Bible versions and translations (Engilish only)

[Zzyzx]

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Here is a list of English language versions / translations of the Bible.

Which, if any, of them can be trusted to be truthful and accurate presentation of “The Word of God�?

If / when there are differences, which version is to be accepted (and why)?

Which can be discounted as faulty (and why)?

1. 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
2. American Standard Version (ASV)
3. Amplified Bible (AMP)
4. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
5. BRG Bible (BRG)
6. Common English Bible (CEB)
7. Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
8. Contemporary English Version (CEV)
9. Darby Translation (DARBY)
10. Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) NT
11. Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
12. Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
13. English Standard Version (ESV)
14. English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
15. Expanded Bible (EXB)
16. 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
17. GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
18. Good News Translation (GNT)
19. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
20. International Children’s Bible (ICB)
21. International Standard Version (ISV)
22. J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) NT
23. Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)
24. King James Version (KJV)
25. Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
26. Lexham English Bible (LEB)
27. Living Bible (TLB)
28. The Message (MSG)
29. Modern English Version (MEV)
30. Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE) NT
31. Names of God Bible (NOG)
32. New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
33. New American Standard Bible (NASB)
34. New Century Version (NCV)
35. New English Translation (NET Bible)
36. New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
37. New International Version (NIV)
38. New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
39. New King James Version (NKJV)
40. New Life Version (NLV)
41. New Living Translation (NLT)
42. New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
43. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
44. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)
45. New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
46. Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
47. Revised Standard Version (RSV)
48. Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
49. Tree of Life Version (TLV)
50. The Voice (VOICE)
51. World English Bible (WEB)
52. Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE) NT
53. Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
54. Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
(edited to add)
55. New World Translation Bible
56. Jerusalem Bible
57. New Jerusalem Bible
58. Moffatt New Translation (MRT)
59 New English Bible (NEB)
60. Revised English Bible with the Apocrypha (REB)
61. "Jefferson Bible" (The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth)


https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/

[Zzyzx]

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So I guess it's a good thing Zzyzx didn't include the New World Translation Bible which is used by JW's for bible study and purports to be a better version of all the bibles.

Thanks for catching my oversight. OP has been edited to add NWTB

[Peds nurse]

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[Replying to post 8 by Peds nurse]

Hi PN. How can stories written by men be "God's word"?

Any claims that writers were "inspired by God" are nothing more than opinion that cannot be shown to be true.

Thus, it comes down to "believe on faith" or "take my word (or his)" that which cannot be evidenced.

I believe that it is inspired by God himself. The only evidence I have, my most wonderful friend, is the way I live it out in my life.

I pray that people can see Him in me.

[BwhoUR]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

All of them can be used to learn the will of God. The différences are certainly nothing that makes the above impossible.


JEHOVAHS WITNESSES

My debate position must change in light of the new list:

If the JW's can't get their beliefs right, and I assume JW's believe there are a group of well-read members making these decisions, which I assume they assume to be final decisions, what hope is there for anyone else? The fact that your beliefs change is proof of the OP. We can agree that when the NWTB was written, it was at a time when all the other bibles were in existence, correct? In that case, what makes beliefs change?[/b] Scientology?

Belief is the essence of religion, it gives "confidence" in god. Are you confident in your belief now? Is the NWTB right now? On what basis would you rely on it today?

[BwhoUR]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

All of them can be used to learn the will of God. The différences are certainly nothing that makes the above impossible.


JEHOVAHS WITNESSES

My debate position must change in light of the new list:

If the JW's can't get their beliefs right, and I assume JW's believe there are a group of well-read members making these decisions, which I assume they assume to be final decisions, what hope is there for anyone else? The fact that your beliefs change is proof of the OP. We can agree that when the NWTB was written, it was at a time when all the other bibles were in existence, correct? In that case, what makes beliefs change?[/b] Scientology?

Belief is the essence of religion, it gives "confidence" in god. Are you confident in your belief now? Is the NWTB right now? On what basis would you rely on it today?

While I await an answer, here's another question: Which bible directs JW's not to speak or acknowledge an exJW but allows free interaction with other types of nonJWs? I'll hold my breath.

[Zzyzx]

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I pray that people can see Him in me.

PN, I and others see you as a fine, loving person -- but may not accept that is due to any supernatural entities or influences.

We can observe fine, loving people who are not religious at all. Unless "goodness" has been secretly imposed upon them (in violation of the touted "free will") the or their source of goodness must be something other than God. I suggest human nature and environmental influences (in all cases -- religious or not).

I cannot imagine you turning into a not-good person if you became a non-believer.

That said, religions can have a positive effect on some people -- perhaps encouraging them to be more kind, loving, benevolent, etc. AND religions can influence people in negative directions -- elitism, superiority attitudes, hatefulness, bigotry, chauvinism, etc.

[tigger2]

[Replying to BwhoUR]

Bw wrote: "While I await an answer, here's another question: Which bible directs JW's not to speak or acknowledge an exJW but allows free interaction with other types of nonJWs? I'll hold my breath."

1 Corinthians 5:9-11; 2 John :9, 10.

[Elijah John]

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Here is a list of English language versions / translations of the Bible.

Which, if any, of them can be trusted to be truthful and accurate presentation of “The Word of God�?

If / when there are differences, which version is to be accepted (and why)?

Which can be discounted as faulty (and why)?

