A new Bible......... The Poll

[Jon Lake]

Help me out....those who feel I need to move "beyond" my NIV.....

-----Added 12/2/2008 at 06:30:43 EST-----

To make things easier on one and all I MEANT to put a poll with the first Thread...woops....sorry...anyway...RECAP: I use the NIV, most of you think it a bad choice, I have considered a new Bible as it were, you, my new PB friends may help me. Advise away..................................................

 

[jambo]

A new bible is really your own personal choice. Some like the NASB, some the ESV whilst others KJ or NKJ. There is no perfect translation. If the majority of PB members recommended say the NASB that does not mean that you would prefer it to the ESV. When a new bible comes out I would compare certain passages. This can be done on line which means you can check them out before moving onto a new translation. However just to check a few passages is not sufficient as you really need to use a version for a while. If you are thinking of changing translations, buy a cheap edition first and use it for a few months before deciding whether you want to make that your favoured translation or not.

 

[Jon Lake]

A new bible is really your own personal choice. Some like the NASB, some the ESV whilst others KJ or NKJ. There is no perfect translation. If the majority of PB members recommended say the NASB that does not mean that you would prefer it to the ESV. When a new bible comes out I would compare certain passages. This can be done on line which means you can check them out before moving onto a new translation. However just to check a few passages is not sufficient as you really need to use a version for a while. If you are thinking of changing translations, buy a cheap edition first and use it for a few months before deciding whether you want to make that your favoured translation or not.

Actually I agree....I just want a "feel" from the members I was going to use Bible Gateway for comparing.

 

[sastark]

1599 Geneva Bible.

And, barring that, the New King James.

 

[Jon Lake]

1599 Geneva Bible.

And, barring that, the New King James.

I did not put the NKJV in he list, have not hd much experience with it.

 

[APuritansMind]

My first choice would be the KJV, second choice NKJV, and third choice would be ESV.

 

[Matthias]

KJV

 

[TheFleshProfitethNothing]

Is there and Echo...echo...echo

1599 Geneva Bible.

And, barring that, the New King James.

I concur. 1599 Geneva bible has over 30,000 study notes to help you along...and I would even go a little farther and say, "Get BOTH"!

 

[Jon Lake]

1599 Geneva Bible.

And, barring that, the New King James.

I concur. 1599 Geneva bible has over 30,000 study notes to help you along...and I would even go a little farther and say, "Get BOTH"!

The "oldest" I would go would be the King James Version (sorry)

 

[jaybird0827]

First choice, KJV; no second choice.

 

[Prufrock]

The Word on the Street, by Rob Lacey.

Not really.

(I just love when you type it in to amazon.com, it actually say, "by Rob Lacey." Not, you know, "by God" or something like that. Even Amazon knows it's not the bible...)

-----Added 12/2/2008 at 07:22:39 EST-----

But seriously: does anyone here use the Holman? I'm curious.

 

[larryjf]

I voted ESV.
It's becoming the standard version for many Reformed folk. The OPC and PCA use it as their "default" version.

It will be an easier move from the NIV to the ESV than it would be to the NASB.

Instead of the linear paradigm that many use for translations...

I prefer to use this paradigm...

Which is from the book...

 

[Grymir]

King Jimmy!!!!!!!!

 

[Prufrock]

King Jimmy!!!!!!!!

I'm glad there is someone else out there who says that.

 

[Honor]

dude I say the ESV study Bible all the way... it's the coolest thing since sliced bread... maybe even cooler but I really like sandwiches though

 

[Jon Lake]

Were most of the people who worked on the ESV Reformed? I ask since it is seems to be THE Bible among the reformed people. For those shouting King James, I use the King James lot in my devotional reading given the cadence and beauty. What I am looking into are modern translations.

 

[Quickened]

I think with a modern bible with readability I would choose the ESV. I have both the wide margin ESV journaling bible and the reformation study bible (ESV). It reads with great ease and works as a good partner when compairing to the KJV or NASB.

Sometimes when i am doing studies I'll have more than one bible out. At my church the ESV is the main text. From my personal use the ESV is my main text.

