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What version of The Bible is most effective?

a deliberate "mine-field" of a discussion title... :-)

What I really want to know is what version/translation of The Bible do you find speaks to you most effectively...mainly when writing songs, but also in your meditation and study of the Word.

For me, when studying, it's hard to go past the New King James...if for no other reason than it's what nearly everyone in Australia uses for this purpose.

For songwriting, I like to compare lots of translations, but often end up in The Message, New Living or the Amplified

For my own personal meditation, this has varied throughout my life. At the moment, it's the Amplified...and it helps I have a great version of it on my phone so it's always with me.

But what about you guys??

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Permalink Reply by Mark Barlow on July 27, 2009 at 9:55am
I tend to go with the NIV but also look at others to get perspective. I think that it is important that we also recognise the sovereignty of God in the translations rather than focus on the fallibility of the translators. There is much said about the errors in some versions and those who dogmatically adhere to a particular version, however, if we are truly seeking God in his word he can be found in most translations. To some, the old english of the KJV is a barrier to them understanding what they are reading. Also, the english language changes and some words originally translated would have a different meaning or nuance today, so updates like the MKJV address this while maintaining the original feel. The main question for me would be is God speaking to you through what you are reading?
Permalink Reply by David Estes on July 29, 2009 at 12:09am
Ha Ha Ha HA.... Are you asking for a tounge lashing? With a title like that. LOL...
I like to read the King Jimmy. Just to read.
I do study in many versions.
I like the Nearly Inspired Version for playing my guitar with.

I like to grab a passage that is speaking to me and read over 4-6 differant versions and make up my own version in my music and play.
Tell me what you think.
Permalink Reply by David Goodwin on July 29, 2009 at 12:21pm
I like doing this too. In fact, at the most recent Hillsong Conference, during the songwriting breakouts, some of the guys talked about doing exactly that when writing songs.

And yes, we've now seen some of the minefield I expected this title to bring...it just took a few months longer than I thought it might - haha
Permalink Reply by Priscilla B. Martinez on August 13, 2009 at 2:15am
Nearly Inspired?!?! Duuuuuuuuuuuude.
=)

j/k
Permalink Reply by David Estes on August 15, 2009 at 3:43pm
Short Hand of Translations.
Nearly Inspired Version = NIV
King Jimmy = KJV
I like to read the King Jimmy. I mean if it was good enough for the apostle Paul it shoud be good enough for me me right? :-) ha ha ha ha ha.....
To be more serious I have issues with all of them (translations). This is why you should know how to study the bible and understand the the presupasitions you have when you approch Gods word. Hence - you should read what is easy for you to understand and then do what God speaks to you. "We read the word to DO what is IN the word". Not to read it to KNOW it.
Permalink Reply by Robert MacFarland on July 29, 2009 at 4:25pm
I also was brought up with the 'old' King James. It is still a wonderful bible, however dated. Jesus did not talk like William Shakespeare. But if you can swallow the Thees and Thous and Verilly Verillys it is fine. I started reading the NKJV because it reads about the same , but without the 'King's English'....there are also a few traslation differences in the 'thought' or the 'understanding. of the thought. Recently I have been also using the NASB more, and I have found a wonderful reading aide at www.biblegateway.com When you look up a passage or a 'keyword' ...the NASB at Gateway has an audio that you can listen to while you are reading along. It really helps me to focus, especially at times when I am feeling like my mind is 'wandering'....which is most of the time. Ha Ha. This is the 'next-best-thing' to reading the bible with a friend...which in my opinion is the absolute best.
Permalink Reply by Rob Swanson on August 11, 2009 at 7:23pm
I am a bible-college student and I saw a chart that showed the most popular versions from most literal translation to not most literal (I forget what they called it)

NASB > KJV > ESV > NIV> Message > etc

I tend to use the NIV just because that is my church's main Bible, but I read the NASB for matters such as theology and doctrine, because it is what the writers wrote, not a writing of what someone thought that someone wrote...so I have a personal disliking for the amplified, message and other versions like that. Im not saying they are bad, its just my preference.
I used to go to a KJV ONLY church...so I instantly took a disliking for that, and then when I learned they only used SOME of the original manuscripts, I knew I made the right choice ; )

but this is just my ranting, I enjoy the ESV alot too.
Permalink Reply by Mark Paulson on August 12, 2009 at 5:55am
Short answer: ISV then ESV.

For the New Testament I adore the ISV for accuracy, readability and it's poetic parts. It seems as readable as the paraphrases while being my favorite for accuracy.

Example:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a ISV
Love is always patient; love is always kind;
love is never envious or arrogant with pride.
Nor is she conceited, and she is never rude;
she never thinks just of herself or ever gets annoyed.
She never is resentful; is never glad with sin;
she's always glad to side with truth, and pleased that truth shall win.
She bears up under everything, believes the best in all,
there is no limit to her hope, and she will never fall.
Love never fails.

For the old testament I ultimately trust ESV, but find some great songwriting cues from the New Jerusalem Bible. I might like the ISV old testament best when they finish it...not sure yet.

Example:
Psalm 18:2 New Jerusalem Bible
Yahweh is my rock and my fortress, my deliverer is my God. I take refuge in him, my rock, my shield, my saving strength, my stronghold, my place of refuge.
Permalink Reply by Max Johnson on August 12, 2009 at 4:50pm
My favorite is the NKJ version :)
Permalink Reply by Deisha Day on August 15, 2009 at 4:45pm
I like to use the basic King James Version...since I started Bible Quizzing, we had to memorize out of King James...so when I read my verses of study in a differen't version, I don't recognize the verse at all...
Permalink Reply by daniel cash on August 27, 2009 at 5:02am
Funny story. There is no James in the Bible. The dude's moniker was actually Jacob (more specifically Yacob since there's no J in Greek or Hebrew). So where did James come from? Not surprisingly, it changed when the KJV dropped. "Hey Jim, we should make an English translation of the Vulgate and name it after you." "Eh, maybe. I'm not so sure..." "What if we also throw in an Apostle named after you, too?" "Now thou art talking"
Permalink Reply by Ken Halsted on August 27, 2009 at 6:16pm
Our Pastor's answer to this is: "The version you read every day". I like that. And I'd like to add, it's the version you DO every day. 'Cause if we aren't DOING/PUTTING INTO PRACTICE the word, it's like building a big house on sinking sand' and then watching it be destroyed.

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