Your personal translation journey

[TomVols]

Tell me where you started on the translation journey and where you ended up. Let's keep the "whys" and "what fors" to a minimum so we don't get into a fracas.

I'll start. Raised in a KJVO church. Was KJVO until I was 18. Left that church and went to a KJVP SBC church where a younger guy had an NIV. Started using it after the demons didn't take me to Hades after reading a book in it Kept that as my favorite until final year of Bible college. Used the NKJV but preferred the NASB for personal usage. Kept the NASB as my Bible of choice (going back to the NIV at times) until the end of seminary. Pastored KJVP churches so used that in the pulpit. When the ESV came out (since I went back and forth between NASB and NIV a lot) I started using it a ton. Now I'm being exposed to the NET and like it, but still will have the NASB as my primary study Bible, but love the readability of the ESV. I've read the TNIV and like it as far as it goes, but too many deficiences to garner my top spot. Would love a good essentially literal translation that doesn't have the weaknesses of the ESV. Maybe NET will be it.

What about you?

 

[go2church]

KJV at the beginning, then went to NIV even though it was preached against as a great evil. Stayed there for a while, then moved to the NLT 1st edition (haven't like the updates). Traveled over to ESV for a while until the TNIV came out which I have been using ever since.

 

[windcatcher]

Actually I was 8 years old, 1956, and had trouble with reading. But my grandmother gave me a KJV Bible when I acknowledge my faith in Jesus as my Savior and was Baptised. I had a hunger for the word and started reading it. To this day I love the KJV. The scriptures I learned from memory in childhood stick with me today and are a great comfort when they come to remembrance. I continued to have some difficulty with reading.... which didn't seem to break until I was about 10y/o, but I never had the trouble with understanding the simplicity of that translation, and have difficulty empathizing with those who say they do.

I just posted a link to the NIV on one page.... which is very efficient if one is trying to check numerous scriptures referenced throughout a study...... and, yet, it doesn't seem to have the clarity that my trusty KJV has.

When I take my turn in SS reading the scripture... I read out of the KJV. Others bring their favorite Bible and I follow along in mine as they read.... and some have different translations from each other. Our pastor uses a more modern translation.... I haven't asked which as I still consult the KJV and have no trouble following along with his reading or his instruction. The day I would be upset is the day the translation detours or is used to oppose that which I know to be true.... I wont pretend to know or understand all arguements of doctrine nor to possess understanding.... but I know God has given me the understanding of his word which is necessary to show me the frailty of my clay, and the marring of sin, and to trust the wisdom of the potter who formed me and has created me for his purpose.

I notice you use initials to identify different translations: Most understand what KJV means... but maybe I'm dumb.... but the other initials, I don't readily understand.

(By the way, KJV= King James Version/ Bible...... in answer to my own use of initials.)

 

[Trotter]

What little biblical exposure I had growing up was only with the KJV. I just thought that was how the people of the bible talked back then, honestly. When I was saved the KJV was all that was used. The KJV is also the bible that I was given after my confession of faith.

I began to listen to Moody radio and was starting to learn little by little, but I noticed that very few read from the KJV. I was concerned about this for a bit, but then I heard one of them (MacArthur, I think) discuss different bible translations and realized that that was the difference... that they were just using a different translation of the same bible.

I had heard that the NIV was evil incarnate and written by the devil himself, so I shied away from it for quite a while. I was given a copy one day and decided to see what it was all about. Imagine my amazement when I could read it and actually understand what it was saying! My biblical understanding was extremely poor at that time... so bad I thought the italicized words were supposed to be stressed and were especially important (no one had ever told me any different). And now here I was actually reading and understanding entire books of the bible!

I had got on Grace To You's mailing list during this time. when MacArthur announced the publication of his study bible I told my wife that I wanted it for Christmas. Imagine my surprise when I received a letter from GTY asking if I wanted a free copy! I sent it back and soon received my MacArthur Study bible, NKJV edition. I literally wore it out and have replaced it twice. The NKJV was my translation of choice for quite a while.

Our new pastor is young, having just finished his Masters a couple of years ago. He uses the ESV as his preaching bible. I wanted to get one but have been out of a job for quite a while. Thanks to the generosity of a sister here on the BB I now have a copy of the ESV. I am moving into using it as my main translation now, but I know where everything is in my NKJV. I also use a four-barreled canon (as Ed Edwards likes to say) that has the KJV, Amplified, NASB, and NIV side by side when I study.

I own many other translations, but the ASV and NKJV and my mainstays at this time.

@Windcatcher...

NIV = New International Version
ESV = English Standard Version
NASB = New American Standard version
TNIV = Today's New International Version
NET = just that... the 'Net, or world wide web (as far as I can tell)
NLT = New Living Translation
HCSB = Holman Christian Standard Bible

 

[Dr. Bob]

My home church housed Central Baptist Theological Seminary, a great historic IFB grad school. In church is was all "Scofield" (old Scofield to be exact, 1769 KJV revision) and pastor would even give page number.

But in all classes and study it was the ASV1901 (forerunner of the NASB) as it was far more exact to the Greek and it's hard to be a seminary where Greek and Hebrew are studied and then use a translation that varied from it.

I did all preaching translated directly from the Greek (Nestle/Aland UBS) but used KJV (my trusty Scofield!) Remember, the KJVonly sect was only in the Adventists; no Baptists had anything to do with that bunch!

By 1990 I was using a variety of English translations. Homeschooling high school for my three kids gave great opportunity to go beyond the KJV and find out what better choices would be made.

