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JordanW -> The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/7/2008 9:28:20 PM)

I just thought it would be nice to have a thread where people can come and recommend Bible's that they have used to other's that may be considering getting a new Bible.[:D]



MrFribbles -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/7/2008 9:34:21 PM)

Hm... My personal favorite is the ESV, since I think it blends staying as true as possible to the original languages while still striving for modern readability.
The NIV is OK, even if there are some... Disagreements I have with it (like how they translate "sarx" as sin nature, not flesh).
The NASB is pretty true to the original languages, but I've found it a bit tough to read at times.
But yeah, I would say those are my top three versions right now.



JordanW -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/7/2008 9:36:56 PM)

Anyone know a place online where you can buy a KJV text only Bible?



ClintonPI -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/7/2008 11:00:53 PM)

Try:

Grace Books International:
www.gbibooks.com

or CBD:
www.christianbook.com

You should find plenty of KJV Bibles at those sites, or just about any other book dealer.

Congrats on going smoke-free, Jordan! I quit 17 years ago and the good news is that it does get easier. You even become one of those snooty anti-smokers we smokers despise so much. [:)]

I love the ESV, but I love my MacArthur Study Bible (in NASB) more... If only I could get a MacESV. [;)]



JordanW -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/8/2008 2:16:10 AM)

http://www.berean.com/product.asp?sku=0785256199

I ordered this one earlier, thoughts?



ClintonPI -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/8/2008 7:50:30 AM)

Pretty standard, no frills, just fine. Have ye a taste for the old tongue?[;)]



JordanW -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/8/2008 1:53:42 PM)

Indeed I do.[:D]



uncabeeil -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/8/2008 2:04:45 PM)

The first bible I recommend when someone asks is Nelson's NKJV Study Bible. It has a concordance, dictionary, maps, and a topical index at the end. Each book has a separate introduction that gives you background on the author, the history, a timeline for the book, some insight into key points, and an outline. The center column references are at the bottom of the page with the study notes so that the text columns could be widened for easier reading. There's almost too much information sometimes.

Second recommendation is Zondervan's NASB Study Bible, for most of the reasons listed above.

I also like my "Today's Parallel Bible". It has the King James, NIV, New Living, and NASB printed side-by-side.

But the most important thing to remember is that the best bible you can buy is the one that you can most easily understand, regardless of what all the "experts" will tell you. So go out and look, read, and hold one in your hands before you buy.



JordanW -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/8/2008 4:35:37 PM)

Yeah I guess I shouldn't get caught up in being a KJV onlyist type of person. I really like the NKJV.



rarepair -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/21/2008 11:26:09 PM)

I keep going back to two version, each radically different in translation approach from the other. For a more word for word type translation, absolutely nothing beats the beauty of language found in the NKJV. I find this translation also lends itself wonderfully to memorization. The other translation is the Contemporary English Version (CEV). It's a thought for though approach, going much more for meaning that literal translation. Often I find it makes some difficult passages startlingly clear. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to find. Both can be found at the American Bible Society website, a great site with some unbelievably good prices. Log onto www.americanbible.org. They also have some terrific free study resources.



LCannon -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/21/2008 11:45:46 PM)

I was weaned on KJV and have a great regard for it, in fact, I often use KJV phrases/keywords to find things however for 35 years I've prefered NASB for study especially NT. The NASB OT is very similar to KJV.

"You can't go wrong with good material."(Father Malcauy, M*A*S*H)



JordanW -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/21/2008 11:47:55 PM)

I've read some verses from the NASB, I like the translation. [:D]



BibleBased -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/22/2008 12:23:48 PM)

What's right for me - won't be right for you.

Those of us who have been followers for some years - do our 'study' in multiple translations.

BibleBased.



rarepair -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/22/2008 9:40:20 PM)

I HIGHLY recommend an edition of the CEV published by Thomas Nelson called "The Promise". The footnotes are so good, it's like a study Bible. Plus, the "promise" notes make it very devotional. You can find one through ebay.



