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Bible Study KJV, NKJV, or ESV?

T

TripleB

Member
In my previous post I asked about Study Bibles. I'm thinking I might should have asked about which translation to go with and then look at which Study Bibles or even just Bibles are available in that translation.

I currently have a Nelson New American Standard Bible, Tyndale New Living Translation Application Study Bible, and Holman Christian Standard Bible.

At my church we typically use the KJV and CSB (more often the CSB) in Sunday School and our Pastor uses the KJV in Preaching.

I'm looking to get a new Bible for Christmas and am looking at either the ESV, KJV, or NKJV; none of which I have a quality Bible.

So, in your opinion, which translation (of the three) do you feel I should purchase?

Thank you for your help and advice.

TripleB
 
Agape said:
Yes, and how do you like it?
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As far as readability and understanding, I think I like my HCSB a little better. Of course, as far as accuracy, I'm really not sure which conveys the original meaning better.

As far as the Bibles themselves, definitely prefer the HCSB over the NASB because the HSCB is a study Bible and when I don't understand something I can look down and get some idea of the meaning.

Thanks for everyone's input so far.

TripleB
 
As I go on the internet and look at various sites comparing the KJV to the NKJV, it seems like many of them are saying that the NKJV has changed many of the words and meanings of the KJV which would lead me to believe the NKJV isn't nearly as accurate as the KJV (or maybe even the ESV for that matter).

Is this the case?

Thank you for all your help.

TripleB
 
TripleB said:
As I go on the internet and look at various sites comparing the KJV to the NKJV, it seems like many of them are saying that the NKJV has changed many of the words and meanings of the KJV which would lead me to believe the NKJV isn't nearly as accurate as the KJV (or maybe even the ESV for that matter).

Is this the case?

Thank you for all your help.

TripleB
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That is unlikely to be the case. Most such sites that compare any version to the KJV and claim things have been changed use faulty reasoning. But each such claim would have to be looked at individually. Besides, "accuracy" is a subjective term. The NKJV is a good translation.
 
The NKJV is a good translation.
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The ESV is better. The NASB is better than the ESV.

Young's Literal is the best for accuracy (not readability.)

The new FCB (Fulfilled Covenant Bible) will be as readable as the NKJV but as true to the Greek and Hebrew as Young's Literal.

Examples cited here:

http://www.christianforums.net/showthread.php?t=47637&p=722688&viewfull=1#post722688
http://www.christianforums.net/showthread.php?t=47637&p=722689&viewfull=1#post722689
http://www.christianforums.net/showthread.php?t=47637&p=722692&viewfull=1#post722692

Whatever version you decide on, you should get a Young's Literal as a guide for accurately understanding these other translations. Click on the link in my sig and get the free Bible study software there. You can get KJV, NJKV, ASB, and Young's all free with it and can then use them to do side-by-side comparisons.

No serious Bible student should be without a literal translation.
 
So, which translation (not necessarily just the ones listed) would you say offers the best combination of truth (to the original), readability, and understandability?

Thanks again for your patience and your help.

TripleB
 
This sounds simple but it's very significant. You will not believe your eyes and you can judge it for yourself and get back to me. There's four verses I want you to check when evaluating a translation:

1. 2 Samual 21:19; it's suppose to read that "Elhanan killed the brother of Goliath", not Elhanan killed Goliath, whcih is an errant rendering because David killed Goliath. This conflicts with 1 Chron 20:5, which all have the correct rendering.

2. Philippians 2:6 is suppose to render the conclusion that Jesus did not reckon or consider it robbery to be equal with God (Father). The errant rendering reads the He did not consider equality with God to be something to be grasped; which is a 180 degree rendering from the traditional, displaying the opposite.

3. Many detract from the importance of this third one but it is no less significant, regardless the explanations: There are two companion verses in 1 John 5:7, 8 which give a duel testimony of three witness in heaven and three on earth. The problem here is that v 7 is omitted, which detracts from the deity of the Spirit's omnipresence of Him being in heaven and on earth simultaneously.

4. John 3:13; This one detracts from Christ's deity of His omnipresence by omitting part of the verse. It should read "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven." The errant rendering omits "which is in heaven".

There's multiple hundreds of these types of problems with most of the modern translations, which will soon be coming to light!
 
Just a reminder that this is not a debate forum:

'Bible study is open to all. The Holy Scriptures will be treated as such. Zero tolerance for breaks of the ToS. The OP will set the tone of the thread/study. We are expecting members to be aware of the fine line between discussion and argument. Please feel free to open a new thread and avoid the battle.

"This forum is intended for cooperative discussion about scripture within God's Word. It is not an appropriate place to discuss versions of it or argue that certain versions are invalid."

"There is a sub-forum for blogs if members are not interested in discussion."'

http://www.christianforums.net/showthread.php?t=39155
 
TripleB said:
So, which translation (not necessarily just the ones listed) would you say offers the best combination of truth (to the original), readability, and understandability?

Thanks again for your patience and your help.

TripleB
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Well, that depends. There are many factors involved in translating from the Hebrew and Greek so each translation has it's issues, but I think most do their best to remain true to the manuscripts that we have. There are certain translations I avoid, like the NLT, The Message, FCB, etc., for various reasons. But as far as the main translations, NKJV, NRSV and ESV are really good as far as formal equivalence (so-called word-for-word) and the NIV is good as far as dynamic equivalence (thought-for-thought). As far as I am aware, the two considered most accurate while maintaining readability are the ESV and NRSV.

I've had my NIV Study Bible for many years and it still serves me well, even with duct tape on the spine. I also have an HCSB Apologetics Study Bible from RZIM, which is a really good one if you're interested in apologetics, but you already have that translation, and an Orthodox Study Bible which uses the NKJV for the NT and Septuagint for the OT. MY ESV Study Bible is the one I use most, just because.
 
Hi Free and my apologies for the post! I have no problem with deleting it if you deem it best.

God's blessings to your Family!
 
Hi

it is recommendable as a rule to be used the possibly oldest version first, because the oldest should be (the) most uncorrupted according to the belief/tradition, so from this viewpoint kjv is the oldest from the mentioned in the first post

Blessings
 
Last edited by a moderator:
netchaplain said:
Hi Free and my apologies for the post! I have no problem with deleting it if you deem it best.

God's blessings to your Family!
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No worries. I just wanted to nip it in the bud. It can be discussed in the Apologetics and Theology forum, just not in here.

And blessings to you and yours.
 
TripleB said:
I'm looking to get a new Bible for Christmas and am looking at either the ESV, KJV, or NKJV; none of which I have a quality Bible.

So, in your opinion, which translation (of the three) do you feel I should purchase?

Thank you for your help and advice.

TripleB
Click to expand...

Intro to the ESV Study Bible, hope this helps

[video=youtube;iQ46mI5BVFg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ46mI5BVFg[/video]
 
I don't' like the KJB - but just get into one of the translations so that it gets into YOU!

NKJV is good, but I like my NIV and NAS.

First and foremost READ IT. Dont stop and study every verse, READ IT. The spirit will speak to you - I guarantee it.
Don't worry about picking the "exact right" translation. Read the translation you like, one that you can read without struggle (kinda rules out the KJV if you are me).

If it's down to those three, go with NKJV. But again, NIV and NAS are fine by me as well.
 
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