Choosing a Bible Translation
Anyone wishing to study the Bible is immediately faced with a key question - what is the best version to use? The available options range from the King James Version, which can be as intimidating as reading Shakespeare to The Message paraphrase published in 2002 which is earthly and very informal. This spectrum of choices can be confusing to those who have studied or brought Bibles to church on a regular basis, much more so for those who haven't read a Bible in years or ever.
Here are some considerations when selecting a Bible:
1. Do you want a translation or a paraphrase? A translation will take language from the original Hebrew and Greek and translate it to English. Translations are more literal and try to be more word-for-word on the original texts. A paraphrase on the other hand will try and bring the language into more of a modern context so that readers understand the meaning behind the words.
2. How old is the publication? Newer is not always better, but the age of the translation or paraphrase can impact the reliability of the text. For example, The King James Bible was once considered the only reliable option. Unfortunately, translators in 1611 did not have access to as many Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. In the past 400 years, scholars' understanding of both languages has grown, as has the collection of original-language manuscripts. The more copies we have of a particular portion of the Bible, the more certain we can be of its accuracy. For this reason, more recent translations like the New International Version (NIV) or New King James Version (NKJV) may be a better choice.
3. What are you planning us the Bible for? A serious theological study will likely require more than one version of Bible, plus lexicons and concordances. In contrast, someone who wants a Bible for daily devotions will likely choose a very recent translation or a paraphrase that focuses on readability. Scholars often recommend a copy of The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips for studies focusing on the Epistles of Paul or other complex New Testament passages.
4. Consider using more than one version. Some passages are clearer in one translation or paraphrase. If you have a question about a passage one of the first steps you can take to clarify is read another translation. You may find the order of the language varies, the choice of words is clearer or that there are references in the margins to other passages that help you understand.
Regardless of the version you choose to read it is important that even Biblical scholars find it difficult to agree on some passages. Prophecies seen as pointing at future events, for example the Great Tribulation, [http://www.americanheritagesystems.org] can be impacted by many things: the experience of the writer (and how they were able to describe visions), the experience an perceptions of the reader, as well as the quality of the translation of Bible. Study a variety of sources and you are more likely to arrive at a conclusion that is well-rounded and more reliable
Here are some considerations when selecting a Bible:
1. Do you want a translation or a paraphrase? A translation will take language from the original Hebrew and Greek and translate it to English. Translations are more literal and try to be more word-for-word on the original texts. A paraphrase on the other hand will try and bring the language into more of a modern context so that readers understand the meaning behind the words.
2. How old is the publication? Newer is not always better, but the age of the translation or paraphrase can impact the reliability of the text. For example, The King James Bible was once considered the only reliable option. Unfortunately, translators in 1611 did not have access to as many Hebrew and Greek manuscripts. In the past 400 years, scholars' understanding of both languages has grown, as has the collection of original-language manuscripts. The more copies we have of a particular portion of the Bible, the more certain we can be of its accuracy. For this reason, more recent translations like the New International Version (NIV) or New King James Version (NKJV) may be a better choice.
3. What are you planning us the Bible for? A serious theological study will likely require more than one version of Bible, plus lexicons and concordances. In contrast, someone who wants a Bible for daily devotions will likely choose a very recent translation or a paraphrase that focuses on readability. Scholars often recommend a copy of The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips for studies focusing on the Epistles of Paul or other complex New Testament passages.
4. Consider using more than one version. Some passages are clearer in one translation or paraphrase. If you have a question about a passage one of the first steps you can take to clarify is read another translation. You may find the order of the language varies, the choice of words is clearer or that there are references in the margins to other passages that help you understand.
Regardless of the version you choose to read it is important that even Biblical scholars find it difficult to agree on some passages. Prophecies seen as pointing at future events, for example the Great Tribulation, [http://www.americanheritagesystems.org] can be impacted by many things: the experience of the writer (and how they were able to describe visions), the experience an perceptions of the reader, as well as the quality of the translation of Bible. Study a variety of sources and you are more likely to arrive at a conclusion that is well-rounded and more reliable
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