Bible Translations

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Which translation of the Bible do you use or think is the best?

The one I grew up with was “interesting.” Sometimes I enjoy comparing scriptures between the “New World Translation” (the JW Bible) and NRSV (and/or whatever else). It’s fascinating for me to see how…quirky…translations can shape theology or the other way around. In the case of the New World Translation, primarily the second possibility was at work, I think.

I’m not saying that accuracy in any translation is possible. Stories were passed down and written by imperfect scribes. It’s just interesting to see outliers when it comes to translation, interpretation, and “scholarship.” (Some “scholarship” is more valid than others, so I’m using the word generously.)

I’m an atheist, but I find the Bible interesting. My brother is also an atheist. He said that if he was stranded on an island and could choose one book to take with him, the Bible is what he would go with.

My favorite is the King James Version.

Of course, translators could very well interpret language for manipulative purposes.

It would be nice if a fluent speaker of the Bible’s languages could read the entire Bible dispassionately, then translate it objectively.

Growing up there was a Good News Bible in the bookcase, dont know where it came from.
I used to read it like a novel
It was in simplified English on very thin tissue-like paper
And it had great minimalist type line drawings which i can remember copying.
I believe the cover was a light blue with a rainbow?
I think, looking back, it was quite a 'loose' translation.
But i enjoyed reading it.

Am not enough of a Bible scholar to claim to be a connoisseur of Bible translations.

But it is interesting ...when you a google a particular Bible passage...a site will display the same passage from different English speaking Bibles. The passage can be quite different in the cosmetic sense that - that they say the same thing - but vary in how they say it (some are modern-modern, some are semi modern Victorian sounding, a some are archaic and hard to read like the King James).

But sometimes even the deeper meaning may vary slightly as well.

The King James was revolutionary, and was quite democratic, for its time because it was designed to be accessable to the common man. So, like a modern newspaper, it was written at the then equivalent of eighth grade reading level.

Some later translations are taken from the King James (translating its 16th century English into current English). But some modern translations go back to the original ancient language texts of the Bible- and translate into current English from the original sources. The later would seem to be preferable. But either way you have the problem that English is a living language that evolves.

So there are all kinds of issues of ...accuracy, beauty, readability, and etc.

I've read the NIV a lot it is easily understood, it's a good version.
I like the KJV also because I find olde English entertaining to read.

Bible scholars often complain about the NIV, but it’s still better than the Bible I grew up with. I use it sometimes.

I like the artistry of the KJV.

That was my issue with the New World Translation. All the slight variations in core scriptures added up to big changes in doctrine.

The scriptures that in the vast majority of Bibles that said that one must “believe” to earn salvation were translated to something like “exercising faith,” “take in knowledge of you” or “come to know you.” To be a JW, one must be constantly doing something, especially preaching, because belief was not enough.

I often try to look at multiple translations if I have a question about a specific verse to see what the majority of them say.

That's interesting, I checked some translations online.
They all say 'believe' with a couple of exceptions.
One says:

Which is simply expanding upon the word believe a bit.

I was raised with King James, and thought that's what I owned.

I took a look and we have NRSV.



My daughter has a blue NRSV upstairs.

I know the "Family Bible" is at my mother's and it's King James.
We write the family tree in it with everyone's birth and death dates.

If I knew how to find John 3:16 I'd look for the quote.

*sets off on a mission*

Last edited by IsabellaLinton on 05 Sep 2022, 5:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The NRSV is probably a better edition according to Bible scholars. The KJV is nice from a literary standpoint.

I could find John 3:16 in less than 10 seconds. That skill is pretty much useless for atheists, though.

I’m pretty sure the NRSV says “believe.” It’s the primary edition I use.

We have this one from Sunday School but I don't know how to find John in it.

You can find any line in the Bible online in a heartbeat.

I cant link to Wiki but it says that the King James says this (or close to it(:

"For God so loved the world that he gaveth it his only begotten son so that those believest in him shall have everlasting life."

Last edited by naturalplastic on 05 Sep 2022, 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The children's Bible is written as short parables.



I looked in The Birth of John, but that's not it.

Will scour. There must be a reference to that quote.

Could it be this?

Last edited by IsabellaLinton on 05 Sep 2022, 5:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.