For the past 20 years I have had my personal reading from a different translation each time through the Bible. With my Jewish background, I really enjoy the CJB (Complete Jewish Bible).

Still will preach tomorrow from my own translation, although using the ESV is becoming my norm. Have a Holman if I find time for reading/study when at the Clinic, but not sold on it.

**Extra note: At Bible Study I still bring my Scofield!! I know where everything is, even if I forget the reference. And love the notes, names, indexes, etc. So if someone asks about a verse, I can quickly find it. THEN I ask someone with a modern English translation to read it so folks will understand without stumbling over archaisms or vocabulary.

 

[Cutter]

Born again in 75. Attended KJV church. Preaching since 78. Pastoring since 92. Still carrying and ministering from the KJV. All that I have ever used and read.

 

[TomVols]

For clarity = NET is the New English Translation

http://net.bible.org/bible.php

 

[Havensdad]

I have settled down on the ESV. It is, by far, the most accurate translation, IMO. Even Macarthur came out and endorsed it, against his own study Bible (which is why he is now coming out with an ESV study Bible).

Tom: I am curious what deficiencies are in the ESV that you speak of? Other than possibly some accuracy over readability issues?

 

[Amy.G]

I have settled down on the ESV. It is, by far, the most accurate translation, IMO.

How do you know it's the most accurate? What is the test for determining which version is the most accurate?

 

[mcdirector]

Started with KJV, then moved to NASB, which is still my choice for just reading.

I used the NIV and KJV for years and years while I was writing for the Baptist Sunday School Board/Lifeway.

I now use regularly NLT, TNIV, ESV alongside the NASB.

I have a few others that I don't use on a regular basis, but like to check things in from time to time. CEV & NKJV come to mind.

I had a Scofield KJV which I used until it literally fell apart.

 

[go2church]

Not a knock just an interesting BTW, I can't even remember the last time I opened a KJV, maybe 10 to 15 years ago. Also when studying I use the NRSV which would be my translation choice if not for the TNIV.

 

[jaigner]

My first Bible was a King Jimmy, but I haven't broken it open in years, either. No real reason to, since there are so many that are more accurate today. I love the KJV because of my first experiences with it, but I now use the TNIV after using the NIV for a number of years. I appreciate the updates of the TNIV and use it almost exclusively, except for occasions when the NASB or the NRSV add a helpful voice.

 

[Baptist4life]

I have settled down on the ESV. It is, by far, the most accurate translation......

.............since there are so many that are more accurate today............

That comment has been made a couple times now. Please provide proof of that.

 

[Dr. Bob]

That comment has been made a couple times now. Please provide proof of that.

You want Proof? "God forbid". Or "God save the King". Good State-run pro-monarchial phrases used again and again in the Anglican Version that have NO support from God's Word. None. Just tossed into the translation to please the King.

When the government runs the translation and pays for it, the government gets what it wants.

See how honest modern non-Anglican translations accurately translate that and then you'll no longer have to wonder.

 

[TomVols]

Who was it that said "not all threads end up debating the primacy of one translation over another" ???


Anyway, Havensdad, we'll start another thread talking about my biggest quirks with the ESV. Rippon would love it since he hates the ESV so much

 

[Baptist4life]

The KJV is the most accurate version!:thumbsup:



Since no one expected anyone else to prove their claim, don't ask me to prove mine either! :laugh:

 

[rsr]

I started out with the KJV (all my early memorization was in that version.) As a teenager I tried several versions -- the original Living Bible, the Phillips NT (which I still think has some excellent renderings) and the NIV before settling down with the original NASB (for those of a certain age, it will be familiar for its awful soft orange cover.)

I stuck with the NASB until a few years ago, when I started reading the ESV at the suggestion of a (now late) member here. Since then I have obtained copies of the Holman (which I usually carry on Sundays because of its handy size) the TNIV (which, I admit, I especially like because the type is legible without my glasses) and the NET (which I enjoy for the notes but don't want to lug around). So the ESV is my primary Bible, supplemented by the others.

 

[Dr. Bob]

The KJV is the most accurate version!

Ah, "God forbid" is ignored by those with no answer. Did the translators just make up stuff?? (For those not reading Greek, NO Greek text - nada, none, zilch, zero - has either the word "God" or "forbid" but the Anglicans just popped it on their own.

Accurate? To WHAT? Not the inspired Greek text. Not even the poor Byz text. None.

 

[Baptist4life]

Ah, "God forbid" is ignored by those with no answer. Did the translators just make up stuff?? (For those not reading Greek, NO Greek text - nada, none, zilch, zero - has either the word "God" or "forbid" but the Anglicans just popped it on their own.

Accurate? To WHAT? Not the inspired Greek text. Not even the poor Byz text. None.

See? You've just MADE my point. A couple other people posted the exact SAME thing about their preferred version, and NOT ONE challenge from anyone! I post it about the KJV, and "bam", I get challenged! Thank you, Dr. Bob for providing an example of what I was talking about!

 

[Mexdeaf]

See? You've just MADE my point. A couple other people posted the exact SAME thing about their preferred version, and NOT ONE challenge from anyone! I post it about the KJV, and "bam", I get challenged! Thank you, Dr. Bob for providing an example of what I was talking about!

Well, don't just sit there whinin' about it- get in there and READ those translations, post your differences with them and let's discuss them. That is what this forum is for. Rippon beats on the ESV all the time and no one to my knowledge whines about it.