175 Versions?

[Baptist4life]

This is a list of Bible versions I ran across. Never imagined there were that many.

1516 William Tyndale’s NT

1535 Myles Cioverdale’s Bible

1537 Tyndale-Matthews Bible

1539 The Great Bible

1560 The Geneva Bible

1568 The Bishop’s Bible

1609 Douay-Rheims Bible (Catholic)

1611 KJV/KJB/AV King James Version/King James Bible/Authorized Version

1752 Challoner's revision of the Douay-Rheims Bible

1764 Quaker Bible

1830 Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible

1833 Noah Webwster’s Bible

1851 Brenton's English Translation of the Septuagint

1862 YLT Young’s Literal Translation

1864 Emphatic Diaglott by Benjamn Wilson

1876 Julia E. Smith Parker Translation

1881 Sinai and Comparative NT by Edwin Leigh

1885 ERV English Revised Version (NT 1881)

1885 DBY A New Translation (John Darby)

1897 The New Dispensation

1898 American Revised Version

1898 The Woman’s Bible

1901 ASV American Standard Version

1901 The Modern American Bible

1902 Rotherham's Emphasized Bible

1902 Twentieth Century NT

1902 The Emphasized Bible

1903 WEY The NT in Modern Speech (Weymouth)

1903 Ferrar Fenton Bible

1904 The Corrected English NT

1904 The NT Revised and Translated

1909 The University NT

1909 The Shorter Bible

1909 The Bible in Modern English

1910 The Restored NT

1912 The Holy Bible: An Improved Edition

1913 The Literary Man’s NT

1914 The New Covenant

1921 A Plain Translation of the NT

1923 GSP The NT, An American Translation (Goodspeed)

1924 Centenary Translation of the N.T. (Montgomery)

1924 The Older Children’s Bible

1924 The Everyday Bible

1924 Centenary NT, by Helen Barrett Montgomery

1926 The Western NT

1926 MOF The Bible: A New Translation (by James Moffatt)

1927 GSP Godspeed Version (NT 1923)

1931 The Complete Bible

1933 Lamsa Lamsa Bible (by George Lamsa)

1935 AAT An American Translation (by Smith and Goodspeed)

1936 WVSS Westminster Bible

1937 WIL The NT in the Language of the People (Charlie B. Williams)

1941 SCM Spencer NT

1941 CFY Confraternity Bible

1944 ASV American Standard Version (JW)

1951 The Authentic Version

1952 RSV Revised Standard Version

1952 The Four Gospels by E. V. Rieu Penguin

1955 The Clarified NT

1955 Knox Knox's Translation of the Vulgate

1955 The Authentic NT, by Hugh Schonfield

1956 KLNT Kleist Lily NT

1958 JBP The NT in Modern English (J.B. Phillips)

1958 BV Berkeley Version

1960 CKJV Children's King James Version (Jay P Green)

1961 NWT New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witnesses)

1961 The Jesus People NT

1961 The NT: An Expanded Translation (Kenneth Wuest)

1961 The Simplified NT, by Olaf M. Norlie

1962 MKJV Modern King James Version (Jay Green)

1963 BCK Beck Bible

1963 Judaica Press

1965 AMP The Amplified Bible

1965 BBE Bible in Basic English

1966 RSV-CE Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

1966 JB Jerusalem Bible

1966 TEV Today’s English Version

1968 The NT: a New Translation, by William Barclay

1969 BWE Bible in Worldwide English

1969 MLB Modern Language Bible (New Berkley Version)

1970 NAB New American Bible

1970 KJVII King James II Version (Jay Green)

1970 NEB New English Bible

1971 NASB New American Standard Bible

1971 TLB The Living Bible (Kenneth Taylor)

1971 TSB The Story Bible

1972 PHI The NT in Modern English (J.B. Phillips)

1972 LivEng The Bible in Living English (JW)

1973 CPV Cotton Patch Version

1976 GNB Good New Bible

1976 BECK An American Translation (by William F. Beck)

1977 The Four Gospels, by Norman Marrow

1978 NIV New International Version

1978 SEB Simple English Bible (Dr. Stanley Morris)

1980 SEV Simple English Version

1980 The Distilled Bible

1981 The Compact Bible

1981 The Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan

1982 The Reader’s Digest Bible

1982 NKJV New King James Version

1985 NJB New Jerusalem Bible

1985 The Recovery Version

1985 TNK Tanak: The Holy Scriptures (OT)

1985 NJB New Jerusalem Bible