Although i also have a NKJV (at work), KJV (home), HCSB (in my truck), NASB (Home)

 

[Jon Lake]

I think with a modern bible with readability I would choose the ESV. I have both the wide margin ESV journaling bible and the reformation study bible (ESV). It reads with great ease and works as a good partner when compairing to the KJV or NASB.

Sometimes when i am doing studies I'll have more than one bible out. At my church the ESV is the main text. From my personal use the ESV is my main text.

Although i also have a NKJV (at work), KJV (home), HCSB (in my truck), NASB (Home)

I never hear much about the HCSB anymore....even Baptist (in the SBC) seem to like the ESV in general.

 

[jwithnell]

Depends on what you're using it for. Your walking around Bible -- whatever is a faithful translation that you like. (Not what others say you should like). Some claim NASB is hard to read out loud, so if that will be a primary use, you might consider.

 

[SolaScriptura]

ESV. That way you're using a Bible that is both readable and based on good scholarship.

 

[Hamalas]

I think George Grant gave one of the best summaries of the ESV when he said that it, "combines the accuracy of the NASB with the readability of the NIV to make one of the best translations on the market."

 

[Jon Lake]

I think George Grant gave one of the best summaries of the ESV when he said that it, "combines the accuracy of the NASB with the readability of the NIV to make one of the best translations on the market."

If that is the case, it is a big draw for the ESV! The reason I have used the NIV for so long is that it flows well and is easy to rad both aloud and privately.

 

[Quickened]

I think with a modern bible with readability I would choose the ESV. I have both the wide margin ESV journaling bible and the reformation study bible (ESV). It reads with great ease and works as a good partner when compairing to the KJV or NASB.

Sometimes when i am doing studies I'll have more than one bible out. At my church the ESV is the main text. From my personal use the ESV is my main text.

Although i also have a NKJV (at work), KJV (home), HCSB (in my truck), NASB (Home)

I never hear much about the HCSB anymore....even Baptist (in the SBC) seem to like the ESV in general.

I hadnt heard of it until i received it as a gift on the day i was baptized.

 

[JM]

Get a nicely bound AV or Geneva.

 

[eqdj]

It will be an easier move from the NIV to the ESV than it would be to the NASB.

I can sure vouch for that!

This is the first time I've heard that the RV (Revised Version?) is the most literal - I'll have to check it out.

I would recommend reading the recent paper presented to the Evangelical Theological Society by Dr. Mark Strauss, "Why the English Standard Version Should Not Be The Standard English Version".

I use a text-only parallel NASB/LBLA.

 

[Grace Alone]

Why John Piper recommends the ESV:

Good English With Minimal Translation: Why Bethlehem Uses the ESV :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

 

[eqdj]

Here are a few more links worth reading

PB: 10-31-07 The ESV and The Reformed
PB: 04-02-08 About NASB vs. ESV

and my favourite:

NASB Onlyism Gaining New Momentum

 

[kvanlaan]

Another vote for the 1599 Geneva.

And right now, Tolle Lege has it on sale (2 for $69.95).

Let's see - the 'fugitive' Puritan's Bible, notes from Calvin, Knox, Coverdale, and Beza throughout, and the whole thing on CD ROM as well, all for the price of dinner for two at a not-so-flash restaurant. Are you picking up the phone yet? Good.

My work here is done then.

 

[Theognome]

The NIV played no small part in my own coming to Christ, so I do have a fondness of it- but presently I only use it for comparative purposes. My primary translation is a NKJ Geneva, with an NASB close at hand.

I have not studied much Greek, so I can't say which is 'better' from that stand point. I have studied Hebrew to some length, but again, I'm not the one to say which translation is more 'faithful' to the intent of the original text.

Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit, and not the translation, that does the job of interpreting the Word of God. The best tool you have to approach scripture- regardless of the translation- is prayer.

Theognome

 

[Jon Lake]

The NIV played no small part in my own coming to Christ, so I do have a fondness of it- but presently I only use it for comparative purposes. My primary translation is a NKJ Geneva, with an NASB close at hand.

I have not studied much Greek, so I can't say which is 'better' from that stand point. I have studied Hebrew to some length, but again, I'm not the one to say which translation is more 'faithful' to the intent of the original text.

Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit, and not the translation, that does the job of interpreting the Word of God. The best tool you have to approach scripture- regardless of the translation- is prayer.

Theognome

Well stated.