Which translation?

[Bronconagurski]

I have never read the bible thru in a year, but am thinking about doing it. I have heard one preacher say he does it every year in a different translation. For those of you have done this, which translation did you use and why? Did you use a study bible? Did you use the canonical method (books in order) or the chronological method? Or maybe you used a method that you think is better than those two.

 

[kyredneck]

Even today with all the modern translations, knowing what I know now, if I were going to read through the book for the first time (you know what I mean) I would go with the KJV (or NKJV) or at least the ASV. I think it to be VERY advantageous to be rooted with the same source as Strong's and Young's and Vine's and others of the 'pre twentieth century' (or thereabouts) classics. jmho

 

[Yeshua1]

I have never read the bible thru in a year, but am thinking about doing it. I have heard one preacher say he does it every year in a different translation. For those of you have done this, which translation did you use and why? Did you use a study bible? Did you use the canonical method (books in order) or the chronological method? Or maybe you used a method that you think is better than those two.

IF you want to pursue this, would recommeng buying the Chronological bible, that tries to place the books in sequential order, as they were actually written...

Tried to do that thru a year, think better to just read and study whole book at a time!

 

[Bronconagurski]

Even today with all the modern translations, knowing what I know now, if I were going to read through the book for the first time (you know what I mean) I would go with the KJV (or NKJV) or at least the ASV. I think it to be VERY advantageous to be rooted with the same source as Strong's and Young's and Vine's and others of the 'pre twentieth century' (or thereabouts) classics. jmho

The KJV is what I am more used to, but I thought I might do this just as a survey, and not do word studies or indepth studies. I will save that for particular study in a book. I kind of thought I would use either the HCSB, the NIV or the ESV.

 

[Bronconagurski]

IF you want to pursue this, would recommeng buying the Chronological bible, that tries to place the books in sequential order, as they were actually written...

Tried to do that thru a year, think better to just read and study whole book at a time!

I have a NIV chronological bible. This would not be an indepth study, just a survey to read thru and see what God brings to mind and what strikes my eye.

 

[kyredneck]

The first time I read through (actually took less than a year) I followed advice for 'first time readers' from Art Crawford, pastor Riverside Bible Church, Columbus, OH; which basically was, 'strip away every presupposition you have about the Book and approach like a little child who knows absolutely nothing about it, read through fast enough to get the ideal of it, praying for the Lord's guidance along the way.' I've never been sorry for doing just that.

 

[Bronconagurski]

The first time I read through (actually took less than a year) I followed advice for 'first time readers' from Art Crawford, pastor Riverside Bible Church, Columbus, OH; which basically was, 'strip away every presupposition you have about the Book and approach like a little child who knows absolutely nothing about it, read through fast enough to get the ideal of it, praying for the Lord's guidance along the way.' I've never been sorry for doing just that.

Thanks, that sounds like good advice for what I am trying to do.

 

[go2church]

Go for one that is more unfamiliar, good chance to see things you hadn't seen before.

 

[Bronconagurski]

Go for one that is more unfamiliar, good chance to see things you hadn't seen before.

Thanks, another good suggestion. I am going with the NIV, since it is the translation of which I am the least familiar. I thought about the NLT, but it takes a few too many liberties imo.

 

[InTheLight]

I have a NIV chronological bible. This would not be an indepth study, just a survey to read thru and see what God brings to mind and what strikes my eye.

I've wanted to do this for a long time, the NIV chronological Bible. Is that what you've decided?

 

[Bronconagurski]

I've wanted to do this for a long time, the NIV chronological Bible. Is that what you've decided?

Yep, that is what I am gonna do. I have wanted to do this for awhile as well. BTW, the bible I am using is called the Narrated Bible in Chronological Order New International Version 1984. It has devotional comments by F. Lagard Smith. It also has a reading plan that starts with day one (any date) on a Sunday, so I will start this Sunday. It gives you x amount of pages to read each day.

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

A Few Suggestions...

I have never read the bible thru in a year, but am thinking about doing it. I have heard one preacher say he does it every year in a different translation. For those of you have done this, which translation did you use and why? Did you use a study bible? Did you use the canonical method (books in order) or the chronological method? Or maybe you used a method that you think is better than those two.