1985 New Jewish Publication Society of America Version

1985 The Original NT, by Hugh Schonfield

1986 ICB International Children’s Bible

1986 NLB New Life Bible

1986 NLV New Life Version (Gleason Ledyard)

1986 CCB Christian Community Bible

1987 Easy to Read Version

1987 LIT A Literal Translation of the Bible (Jay Green)

1987 NCV New Century Version

1988 New Evangelical Translation

1988 Christian Community Bible

1988 McCord's NT Translation of the Everlasting Gospel by Hugo McCord

1989 ERV Easy-to-Read Version

1989 God’s New Covenant

1989 NRSV New Revised Standard Version

1989 JNT Jewish NT

1989 REB Revised English Bible

1989 NRSVCE New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

1990 The New Translation

1990 MKJV Modern King James Version (Green)

1991 KJ21 21st Century King James Version (NT)

1991 CEV Contemporary English Version (NT)

1992 CWB Clear Word Bible

1994 The Clear Word (SDA paraphrase)

1995 NASU New American Standard – Updated Edition

1995 MSG The Message

1996 GW God’s Word

1996 NIrV New International Reader’s Version

1996 NIVI New International Version Inclusive Language Edition

1996 The Living Nach by Yaakov Elman

1996 Stone Edition (Artscroll)

1996 The NT, by Richmond Lattimore

1997 NLT The New Living Translation

1998 NET The NET Bible (New English Translation)

1998 CJB Complete Jewish Bible

1999 AKJV American King James Version

1999 RcV Recovery Version

1999 TCE The Common Edition NT

2000 KJV2000 King James 2000 Version

2000 UKJV Updated King James Version

2000 English Jubilee 2000 Bible

2001 HSV Holy Scriptures Version

2001 ESV English Standard Version

2001 EEB EasyEnglish Bible

2001 James Murdock's Translation of the Syriac Peshitta

2003 ISV International Standard Version

2003 CKJV Comfort-able King James Version

2003 NSB New Simplified Bible

2003 TSB The Story Bible

2003 TMB Third Millennium Bible

2003 A Voice In The Wilderness Holy Scriptures

2004 HCSB Holman Christian Standard Bible

2004 AB The Apostle's Bible

2005 ACV A Conservative Version

2005 ALT Analytical-Literal Translation

2005 TNIV Today’s New International Version

2005 NCPB New Cambridge Paragraph Bible

2005 NET New English Translation (Internet)

2005 CAB Complete Apostle's Bible

2005 ACV A Conservative Version

2006 WEB World English Bible

2006 AV7 AV7 New Authorized Version

2006 ARTB Ancient Roots Translinear Bible (OT)

2007 RNKJV Restored Name King James Version (Internet)

2007 NETS New English Translation of the Septuagint

2007 DRP David Robert Palmer Translation

2007 MGB The Manga Bible

2008 CPDV Catholic Public Domain Version

2008 MASV Modern American Standard Version

2008 TFB The Free Bible

2008 TEB The Original Bible Project - Transparent English Bible

 

[David Michael Harris]

Yet one Gospel.

One Lord, one faith and one baptism.

 

[Salty]

Only 175?

200 Bible versions online

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

The great tragedy is that we have all those English versions while vast numbers of the world have no solid translation

 

[Baptist4life]

Probably shouldn't, but I get a chuckle out of some of the names for the different versions.



1909 The Shorter Bible

1924 The Older Children’s Bible

1980 The Distilled Bible

:tongue3:

 

[franklinmonroe]

This is a list of Bible versions I ran across. Never imagined there were that many. ...

All 'Bible' lists seem to have problems, and this list is no exception. Enumerating follows. Here are just a few example problems --

First, this list is clearly incomplete. I had in 2009 introduced this forum to 4 or 5 new 'Bible' translation projects (the CEB, TKJB, SENT, The Voice, and the 'Seemless Bible'), none of which are listed here (although the CEB is not yet published). The 1941 Confraternity is a further revision of the D-R text, yet there is no KJV edition listed for the year 1769 (in fact, there are incorrectly only 2 entries in the list for the whole 1700's).

