Baptists’ Bible Use

[rlvaughn]

In the Why has the KJV been so popular? thread, before it was closed, there was a brief mention of which Bible translation Baptist people most favor, with one response that it is the New International Version. I am curious of a few things in this regard.

• Are there any formal surveys/polls on which Bible Baptists prefer?
• Any informal surveys/polls on which Bible Baptists prefer?
• What Bible version, in your experience, do you find the Baptists you know prefer?
• If polled, is there any difference between which Bible is preferred by pastors versus laypeople?
• What about “use” versus “preference”? For example, I know someone who just bought a new Bible to use because it is the Bible used by her pastor. It is not the Bible she prefers, but it will be the Bible she uses.

I realize that many Baptists use more than one Bible translation/version. In these questions, though, I am thinking of which Bible Baptists use/prefer as their primary Bible. Also, I am primarily thinking of English Bibles, though if someone knows about this topic in another language, that could be interesting as well.

 

[1689Dave]

In my experience, most of the conservative Baptists I've been around use the KJV. Many with Scofield notes. Some of the more evangelical minded use NIV and experiment with various other translations. I am KJV mainly but use modern translations as commentaries. I'm using the NET Bible with notes for my yearly read through this time around. And plan (Lord willing) to use the NLT next year.

In the Why has the KJV been so popular? thread, before it was closed, there was a brief mention of which Bible translation Baptist people most favor, with one response that it is the New International Version. I am curious of a few things in this regard.

• Are there any formal surveys/polls on which Bible Baptists prefer?
• Any informal surveys/polls on which Bible Baptists prefer?
• What Bible version, in your experience, do you find the Baptists you know prefer?
• If polled, is there any difference between which Bible is preferred by pastors versus laypeople?
• What about “use” versus “preference”? For example, I know someone who just bought a new Bible to use because it is the Bible used by her pastor. It is not the Bible she prefers, but it will be the Bible she uses.

I realize that many Baptists use more than one Bible translation/version. In these questions, though, I am thinking of which Bible Baptists use/prefer as their primary Bible. Also, I am primarily thinking of English Bibles, though if someone knows about this topic in another language, that could be interesting as well.

I found this study.
Most pastors use the NIV, KJV Bibles, study suggests

 

[rlvaughn]

I found this study.
Most pastors use the NIV, KJV Bibles, study suggests

Thanks. I see that is from 2004 and done for Lifeway.

May 06, 2004...The study of 700 pastors was conducted by Ellison Research for Facts & Trends magazine, a publication of the LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Looks like the breakdown for Baptist preachers shows the shift to the NIV is more Southern Baptist:

Southern Baptist pastors are split evenly between the NIV, KJV, New Kings James Version and the New American Standard Bible...Southern Baptist pastors are split evenly between the NIV (26 percent), NKJV (25 percent), KJV (23 percent) and NASB (22 percent).

Fifty-one percent of "non-Southern Baptist" Baptist pastors said they use the King James Version, 24 percent the NIV.

I also found this:
Poll Reveals King James Bible's Enduring Popularity

 

[atpollard]

It seems people BUY the NIV: Christian Book Expo: ECPA Bible Translations Bestsellers, June 2018
but READ the KJV: Preferred Bible version in the U.S. 2017 | Statistic
https://www.statista.com/statistics/299402/preferred-bible-version-usa/
(except for me, who prefers the NASB)

 

[McCree79]

It seems people BUY the NIV: Christian Book Expo: ECPA Bible Translations Bestsellers, June 2018
but READ the KJV: Preferred Bible version in the U.S. 2017 | Statistic
https://www.statista.com/statistics/299402/preferred-bible-version-usa/
(except for me, who prefers the NASB)

Nor sure who the polled for this. I haven't been in a church that was 31% KJV in a long time. I would say hands down, I see most people in church carrying the NIV. Of course this may just be a regional (So.IL & WKY) thing. I see more NLT bibles than KJV as well

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[atpollard]

Not sure who the polled for this. I haven't been in a church that was 31% KJV in a long time. I would say hands down, I see most people in church carrying the NIV. Of course this may just be a regional (So.IL & WKY) thing. I see more NLT bibles than KJV as well

I think the poll asked people what version they read, so the really sad part is the discrepancy may indicate how many people "carry" a Bible but don't "read" it except to follow along at church.

I can easily imagine that a phone poll would reveal that older Christians are more likely to both regularly read the Bible and prefer the KJV.

 

[McCree79]

Good point

I think the poll asked people what version they read, so the really sad part is the discrepancy may indicate how many people "carry" a Bible but don't "read" it except to follow along at church.

I can easily imagine that a phone poll would reveal that older Christians are more likely to both regularly read the Bible and prefer the KJV.

