What translation of the Bible do you typically use? Why?
Have you always used this translation? Or did you switch to it at some point?
I read the NIV, I think because that's what I've always had. In most cases, it's the version I use for Scripture memory and for quoting verses when I write. The funny thing is, whenever I read a passage quoted from the NLT and even the Message, I love how the words come together!
For that reason I'm thinking of buying a new, big, fat, study Bible. Probably NLT. But here's my big concern - will I be able to find verses I'm looking for in the concordance?! For example, yesterday I was looking for the verse about our words having "grace" and "seasoned with salt." I flipped to the back of my Bible and looked under "salt" to find that it was Colossians 4:6. In the NLT, the verse says to let our conversation be "gracious and attractive." While that phrase clearly makes more sense, how would I find it with my memory that's full of NIV?
So I really do want to know what you think! Advice, people. Please! :)
Hey Tyler, I love having different versions of the bible to refer to. I do find that I often still go to my NIV to look up something I know is there, written a certain way. Just be patient while you transition, if you like the flow of the NLT, I find many rich things in the NKJV even though I don't use it every day. Anyway you spend time researching on the computer, and you can always use an online resource to speed up the process (like biblegateway.com) for a concordance. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI bought an NLT about a year ago because in a Biblical studies class I was told it is the most accurate translation of both the language and intent of the content (and because a little grandson decide to eliminate Genesis from my NIV). But, having said that, I do often revert to my NIV because it seems to be the most commonly used tranlation. In places like church if I'm being asked to read-along, it works better if I'm in the same translation. And for times when I'm looking up a specific reference - like your example about salt - I need to go back to NIV. I also find that the verses I learned as a child and hold in my memory came from NIV so it messes with me when I find that verse in an new translation. But...I do still really like NLT for how it reads, how it ministers to me in making the language/context/content all more relevant.
ReplyDeleteFinally, after all that - I do think you need to pick one main/favorite version and just use the others as resources. When I changed I started a new Bible with highlighting, underlining and notes - but I miss all the commentary I had in my NIV.I prefer having the one main version with my personal commentary and then having other versions as resources.
Frieda
Hi Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI love reading the Word as much as possible and at times I find that I need to read different versions every once in a while, as sometimes by reading wording that is not overly familiar I am able to gleam something new from a given verse.
I find that when I read from the same version all the time, the Word just becomes words (and I start not noticing the importance behind the words). I was started out with the KJV, but I love using the NIV or the NKJV.
Depending on what version a bible study uses, I will try and use that version for my work, so that I have an easier time trying to read the bible study.
Remember that we all change over time and that one version that used to work for us, may no longer be working for us in terms of helping us learn and grow.
Right now I'm reading out of the NLT Life Application Study Bible. I've really liked it a lot, but I'm thinking about getting a new Bible in either the NIV or even the NKJV. The NKJV is closest to the original translation. I do love that the NLT puts it in a much more easy-to-understand language. So maybe I'll settle for something in the middle, like NIV. We already have 5 or 6 NIV Bibles in our home, so I'll probably end up going with that version so we can all study from the same version after meals.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever heard of a Parallel Bible? Those are nice because they have 2-4 versions packed into one Bible. All the same verses are on one spread. For example, James chapter 1 would be shown in all 4 versions on the same 2-page spread. Each version has their own column on the spread. Hope that makes sense. It's pretty cool! I have one around here somewhere that I've rarely used, simply because I'm partial to my marked up, highlighted, tattered, well-loved Bible. :)
I am loving ESV the past few years and love it.
ReplyDeleteGetting a new Bible is always fun but a little traumatic . . . can't find the verses I underlined etc.
Fondly,
Glenda
I would love a parallel bible, but find sometimes the parallels aren't the ones I would have chosen. What about an exhaustive concordance?
ReplyDeleteI use biblelogos.com because I input the word "salt" in the NIV search (where most of my mind has filed the verses), and once found I check the other versions to see how they are written differently.
Click, click, click wa-laH!
Hope that is helpful.
Tyler, I love my NLT. For years I used NIV but I found I wasn't understanding a lot of what I was reading. Last year at one of the lady conferences I came across The Sanctuary Bible (NLT). It is amazing. I absolutely love it... now if you find blue print hard to look at you may find it hard to read but I absolutely wouldn't do without it! It's great :-)
ReplyDelete