Second, an author's definition of 'Bible' makes a significant difference and this list compiler's criteria is very unclear: many translations of the New Testament (without any accompanying OT text) are counted while at the same time some Jewish texts (such as Brenton's, Artscroll and JPS) without accompanying NTs are also included. The Magna Bible is a graphic novel-style (comicbook) publication included right along with genuine scholarly translations. There seems to be almost no distiction as to what is considered a 'Bible' here (if only the word "Bible" in the title is necessary then a definitive hobbyist's manual or a sportsman's digest could ridiculously be listed).

Third, some of the entries are not unique translations but identical (or virtually the same) text published under a different title: the New Cambridge Paragraph Bible is essentially the KJV text; the 1992 Clear Word Bible and 1994 The Clear Word would be basically the same text. Are the 1898 Women's Bible, 1913 The Literary Man’s NT, and the 1931 Complete Bible really unique translations or just marketing ploys?

In truth, without very clear definitions no person should really attempt to state how many portions or the entire translations there are of the 'Bible' in English.

 

[David Michael Harris]

Probably shouldn't, but I get a chuckle out of some of the names for the different versions.



1909 The Shorter Bible

1924 The Older Children’s Bible

1980 The Distilled Bible

:tongue3:

Nothing wrong with a sense of humor.

Hope there is some in heaven.

 

[franklinmonroe]

Probably shouldn't, but I get a chuckle out of some of the names for the different versions.


1909 The Shorter Bible

1924 The Older Children’s Bible

1980 The Distilled Bible

The Shorter Bible (NT actually released in 1918; OT in 1921) is a descriptive title; it is an abridged original translation by Charles Foster Kent (a well repected scholar of his time, I believe). It seems that condensed versions were popular in the early 20th century; I have a couple of specimens such as a Dartmouth Bible and the Olive Pell version. Apparently, the Distilled Bible (actually just the NT) is not a condensed version.

 

[Amy.G]

The great tragedy is that we have all those English versions while vast numbers of the world have no solid translation

How about all the millions of people who do own a bible and never read it? That's a tragedy.

 

[Salty]

How about all the millions of people who do own a bible and never read it? That's a tragedy.

:tear: So True, so very true :tear:

 

[David Michael Harris]

How about all the millions of people who do own a bible and never read it? That's a tragedy.

Yeah, my old mates even had theirs propping up a bed leg. How God is insulted.

 

[CoJoJax]

Propping up a bed leg?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Sheesh.. I figure even a non-believer would think twice about that!

 

[franklinmonroe]

This is a list of Bible versions I ran across. Never imagined there were that many.

1516 William Tyndale’s NT

1535 Myles Cioverdale’s Bible

1537 Tyndale-Matthews Bible

1539 The Great Bible

1560 The Geneva Bible

1568 The Bishop’s Bible

1609 Douay-Rheims Bible (Catholic)

1611 KJV/KJB/AV King James Version/King James Bible/Authorized Version

...

William Tyndale's first published New Testament was probably 1526 (1516 is the year in which Eramus' Greek NT was published). Tyndale's more famous edition was likely released late in 1534 (not in the above list). Coverdale is misspelled in the above list (Where did this list come from?). I also noticed right away the absence in this list of Wycliffe, Taverner's translation (1539) and Whittingham's New Testament (1557) which was used in the initial editions of the Geneva Bible. Of course, the Rheim's New Testament (1582) was available well before the complementary Old Testament was added at Douay.

Many people are unaware that an attempt to produce an English Bishop's version in 1534 lead by Thomas Cranmer (on Henry VIII's authority) failed to be completed.

 

[franklinmonroe]

... Are the 1898 Women's Bible, 1913 The Literary Man’s NT, and the 1931 Complete Bible really unique translations or just marketing ploys? ...

Indeed, the Women's Bible (1895) is a revision of Julia Smith's translation. This agenda-driven version allows some passages (especially those referring to women) to become influenced by feminist theology. It is an early example of inclusive language.

The Literary Man's Bible (1909) is not a complete Bible, nor even a NT. It contains only sections of the OT scriptures as examples of Hebrew literature (poetry, etc.) with essays and commentary by W. L. Courtney. Perhaps this is not the same work as listed (but also there is no such entry at 1909).

The Complete Bible (1931 correct!) was the marketing title for Smith's OT (1927, not included in the OP list) combined with Goodspeed's NT translation (1923, which was included); better known as An American Translation.