Bronco...While I can't personally recommend anything but a KJV, I can offer a few suggestions that may make your Bible Reading Quest more "user-friendly and enjoyable. I hope this is helpful to anybody else that is interested as well. I have listened thru the Bible on tape and CD many times over the last 12 years while on the road driving with my work but had never actually "read" it thru til beginning this year on Jan.1st. My wife and I are using the same schedule each day. I read both on-line and out of a print edition. Check out the following ideas:

#1) the following 1 year Bible reading schedule is available from the Bible Broadcasting Network of Charlotte NC. It is a 2 page plan and is easy to use offering a check list style format that helps you keep track of your progress. Available as a PDF to print out at the following link:
http://www.branchs.org/BibleReadingSchedule2010.pdf

#2) When reading on-line I use a Bible Utility program available through PreservedWords.com known as "Bible Analyzer 4". It is an EXCELLENT Bible Study Utility program with the entire text of the KJV,the ASV and others embedded in it as well as a myriad of Bible study tools. The best thing is that the basic program (which is extensive in and of itself) is available as a FREE download at the following link:
Bible Analyzer Bible Software - Free Premium Bible Software For Windows, Macintosh, and Linux There is also a YouTube Video that describes the current features and their use at the following link:
Bible Analyzer 4.6 New Features - YouTube I hope you find this interesting...this program has been a tremendous blessing to me.

Lastly:
#3) If you would consider staying with the KJV I'd like to recommend an excellent edition of the KJV that is published by Dr.Donald Waite of the "Bible For Today" ministry of Collingswood,NJ. It is the "Defined King James Bible" and it is an excellent Bible that defines the more "archaic" words in english in the text that have fallen out of modern usage as the language of our day has been degraded. They are defined as they appear in the text at the bottom of each page so you don't have to turn elsewhere. There is also much other valuable reference and study material contained within it as well. I have one and I love it. It is available at very reasonable prices in a variety of size and cover options. The following link will tell you all about it as well as showing sample pages of the text:
Defined King James Bibles

Well...that's all I got for now...hope it is interesting and helpful brother.

The KJV guy,
Bro.Greg:saint:

 

[Mexdeaf]

The KJV is what I am more used to, but I thought I might do this just as a survey, and not do word studies or indepth studies. I will save that for particular study in a book. I kind of thought I would use either the HCSB, the NIV or the ESV.

Of those three, if the KJV is what you are more used to I would start with the ESV. It wouldn't be such a jolt to the old system. Second choice would be the HCSB, last NIV.

 

[Bronconagurski]

Bronco...While I can't personally recommend anything but a KJV, I can offer a few suggestions that may make your Bible Reading Quest more "user-friendly and enjoyable. I hope this is helpful to anybody else that is interested as well. I have listened thru the Bible on tape and CD many times over the last 12 years while on the road driving with my work but had never actually "read" it thru til beginning this year on Jan.1st. My wife and I are using the same schedule each day. I read both on-line and out of a print edition. Check out the following ideas:

#1) the following 1 year Bible reading schedule is available from the Bible Broadcasting Network of Charlotte NC. It is a 2 page plan and is easy to use offering a check list style format that helps you keep track of your progress. Available as a PDF to print out at the following link:
http://www.branchs.org/BibleReadingSchedule2010.pdf

#2) When reading on-line I use a Bible Utility program available through PreservedWords.com known as "Bible Analyzer 4". It is an EXCELLENT Bible Study Utility program with the entire text of the KJV,the ASV and others embedded in it as well as a myriad of Bible study tools. The best thing is that the basic program (which is extensive in and of itself) is available as a FREE download at the following link:
Bible Analyzer Bible Software - Free Premium Bible Software For Windows, Macintosh, and Linux There is also a YouTube Video that describes the current features and their use at the following link:
Bible Analyzer 4.6 New Features - YouTube I hope you find this interesting...this program has been a tremendous blessing to me.

Lastly:
#3) If you would consider staying with the KJV I'd like to recommend an excellent edition of the KJV that is published by Dr.Donald Waite of the "Bible For Today" ministry of Collingswood,NJ. It is the "Defined King James Bible" and it is an excellent Bible that defines the more "archaic" words in english in the text that have fallen out of modern usage as the language of our day has been degraded. They are defined as they appear in the text at the bottom of each page so you don't have to turn elsewhere. There is also much other valuable reference and study material contained within it as well. I have one and I love it. It is available at very reasonable prices in a variety of size and cover options. The following link will tell you all about it as well as showing sample pages of the text:
Defined King James Bibles

Well...that's all I got for now...hope it is interesting and helpful brother.