1. 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
2. American Standard Version (ASV)
3. Amplified Bible (AMP)
4. Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
5. BRG Bible (BRG)
6. Common English Bible (CEB)
7. Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
8. Contemporary English Version (CEV)
9. Darby Translation (DARBY)
10. Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) NT
11. Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
12. Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
13. English Standard Version (ESV)
14. English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)
15. Expanded Bible (EXB)
16. 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
17. GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
18. Good News Translation (GNT)
19. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
20. International Children’s Bible (ICB)
21. International Standard Version (ISV)
22. J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) NT
23. Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB)
24. King James Version (KJV)
25. Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
26. Lexham English Bible (LEB)
27. Living Bible (TLB)
28. The Message (MSG)
29. Modern English Version (MEV)
30. Mounce Reverse-Interlinear New Testament (MOUNCE) NT
31. Names of God Bible (NOG)
32. New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
33. New American Standard Bible (NASB)
34. New Century Version (NCV)
35. New English Translation (NET Bible)
36. New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
37. New International Version (NIV)
38. New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
39. New King James Version (NKJV)
40. New Life Version (NLV)
41. New Living Translation (NLT)
42. New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
43. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
44. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)
45. New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
46. Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
47. Revised Standard Version (RSV)
48. Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
49. Tree of Life Version (TLV)
50. The Voice (VOICE)
51. World English Bible (WEB)
52. Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE) NT
53. Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
54. Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
55. New World Translation Bible (edited to add)

https://www.biblegateway.com/versions/

I notice your list has a significant omission...the Jerusalem and New Jerusalem Bible, both RCC translations.

From my perspective, I value the American Standard version and the Jerusalem translations, as both honor the name of God, and render the Tetragrammaton as "Jehovah" and 'Yahweh" respectively, and both avoid the cliche "The LORD".

There are some other translations that no doubt honor the Name of God as well, but I am not sure which ones. I respect the fact that the New World translation honors the Divine name as well but find it's language and syntax awkward and off-putting. Also, that translation reflects the bias of the JW orginization. They would have been better served to retain the ASV imo not sure why they didn't.

The Bible comes alive and makes more sense when read in a translation that restores the Divine Name.

To a lesser degree, the King James and the Living Bible do this as well, but to a far lesser extent.

[Zzyzx]

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I notice your list has a significant omission...the Jerusalem and New Jerusalem Bible, both RCC translations.

OP edited (again) to add those two. I should have researched more thoroughly rather than using that incomplete list.

[Divine Insight]

I believe that it is inspired by God himself. The only evidence I have, my most wonderful friend, is the way I live it out in my life.

I pray that people can see Him in me.

I don't know how to tell you this, but there are many very loving, caring, and sensitive atheists. So how could that type of behavior represent any "God"?

My sister is a far stronger atheist than myself. Not only does she reject the Bible as being utterly absurd like I do, but she even tells me I'm "stupid" for even considering that some sort of mysticism could potentially be true. So she is a far stronger atheist than I am.

Yet, she is the most caring, loving and sensitive person you'd ever want to meet. She breaks down and cries over just about every little thing. She cries when she hears bad things that happen to people on the news. She's very loving and compassionate. She tries to be nice to even the most undeserving bullies.

She's a social worker. She works with battered women and abused children. She's constantly crying over the cases she has. I keep telling her she's in the wrong business. But she insists that these people need her.

Yet she is totally convinced that there is definitely no God. In fact, she often points to the extremely cruel brutality of nature as proof that there is no God. Have you ever watched David Attenborough's Planet Earth series? As marvelous as his videos are they still show the extreme brutality of the animal kingdom.

What kind of a God would have designed an animal kingdom like that?

We can't just point to humans as the culprit for all the ills of the world. If humans were magically removed from the planet this instant, the world would still be "dog-eat-dog" with all manner of horrible atrocities going on.

Humans can't be blamed for the way things are. Yet, that theme and accusation is the heart and soul of Christianity.

So no Peds Nurse, how could I possible "See God" in you when my atheist sister is at least as bright of an example of love and compassion? In fact, if you are more caring than the animals they you are the one who is "unnatural". If there was a God we should at least expect to "See God" in the natural world. But we don't.

Also, I realize that you won this forum's award for most civil poster, but don't take that to mean that other posters aren't just as civil. You may not see it, but I see love and compassion in posters like Zzyzx, OnceConvinced, Danmark, and many other non-theists who debate against Christian theology.

Just because they point out the contradictions and immoral absurdities with Biblical dogma doesn't mean they aren't loving caring people.

People can be loving without any God. I'd suggest that people like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and many other non-theists exhibit a clearly loving and compassionate personality. Just because they argue against superstitions from the Dark Ages doesn't make them less compassionate or loving.

And let's not forget also, all the loving compassionate people who believe in religions other than Christianity. Ever since I started taking Wicca more seriously I quickly learned that Wiccans are some of the most pleasant people I've ever met. If having a loving attitude implies a connection with a divine God then I'd have to say that Wicca may very well be the true religion then, because I've met a lot more FRIENDLY Wiccans than friendly Christians.

[Student]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]You might want to add the Moffatt New Translation (MRT) and the New English Bible (NEB) / Revised English Bible with the Apocrypha (REB) to your list.

I'm not sure how closely these, or any of the other bibles in your list truthfully and accurately present “The Word of God� as none of the editions in my collection appear to be signed by the author.