 

[franklinmonroe]

1904 The Corrected English NT

1904 The NT Revised and Translated

1909 The University NT

1909 The Shorter Bible

1909 The Bible in Modern English

1910 The Restored NT

I didn't recognize some of these older titles; no wonder, these are not their more common titles and many of the dates are incorrect (nor are the translator/editors names included). My sources are primarily the Bible Version Encylopedia by Bradford Taliaferro (First Edition) or Michale Marlowe's bible-researcher website.

For example, 1904 The Corrected English NT is likely Lloyd's (1905). The 1904 NT Revised and Translated listed above is clearly Worrell's (a minor revision of the ASV). The 1909 "University" edition is probably a referrence to the Scofield Referrence Bible (KJV text) produced at Oxford. The entry entitled The Bible in Modern English is probably actually supposed to be Fenton's translation (1903). The Restored NT (1914) is the work of James Morgan Pryse (although he did publish "Apocalyse Unsealed" in 1910).

 

[Thermodynamics]

One interesting "fact" that I noted from looking at that list (given that the list is anything like accurate) is that there were about the same number of new Bible versions in the 1990s as there were in all the years before 1900.

In the years before 1900 they were running an average of a new English Bible every 30 years, by the 1990s that figure was up to a new English Bible every six months.

I can't help but wonder if all of the time and study involved wouldn't be better spent translating Bibles into languages that don't have one (or don't have a very good one).

 

[franklinmonroe]

One interesting "fact" that I noted from looking at that list (given that the list is anything like accurate) is that there were about the same number of new Bible versions in the 1990s as there were in all the years before 1900. ...

The list has some very serious omissions and errors. A couple of error examples: Lamsa published The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts: Containing the Old and New Testaments in 1957 (not 1933, although that was the year he published his The Four Gospels According to the Eastern Version); Olaf M. Norlie's version (which I just finished reading) was published in 1951 (not 1961, although that was the year that Fan S. Noli published The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Translated into English from the Approved Greek Text of the Church of Constantinople and the Church of Greece. There are about a dozen omissions from the 1700s alone.

There were not nearly as many translations produced in the 1990s as the prior 8 decades, but you are essentially correct that the rate of new translations has accelerated. The translation activity has historically risen and fallen many times for various reasons: the later 1500s was very active due to printing improvements and advances in original language sources; activity wained in the 1700s; there was an increase near the turn of the 20th century following the discovery of many MSS; not much production in the 1940s (a world war period); interest returned in the '50s after the DSS discovery. The late 1980s was the beginning of the publishing revolution because of computer power. The decade of 2000-2009 was the most prolific yet (between 6 to 12 new versions per year, or about 100 total), with some 'major players': ALT, NET, & ESV (2001), The Message (2002), ISV (2003), HCSB (2004), TNIV (2005), and the NETS (2006). The next couple of years could produce even more.

 

[Amy.G]

I can't help but wonder if all of the time and study involved wouldn't be better spent translating Bibles into languages that don't have one (or don't have a very good one).

Yes it would. But then the publishers wouldn't rake in all that $$$$$.


You would think also that with so many translations that supposedly make the Bible "easier" to understand that there wouldn't be so many who are biblically illiterate.

 

[Dr. Bob]

I will have to work hard to complete the GET Real Bible (Griffin Expanded Translation) before I die.

 

[Deacon]

Now that's a version I'd read! Sign me up for an early copy! :smilewinkgrin:
Is it a paraphrase? :tongue3:

The great tragedy is that we have all those English versions while vast numbers of the world have no solid translation

I can't help but wonder if all of the time and study involved wouldn't be better spent translating Bibles into languages that don't have one (or don't have a very good one).

Translating the bible into another language is admirable and certainly needed ...
... but it requires a full complement of different language and cultural skills that is quite rare in American/English culture.

It appears that a good few of the versions were works of individuals.
The time spent translating represents numerous hours personally studying the scriptures.

The way missionary operations are established today often requires years of dedicated service --- collecting the funds needed to work overseas.
The people with these skills are often dry, introverted people.
They may be weeded out in the process.

It's sad, it's a tragedy, but it's true.
Today's missionary emphisis is upon recruiting natives in the culture to spread the gospel amoung their own people.
Perhaps with this approach we will begin to see a greater number of minor language texts.

Rob