Truth_Seeker

As a former Christian, I always held the King James Version in highest regard. I had been taught all my life that it was the most accurate translation. I even had preachers tell me that, the KJV was the one that God had authorized, and the one He endorsed. I pose these questions mainly to Christians, but to anyone who cares to chime in……how do you go about deciding, from the many translations readily available on the market, which one is the most accurate? Has God revealed something to you that makes you like one translation over another? And don’t you think that God should probably put his stamp of approval on the one he likes the best if He is going to call it His word? Otherwise, anyone with a print shop and a computer could translate the Bible into whatever they wanted it to say. And trust me, there would be people who would buy it and believe it.

miniverchivi

All versions have been tampered with in their own special way....Whether it be translated by two guys who practiced witchcraft (NIV), or Monarch according to their whims (KJV)....if you do the research, you'll find that they have all been modified to fit someone's convenience....Hebrew language scholars have stated many times that there are thing in all of the translations that don't even resemble what's in the scrolls....so who knows?

WishboneDawn

I like my New Oxford Annotated for study, the KJV for reading.

I don't think God wrote, dictated or divinely inspired the bible. I don't think he would put any stamp of approval on any of them. I doubt he owns a stamp.

Haran

To my knowledge, God has left no "stamp of approval" on any particular translation. To be sure, with a little knowledge of the languages, one may be able to discern which translations are worthless and which are helpful.

Paraphrases and too much dynamic equivalence are virtually worthless in my opinion except that they can be much easier to read. If you just want a Bible that is relatively easy to read and understand get one of these, such like the New Living Translation. Just realize that they will come complete with certain Christian dogma exactly because they are non-literal.

For study, there are 3 translations that I like in the following order: New American Standard (NASB) for its pretty faithful literalness, the New International Version (NIV) because it is mostly literal though it takes some theological liberties here and there (I do not like the TNIV), and finally the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) though I take exception to the "politically correct" translations and various other "dynamic equivalences".

I think the KJV is fine if you like and understand old English, otherwise why bother with such a difficult translation? The NKJV takes out some of the archaisms, but still does presents a text that was likely more embelished than the text found in the NASB, NIV, and NRSV.

Overall, at this point in life, I think I value and prefer the NASB most. If you should decide to use it, just don't get hung up on its literalness. Refer to other translations should the literalness require more light for understanding.

Helpmabob

Hi Truth Seeker – Why limit God to one translation? The maker of heaven and earth and all it contains is entitled to more than one, especially if they in combination reveal his character in more depth. He wants all men to come to Him and have rest – not all may find the same translation the best for this purpose.

DavidfromTexas

I don't think that it is possible to say which translation is the most accurate as a whole... Rather, it is better to focus upon which Greek or Hebrew text best reflects the original autographs for the verse or passage in question.

The usefullness of translations change over time because language usage changes over time. However, at any given time, one translation may serve to best reflect in translation form what the original autographs in the original languages were saying. I would say that the KJV held that position for a very long time.

Currently, the answer to the question you have posed is very difficult to come up with... I like the ESV, NASB, and the YLT. Many times the best translation varies according to individual verse. Whatever best reflects the original autographs defines for me what is the best translation for a particular verse or passage.

It depends upon what your definition is of God revealing something to people.

God gave me a brain to recognize that one translation can better reflect the original autographs in many situations.


Why would God put a stamp of approval upon a translation of His word? Translations of the word of God are not the word of God itself... they are only translations of the word of God...

God gave us brains to figure out which translations better reflect the original autographs for the particular verse or passage in question. These determinations can change over time as language itself changes.



And the above is exactly what has happened and continues to happen. Whole denominations and cults have been built up upon misinterpretations of what the original autographs said and upon faulty translations of the autographs.