JordanW -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/23/2008 4:50:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BibleBased

What's right for me - won't be right for you.

Those of us who have been followers for some years - do our 'study' in multiple translations.

BibleBased.

Yes, you are right here, but there is no harm in letting others know what has worked for you. [:D]



Strider33 -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/23/2008 5:40:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rarepair

I keep going back to two version, each radically different in translation approach from the other. For a more word for word type translation, absolutely nothing beats the beauty of language found in the NKJV. I find this translation also lends itself wonderfully to memorization. The other translation is the Contemporary English Version (CEV). It's a thought for though approach, going much more for meaning that literal translation. Often I find it makes some difficult passages startlingly clear. Unfortunately, it's getting harder to find. Both can be found at the American Bible Society website, a great site with some unbelievably good prices. Log onto www.americanbible.org. They also have some terrific free study resources.


I have ended up using a side by side Bible with two radically different translations in it.

One side is the NIV. I chose NIV because that was the pew bible in the local church I was attending at the time.

The other side is Reyna-Valera 1960 Edition (RV60), in Spanish. I realize this isn't the Spanish room, but it's worth commenting nontheless.

What makes the translations radically different is not the difference between English and Spanish. When I compare notes with other people in Bible studies, the RV60 seems to agree with KJV and NKJV in places where the NIV has something different. I attribute it to the difference in the set of manuscripts the translators were using.

It actually helps me that the two translations aren't quite the same. It gives me a wider view on the original text, which I don't know how to read.



BibleL7 -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/25/2008 3:22:00 AM)

I recommend the New King James (NKJV), English Standard Version (ESV), New International Version (NIV) and of course the King James (KJV) though I read the NIV first I much preferred the NKJV and ESV These are the versions I recommend first to any who are considering buying a Bible. Unless the church they attend use another version NASB, NCV are also good of the 22 versions I have used there are only two versions so far I would not recommend at all and that would be CEV and the Amplified. They are the only two I had real problems reading for I was grieved to read them. One thing I look at when picking a bible which both of the ones I don't recommend do is in Job chapters 40 and 41 if they translate Behemoth as Hippo and Leviathan as Alligator or Crock It very much causes me to question their ability to translate in context. Yes some other versions will footnote that it could possibly refer to those animals but to actually suggest it is correct I can not agree to. As to study bibles I do not use them and only own a Scofield in ESV.



rarepair -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/25/2008 4:26:25 PM)

Some people get queasy with the more broad "thought for thought" translation style, and I understand that. But IMO it helps open up the scriptures to read both. Let me give a couple of examples of how the CEV can crystallize a text:

The Beatitudes open in Matt. 5:3...."God blesses those people who depend only on him." I find that much clearer than "poor in spirit".

Psalm 19:7...."The Law of the LORD is perfect; it gives us new life. His teachings last forever, and they give wisdom to ordinary people." This rendering has so much meat! And I miss it in the more literal translations.

And it can be quite vivid. Check out James 1:14-15...."We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us. Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead."

I'm not pretending to be anyone's spiritual counsellor, but I find using two very different translations opens up more and more of the scriptures to me.



MusicianDad -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (5/25/2008 8:45:56 PM)

I like the NKJ MacArthur Study Bible, except for the map that shows the Exodus going through the Sea of Reeds. What's up with that?



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (6/4/2008 3:01:26 AM)

For myself, for the whole Bible, I prefer an NASB without any titles and with the fewest possible notes -- preferrably no notes.

However, there is a wonderful Bible I rarely see recommended, but I have had the privilege of giving many of these away over the years: The Picture Bible by Iva Hoth (Author) and Andre Le Blanc (Illustrator). It is far from the whole Bible, and it is set up in comic book style. I have given them to children, young teens, people with reading problems, and people who are barely literate and/or illiterate.



BerianAardvark -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (6/4/2008 6:28:47 AM)

I use multiple translations (at last count 24 in my collection, plus three paraphrases), for the most part I like the NASB and the Amplified Bible for study, as they are word for word.

