[InACorner]

im trying to find the perfect Bible for me...and its starting to drive me nuts...it seems all the Bibles these days have those paper lamented covers and all that stuff....but i really just want a nice plain leather soft covered Bible with gold letters perhaps....i dont know...i just want one to fit my style i guess....i must sound like a real loser lol

im sorry...its just im 19 and im watching Laguna Beach...some reality show that ive gotten addicted too and the girls are beautiful and wild and they are like high school kids and have more experience and get to party...than me...and here i am asking for a Bible...on my laptop in my pjs....with messed up hair and acne...grrrr im sorry im sorry i cant believe i wrote all of this

[bebop]

are you talking about a King James version?

[InACorner]

yea i guess....something that starts with "And God made light, and it was good"
and end with ...The End....

lol im sorry that was a joke...but whats the difference...what if i dont want to hear King James version? Cant i have the original version? I dont get it....i just dont understand these things...but yes i do call myself a Christian...and yes i have read The Bible...well passages of course...

[bebop]

I think the King James is about as close to the original version. It was rewritten in like 1611. lol it was translated based on the greek and hebrew text at that time.

[Christina86]

Inny, there's a couple of different versions of the Bible.

Mine is NIV = New International Version (I think) ... it's plain English.

There's also the NRSV = New Revised Standard Version ... not sure how it differs from the NIV.

There's also the KJV = King James Version. It's in Shakespearen English, so it's (in my opinion) a bit harder to understand but some people say that since it's basically the original translation in English (I think).

There are actually quite a few other ones, but those are the only ones I can think of off the top of my head.

You can find all sorts of Bibles, just look into them and see if its the translation you want first, and you can always decide on asthetics at the same time.

Happy hunting for your preferred Bible.

[(JD)]

What a great question!

I guess it depends upon why you wish to read the Bible.
I'm not an expert on them.

The King James Version 1911 is probably the closest to what we had of original languages back then.
There have been many findings of Scripture texts since, which would add to the version today. Plus, King James had the Apocrypha removed.

(The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, The New Testament was written in Greek, Aramaic..,)
The problem with this version is the translators followed the Greek perhaps too closely in pattern and it sounds awkward in English. (Plus, there is just no one on one shading of meanings from Greek to English. A good Greek Lexicon will remedy this though.) It was originally written in Elizabethan English. Unfortunately the New KJV isn't an improvement in translation, just reading. It is called a literal translation.

[I won't suggest The American Standard Version 1901 as it's too difficult to understand.]

The New American Standard NASV seemed to be an improvement in translation from the ASV; it is collegiate language.

[I also would advise against the New International Version NIV because it changes whole concepts from the original languages, even though it's nice to read. It isn't a literal translation. It is considered a dynamic translation rather than literal.)

Stay away from the Revised Standard Version RSV and NRSV, please.

Then, I don't recommend any of the "Living" series. They are only paraphrasing. Not literal. This is what you get when someone hears a genuine story, but then retell it so a child might get something from it. Much of the content is not only missing, but changed drastically. It is not considered the Word of God by Scholars. (Though it contains the concepts generally.)

BTW there are no "original Greek texts" "original Hebrew texts" in what you might think, but many works continually being copied, albeit by scribes, monks and such that were meticulous... I think it shows that regardless of man's involvement, God kept His Word true throughout, and we have documents of His Word to us. (Hope I said that clearly enough?)

The most often memorized Scripture is probably from the KJV.

You can always buy a Bible (though not pocket sized) that has a few translations in columns so you can compare what each says. I find this unsatisfactory myself, and prefer to use actual separate textbooks, and a Greek Lexicon etc for study instead., or Strong's Concordance for Hebrew too.

Translation Published

American Standard (ASV) 1901
J.P. Green (LITV) 1987
Young (YLT) 1898
Modern King James (MKJV) 1962
King James (KJV) 1611
New King James (NKJV) 1982
New American Standard (NASV) 1960
New Revised Standard (NRSV) 1989
J.B. Phillips (PHL) 1958
New American Bible (NAB) 1970
New English Translation (NET) 1997
New International Version (NIV) 1973
New Living Translation 1996

There is a Douay version that the Catholic church used to use exclusively.

http://www.cob-net.org/compare.htm See this link for a background of texts and languages too.