The KJV guy,
Bro.Greg:saint:

Thanks for the links and suggestions. I will take a look at them. I have more KJV bibles than Carter has liver pills, but I don't have the Defined KJV. I use the KJV study bible that used to be the Annontated Study bible and it does a good job with the archaic words. The new KJV study bible by Holman that is made after the HCSB study bible with a few things left out, has a mini corcordance in the back that has these difficult words. Besides, I have always been one to look up words. I had a teacher early in life that taught me to do that. I enjoy doing it, so I have no problem reading the KJV. I never have. I found out a long time ago that having the Holy Spirit was the first and foremost help in reading the bible. I don't buy the arguments that the KJV can't be understood. No version can be understood without study and prayer, and the help of the Holy Spirit. I enjoy reading the other versions to see how they put things as well.

 

[Bronconagurski]

Of those three, if the KJV is what you are more used to I would start with the ESV. It wouldn't be such a jolt to the old system. Second choice would be the HCSB, last NIV.

I like the ESV, but I have been pretty exposed to the ESV study bible. I don't agree with all the notes, but it is a very good study bible, probably the best one out there imo. I was always steered away from the NIV early in my Christian life because I was told that it was not a word for word translation, and that was bad. Dr. Harold Wilimington told me that if it makes you feel better, call it a commentary. But my early view of the NIV is that it is more of a middle of the road translation, like the HCSB, not just a thought for thought, or dynamic equivalence. I think the HCSB calls it Optimal Equivalence, striving for a blended version that has smooth readability.

 

[Yeshua1]

I like the ESV, but I have been pretty exposed to the ESV study bible. I don't agree with all the notes, but it is a very good study bible, probably the best one out there imo. I was always steered away from the NIV early in my Christian life because I was told that it was not a word for word translation, and that was bad. Dr. Harold Wilimington told me that if it makes you feel better, call it a commentary. But my early view of the NIV is that it is more of a middle of the road translation, like the HCSB, not just a thought for thought, or dynamic equivalence. I think the HCSB calls it Optimal Equivalence, striving for a blended version that has smooth readability.

would also recommend to you for reading and studying the 1977 edition of the Nasb if you can find it, very close to reading from KJV, but better translation of the greek construction into English, IMHO!

 

[Bronconagurski]

would also recommend to you for reading and studying the 1977 edition of the Nasb if you can find it, very close to reading from KJV, but better translation of the greek construction into English, IMHO!

I have a couple of NASB bibles, but they are 1995. I do have it on software, so I'll take a look. The NASB is always toughted as the most literal.

 

[Yeshua1]

I have a couple of NASB bibles, but they are 1995. I do have it on software, so I'll take a look. The NASB is always toughted as the most literal.

1977 edition kept most of the ole KJV thees and thous, so in some areas harder to read then the 1995 update, but seemed to be to a degree even more literl in translating greek verbs and tenses into the english than update was...

 

[franklinmonroe]

... BTW, the bible I am using is called the Narrated Bible in Chronological Order New International Version 1984. It has devotional comments by F. Lagard Smith. It also has a reading plan that starts with day one (any date) on a Sunday, so I will start this Sunday. It gives you x amount of pages to read each day.

Bronconagurski, I also own this NIV, but never read that one straight through (reference only, so far); however, I did read a NIV formatted for daily reading (finishing in 1 year). If you have never done it before, reading the entire Bible straight through may be a challenge. I find summer the most difficult time of year.

I might recommend a more manageable goal of just the NT to start. I like to alternate reading a Gospel with a few Pauline Epistles, then Acts and the General Epistles, ending with Revelation. I have been reading about 4 different NT translations per year for the past few years, and it is true that unfamiliar renderings will catch your eye.

 

[Yeshua1]

I have a couple of NASB bibles, but they are 1995. I do have it on software, so I'll take a look. The NASB is always toughted as the most literal.

most literal, but at times much clearer in say the HCSB/Niv for certain passages!