For devotional reading I like the NLT (New Living Translation) a thought for thought...both because it is a very easy read, and because I tend to "rabbit trail" less with it.

I also use the NIV, NKJV, CEV, ESV (English Standard Version), BBE (Bible in Basic English), and a couple of interlinears..

For the OT I have a translation put out by the Jewish Publication Society which is helpful at getting a slightly different slant on things (though there are really very few differences).

I also have a CJB (Complete Jewish Bible "An English Version of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and B'rit Hadashah (New Testament)" by David H. Stern.) Though I tend to treat it more as a paraphrase than a translation. Both the JPS and CJB are especially handy when talking to people who are obviously wearing tzitziyot (see Numbers 15:38; Deuteronomy 22:12)

I also use other paraphrases like The Message and J. B. Phillips, all three have some excellent insights...but I wouldn't want to try fixing doctrine by them.

The more thought for thought a translation is the more the thoughts and biases of the translators tend to surface...as my old (well she sure looked old to me at the time) High School Spanish teacher used to say: "A translation is generally either very beautiful (and not very faithful) or very faithful (and not very beautiful)."

Paraphrases are (generally) done by only one person rather than a committee of experts, and hence they are the most prone to follow the dogma and biases of their authors....hence I think of them more as commentaries than actual translations.

Most of the translations I have are modules for e-sword, but I do enjoy the feel of hard copy in my paws.

Tim



FaVored -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (6/16/2008 8:59:56 PM)

TEE-HEE on getting this started again! [:D]

OK everyone knows I have lots of bibles and have recommended several...BUT I JUST GOT A NEW ONE!!

I was able to get my mits on a KJV Open Bible(the regular size) burgundy bonded leather. You can easily find this size in the hardcover or The large print (which is SOOO huge) in leather and hardcover.


WOW is all I can say about this one! It has the BEST outlines and introductions of any bible I own!! There are notes at the bottom of a few pages, but they are not excessive. This one is cool! Pick up the hard cover for kind of cheap. You won't regret it!



wshepherd -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (6/17/2008 12:31:49 PM)

I heartily recommend the Archaeological Study Bible. This is from a booklet I have on it:

quote:

TO ENGAGE THE BIBLE MORE, YOU NEED TO ENTER THE WORLD FROM WHICH IT CAME.

From the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, the ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY BIBLE is filled with study material of people, places and objects that will open your eyes to the archaeological, historical and cultural contexts of the stories you read and the people you meet in Scripture. From interesting facts regarding kings and empires to photographs of site excavations to weapons of war to ancient jewelry and children's toys, the archaeological record surrounding God's Word will help to energize, contextualize and inform your personal study.

Once you see the Bible through the light of history, you'll never look at Scripture the same way again.

FEATURES

New International Version -- the most read, most trusted translation

Full-color interior throughout -- a new innovation in a complete study Bible

Over 8,000 bottom-of-the-age study notes that highlight historical, archaeological, or cultural topics

Over 500 articles covering topics from ancient texts to biblical reliability

500 full-color photographs interspersed throughout articles throughout

Detailed book introductions including basic, at-a-glance timelines and outlines

Detailed charts on pertinent topics

Citations/quotations offering perspectives in the direct words of "the ancients"

Additional features: Concordance, cross-references, subject and feature indexes, color maps, and words of Christ in red

The ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY BIBLE is published in partnership with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. For over one hundred and twenty years, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has provided resources and training in the development of biblical knowledge, practical skills, and spiritual formation, all crucial elements of Christ-centered ministry. The mission of Gordon-Conwell is to prepare men and women for a variety of vocations to advance gospel ministry around the world.


I absolutely love it. It has so many good, solid, practical study helps in it.



LBolt -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (6/17/2008 12:49:22 PM)

I love and prefer the King James Version; Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible. It has a Strong's Concordance, Lexicon Aids. I like to look up words this makes it very handy.



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: The Recommend a Bible Thread (6/18/2008 2:34:59 AM)

How are YOU doing, Jordan? I have been thinking about you, thus praying for you. Hope you are doing super well.



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