I guess I've confused you equally as well without even mentioning the Latin Vulgate or the Textus Receptus.

With all that said, I have to tell you to buy the KJV. Even with it's issues, it remains a good deliverer of the Word of God. (There are no issues with the original languages, btw. Which is why I'm studying Greek.)

[InACorner]

lol ok...so i know ill go with the Kings James Version...and i guess i should mention im greek...lol so..i know we believe in both the old and new testments ...but i was so excited when they gave all new graduates Bibles but to my dismay...it was only the new testment ....and never understood why...so alrighty..thanks for the suggestions....

[(JD)]

OK! Hey that's great! So... the NT looks Greek to you, too???? TC

[InACorner]

lol ok...so now i know what version to buy ....
where can i buy a nice plain leather soft one....

i mean i looked at walmart...youd think....and target as well....and i looked online at the Christian Book Store....and even on my Greek Orthodox Website...but all the bibles ive found are like trying to be visually appealing with shiny paper covers with all that like Bibles for women and stuff...why cant i find a good solid plain bible anymore? You know though...my grandma has this BEAUTIFUL leather Bible and on the inside has pictures of the paintings of Da Vinci.....really really beautiful...i wish i could have that one....its really old and thick and just gorgeous...but i probably wont get it..but i just want a simple bible...is that too much to ask????

Inny what if you checked with a local church? They might be able to direct you to somewhere where you can find what fits you.

[(JD)]

www.LifeWaystores.com

[bebop]

inny if you can find a christian book store they have what you are looking for with the leather covers. not the laminated stuff.

[(JD)]

True, plus with the leather, you can get your initials or name imprinted easily.

[Fuzzybear]

[PoetMan]

I use "THE JERUSALEM BIBLE" readers editon that was published in 1966 but i think what ever Bible that you use is basically the same, it has the same teachings of the gospel. I beleive that God is in your heart and soul and that is where you will find Him. I thank God every day for the day He has chosen to give me.
The hard part is learning to deal with whatever it is that you have to face in your life and thats not to say that I don't question at times why I have mental or physical ailments that I don't deal well with or understand. I pray for understanding and I'm still waiting for answers which I'm sure will be revealed to me some day.

May the Peace and Love of God go with and be with you always and help you find your way.

A friend
John

[Rapunzel]

How is this?

Bibles
Four colors available - King James version.

[InACorner]

looks great, thats pretty much exactly what i want...i couldnt find any like that....i wonder though.....is it a Latter Day Saint bible...whats the difference?? Ive heard of the LDS ....im not exactly sure though what they are....

[InACorner]

arent latter Day Saints mormon?

[bebop]

LDS has their very own bible. completely different I think than most others. but alot of denominations have their own also. like the muslims have the koran.

[bebop]

yes they are

[Rapunzel]

I am LDS, and have this Bible. We use the regular King James Version, with no alterations to the text. What is added is cross-referencing, maps, and appendices. There is a Bible Dictionary and a Topical Guide, and there is a section that is the Joseph Smith Translation. It's in the back and in the footnotes - not in the text itself. The Joseph Smith Translation is an inspired translation, restoring some errors and changes from previous translations back to the intended meaning. Reading the Joseph Smith Translation is optional.

We use the same Bible as anyone else, and although we have other scriptures, they are not called the Bible. The link that I posted is the Bible only (with what I described above). The other scriptures are also available as seperate volumes, or you can get a "quad" which consists of the Bible and other scriptures bound together.

We are commonly called Mormon also, which is a nickname that people gave us, called after The Book of Mormon, or the ancient American prophet who compiled that book of scripture.

Rap

[frightened]

Go to any Christian Book Store, and they can show you many different versions in soft leather bindings...$45-$60

[OliviaC]

((((( Inny )))))

An excellent Bible I have been using is the "English Standard Version",
which is a literal translation, word for word. I am very pleased with it since it is not a "paraphrase" or someone's interpretation of the Bible passages. It is one of many excellent translations, which include the New American Standard Bible, New King James Version, etc.

Here is a link to the ESV :

http://www.esv.org/

Blessings to you,
Olivia

[(JD)]

Yes, Olivia, thanks for calling that to my attention too. I think the publishing team's efforts in remaining true to the original text's intentions show a good Bible.