybody. I believe the strange grammer and language usage of the "King's English" veils the Scriptures from the baby Christian. I don't consider it profitable to have them learn a new language to get to the word of God. The NIV I "feel" plays loose with some texts. I say I feel, but we will call that an "educated feeling." What I have read says to me that I don't want to have to be on guard all the time over my Bible version. The recent "gender-neutral" version by IBS/Zondervan is a blasphemous load of tripe and I would avoid it. They are not careful with grammatical interpretaion. They substitute popular opinion for textual fidelity. This is the stuff I think that verse about changing the Bible is about. Read - http://www.cbmw.com/ for more on gender issues. Specifically, see- http://www.cbmw.org/resources/tniv/index.html "More than thirty-five evangelical scholars issued a joint statement declaring that the recently released Today’s New International Version, which news reports on Monday identified as "gender-neutral," should not be commended to the church. The scholars expressed concern about "troubling translation inaccuracies ... that introduce distortions of ... meanings." The NKJV and ASV both use our common vernacular, so it is readable by the average "Joe" or "Jane" for our gender-neutral constituents. Of course this does not clear up every verse, but it does help in the reading - with the KJV you have to do a mental translation of strange usages into our modern day usage, and that is if you properly understood the strange usage in the first place. I am not familiar with the RSV, NASB or others. I hope this helps. In Him, Matt. |