Best General Purpose Bible

[Deacon]

Good point

General Purpose Uses

1. Self study / critical issues
2. Group bible study
3. Personal daily devotions
4. Preachable/pulpit ready
5. ?

Rob

 

[Friend of God]

Although I myself prefer the King James Version, I would recommend the New International Version, or the Holman Christian Standard Bible for my neighbor, son/daughter, etc as a good all-purpose Bible.

 

[JTornado1]

For English speakers, the Modern Language Bible. For those who speak English as a second language, the New Life Version or the Today's English Version.

 

[SBCJen]

I will usually recommend the NKJV when people from church ask. I don't care for the NIV or the HCSB and honestly haven't bothered to check out too many other versions as I personally only use my New Jerusalem Bible. My husband (a southern Baptist Minister) only uses the KJV for his personal use and the pulpit, but will recommend others for easier study/understanding.

 

[TC]

I would say the NIV.

 

[HankD]

I like the NKJV because I prefer the Traditional Texts underlying the English.

However, the NIV is very helpful because of its easy flow of English.

HankD

 

[wfdfiremedic]

NASB or NKJV assuming they utilize the textual variant notes.

 

[franklinmonroe]

I will usually recommend the NKJV when people from church ask. I don't care for the NIV or the HCSB and honestly haven't bothered to check out too many other versions as I personally only use my New Jerusalem Bible. My husband (a southern Baptist Minister) only uses the KJV for his personal use and the pulpit, but will recommend others for easier study/understanding.

Welcome, Jen. That's interesting in that we probably don't have too many members that are familiar with the NJB (much less read it).

 

[SBCJen]

Welcome, Jen. That's interesting in that we probably don't have too many members that are familiar with the NJB (much less read it).

Yes, I would imagine not!

 

[Phillip]

You keep saying The Living Translation. Folks will think you are referencing the Kenneth Taylor's paraphrase. The NLTse is an entirely different matter. The former cannot be considered accurate by any stretch.[/quote/]

I am not trying to be argumentative (again) but notice the name I use is the official name of the "Translation" ---- "The Living Translation" which is supposedly a "translation" vs. a paraphrase such as "The Living Bible" which was definitely a paraphrase. If there is any confusion there, I appologize, I am speaking strictly of the NEW Living Translation which still has some stigma based on The old Living Bible.

 

[Phillip]

I am a modest fan of the ESV and freely admit poor wordings, renderings, language uses, etc. I've tried my darndest to give myself whole hog to this translation but can't. One day I'll give you a list of my problems with it. Still, these are not enough to make it less than a good choice.

I feel the same way re: TNIV, NIV, et.al.

You have to remember that the ESV is a new translation of what was originally one of the first Modern Bibles the RSV (I believe). Due to this certain things were left alone and there is some mixture of older and newer modern English which sounds a little confusing.