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[Yeshua1]

In the Why has the KJV been so popular? thread, before it was closed, there was a brief mention of which Bible translation Baptist people most favor, with one response that it is the New International Version. I am curious of a few things in this regard.

• Are there any formal surveys/polls on which Bible Baptists prefer?
• Any informal surveys/polls on which Bible Baptists prefer?
• What Bible version, in your experience, do you find the Baptists you know prefer?
• If polled, is there any difference between which Bible is preferred by pastors versus laypeople?
• What about “use” versus “preference”? For example, I know someone who just bought a new Bible to use because it is the Bible used by her pastor. It is not the Bible she prefers, but it will be the Bible she uses.

I realize that many Baptists use more than one Bible translation/version. In these questions, though, I am thinking of which Bible Baptists use/prefer as their primary Bible. Also, I am primarily thinking of English Bibles, though if someone knows about this topic in another language, that could be interesting as well.

Think SBC might favor the Csb now, as that is their standard version, and think other conservative Baptists tend to favor more formal versions, such as Nas/Nkjv, and also the Esv. The 1984 Niv was very popular, but the 2011 revision not so much.

 

[Deacon]

So sad...

Why would an adult who has newly become a believer decide to read a 400 year old version?
Is is proper to make a new believer learn KingJameish?​

Rob

 

[HankD]

My usage:

NKJV, NIV, KJV.

 

[rlvaughn]

Of course this may just be a regional (So.IL & WKY) thing.

I think that could be a possibility. Since many of us move mainly in our own regions (and/or our own "cliques"), it can be hard to know what is current in other regions, and among other denominational groups of Baptists.

 

[TCassidy]

I would say, if we consider all Baptists, over all, then the KJV would probably inch past whatever is in second place.

This is mostly due to the large number of KJVO independent (and even some SBC) baptist churches.

This is probably also bolstered by the growing popularity of the ESV in SBC churches which would cut into the NIV numbers just as the NKJV would cut, in a lesser extent, into the KJV numbers.

In the latest data I have access to the ESV has passed the NKJV in overall sales, and the CSV has been pushed almost to the bottom of the list.

What none of these polls seem to take into consideration is the large and growing number of people who access their bibles via electronic format (IPhone, IPad, Kindle, etc.) and the fact that one of the most popular of the ebibles, the WEB, is not available in paper and ink in anything other than paperback (except a NT and Psalms in hardback).

 

[Yeshua1]

So sad...

Why would an adult who has newly become a believer decide to read a 400 year old version?
Is is proper to make a new believer learn KingJameish?​

Rob

Is that a Baptist gift of tongues?

 

[Yeshua1]

I would say, if we consider all Baptists, over all, then the KJV would probably inch past whatever is in second place.

This is mostly due to the large number of KJVO independent (and even some SBC) baptist churches.

This is probably also bolstered by the growing popularity of the ESV in SBC churches which would cut into the NIV numbers just as the NKJV would cut, in a lesser extent, into the KJV numbers.

In the latest data I have access to the ESV has passed the NKJV in overall sales, and the CSV has been pushed almost to the bottom of the list.

What none of these polls seem to take into consideration is the large and growing number of people who access their bibles via electronic format (IPhone, IPad, Kindle, etc.) and the fact that one of the most popular of the ebibles, the WEB, is not available in paper and ink in anything other than paperback (except a NT and Psalms in hardback).

Think the big push will be in the Csb version among certain Baptists..

 

[Rob_BW]

I do wonder what effect pew bibles have on overall sales numbers.

 

[TCassidy]

I do wonder what effect pew bibles have on overall sales numbers.

That's a good point. If I buy a bible I buy one bible. If the church buys pew bibles they buy a thousand bibles. And I, and just about everybody else, still carries their bible of choice to church, which may or may not be the same as the pew bible.

 

[McCree79]

I do wonder what effect pew bibles have on overall sales numbers.

Significant. The best selling KJV is a large print pew bible. It is #8 overall in Bible sales.

Christian Book Expo: ECPA Bible Bestsellers, Best of 2017

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[Rippon]

My sense is that the NIV is the all-round most popular Bible version in English here and abroad.

I would guess that the NLT would come in second of all translations for physical personal use.

 

[Rob_BW]

Significant. The best selling KJV is a large print pew bible. It is #8 overall in Bible sales.

Christian Book Expo: ECPA Bible Bestsellers, Best of 2017

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And then you also have things like these: https://www.amazon.com/CSB-Outreach-Bible-Case-24/dp/1433650606

A few months ago Lifeway sent out a flyer with a "free csb" coupon, and they jumped up to 2nd or 3rd place that month, iirc.

Edited to add: February
Christian Book Expo: ECPA Bible Translations Bestsellers, February 2018

 

[Rob_BW]

Brother Robert, you'll have to forgive me. You're trying to discuss Bible use and I'm just questioning the statistics.