Most accurate Bible Translation

[Guest timkofu]

Hi,

We are looking for the Bible version with the following characteristics:

• Complete fidelity to the original manuscripts; gramar, puctualtion ... everything.
  
• Updated to the most recently discovered manuscripts
  
• Uses modern english
  

Any Bible scholar out there, please help. Thank you!

[godrulz]

Hi,

We are looking for the Bible version with the following characteristics:

• Complete fidelity to the original manuscripts; gramar, puctualtion ... everything.
  
• Updated to the most recently discovered manuscripts
  
• Uses modern english
  

Any Bible scholar out there, please help. Thank you!

You are looking for the perfect version. We do not have the original manuscripts and you do not speak Hebrew, Aramaic, Koine Greek, so this is a no go. The issue of Bible versions is complex. It sounds like you are looking for formal equivalence (NASB, ESV), not dynamic equivalence (2011 NIV). There are strengths and weaknesses to each translation philosophy.

www.biblegateway.com This will allow you to compare various versions. Ideally, we would do exegesis from original languages and compare various versions. Practically, most could just use one or two translations. I am leaning to ESV as my main English version that would meet your criteria as good as any (2011 revisions). You could consider NASB, but it is more dated and not as readable, but considered literal (which is not always a good thing). I would also have an NIV or NLT or HCSB/optimal equivalence (google it) for another perspective. A Greek interlinear would also be a helpful tool with a lexicon.

The other divisive issue is MSS family, Byzantine vs Alexandrian, KJV family (avoid KJV-only myth/heresy) vs most others. RSV might be too liberal. There is a place for 'The Message' paraphrase, but not as a study Bible. KJV is archaic English and not the most readable, accurate version.

So, I would use biblegateway.com. If I could only take 3 Bibles on a desert island, I would take ESV http://www.esvstudybible.org/ (NASB in the past before ESV, but not better now), NIV http://www.thenivbible.com/ (2011 some have gender issue concerns about it), and HCSB http://hcsb.org/

Let us know what you figure out. Be prepared for people to trash NIV, promote KJV exclusively, have all kinds of conspiracy theories and personal preferences. Google will have articles on selecting Bible translations, the pros and cons. You simply will not find a perfect Bible, so comparing major versions is the way to go in addition to original language exegesis (most of us cannot do textual criticism/translation). Readable and accurate is the goal (wooden literal is not always the most accurate and there are issues going from Gk. to English that reduce accuracy/readability...translations are also not immune to bias, so I would not just read a Catholic or Calvinistic Bible).

[other one]

i have a bible program on my computer and it has a transliteration translation that lets me look at both the Textus Receptus and Nestle manuscripts and the program will let you read and translate one word at a time with strongs and vines word meanings.

it's way too much to try and just read something like this, bot it does let me do some good research. I also have about ten different translations on the program and it seems to me that the NASB is the most accurate word for word translation. It also reads very well. I might note it is not the enhanced version, but the origional version that came out in the 1970's.

That's just my personal thoughts about it.

[Michae]

Hi,

We are looking for the Bible version with the following characteristics:

• Complete fidelity to the original manuscripts; gramar, puctualtion ... everything.
  
• Updated to the most recently discovered manuscripts
  
• Uses modern english
  

Any Bible scholar out there, please help. Thank you!

My opinion is the KJV holds true to the in Christ position as well as a message. My opinion again that some lose some of it and there are others that are really bad. Seems to me if I were tryn to write something somebody can understand i would not try to rewrite the bible.

Edited December 27, 2011 by Michae

[Watchman Neo]

Thank God we have His Spirit to guide us, else we'd be at the mercy of the fallible, human translation committees!

[OneLight]

Hi,

We are looking for the Bible version with the following characteristics:

• Complete fidelity to the original manuscripts; gramar, puctualtion ... everything.
  
• Updated to the most recently discovered manuscripts
  
• Uses modern english
  

Any Bible scholar out there, please help. Thank you!

Welcome!

[nChrist]

As others have pointed out, the Holy Bible wasn't written in English. Many feel that the NASB is the most accurate word for word translation to English, and I agree.

[Bubba4J]

As others have pointed out, the Holy Bible wasn't written in English. Many feel that the NASB is the most accurate word for word translation to English, and I agree.

[godrulz]

Thank God we have His Spirit to guide us, else we'd be at the mercy of the fallible, human translation committees!

The illumination of the Spirit does not negate the need for textual criticism and hermeneutics (believers who are equally capable, godly differ on a myriad of biblical issues/exegesis, not to mention the cultic problems with twisting Scripture).

[Peri]

Well, in my own studies of the original languages, I would say that there are way too many issues in the KJV/NKJV for me to feel comfortable using it (and thee/thou thing is beyond annoying; there's nothing about using out-of-date words that makes it more holy; in fact, in today's speech the words just distract and take away from the true meaning of the text, in my opinion). The NIV is very readable, but has some issues, too. The word choices in places are rather "loose." Both the NASB and ESV seem to do a good job of capturing things. But, I am not a scholar by any means. These are just my observations. And, of course, no version is going to be absolutely, 100% perfect. The languages are different, and English such a vague language in comparison to Hebrew and Greek. You simply cannot say that exact same thing in English that you can see in Hebrew or Greek. Ideally, we'd all just learn Hebrew and Greek =) Etymology courses are a great help, though, if you want something a bit less intense that gives you better handle on Biblical languages.

For a very young child, the Living Bible would be appropriate as long as it is accompanied by parental advisement and guidance.

The Message is downright heretical and I can't believe that Christian booksellers even have it on their shelves!

Hi,

We are looking for the Bible version with the following characteristics:

• Complete fidelity to the original manuscripts; gramar, puctualtion ... everything.
  
• Updated to the most recently discovered manuscripts
  
• Uses modern english
  

Any Bible scholar out there, please help. Thank you!