Question for Biblical Scholars

[Heartsong]

I would like to read the bible, old and new testaments. I have a King James version but I'm looking for something that is a credible translation from earliest original forms.

What do you recommend?

[Sean Cullen]

Hi Heartsong,


I would like to read the bible, old and new testaments. I have a King James version but I'm looking for something that is a credible translation from earliest original forms.

What do you recommend?

You are wise to be concerned about authenticity.

Personally, I use the NIV. This seems to me to offer the most readable version while being true to the original texts in Aramaic, Hebew and Greek, of which only fragments remain.

See this link; http://carm.org/how-should-choose-bible-version which give gome good advice.

One of the main issues in my opinion is the idea of inerrancy; we need to be able to trust the translations. In my opinion both the ESV and NIV are pretty good in this regard.

Good luck in your studies!

Seán

[markpierre]

George Lamsa's translation of the New Testament from Aramaic was useful for me.

The Eastern Orthodox material as the source, which is said to predate the Greek translations.

Check this out; http://aramaicnttruth.org/downloads/outside/Aramaic%20History.htm

[conk]

good luck. By some accounts there are over 80 versions of the bible. Likely all written or assembled by men of greed and power, and void of the real truth spoken by Jesus Christ. I think the Gnostic and pagan writings are closer to the Source of truth. Jesus weeps at the thought of what his lessons have become and what they are used for. He was all about Love. Now it's all about fear and control.

[phillipbbg]

When you look at any Bible check to see if it has a copyright mark if it has it has been altered and as such is a book of man ...

I fully understand where you are coming from. However the King James version was the first to really have a decent go at translating from Latin to English accurately, so unless you can read Roman Latin you are going to find it hard. Old testament is the Law and the New Testament is the remedy. Have fun

[ghostrider]

The talmud of Immanuel , it contains no errors ...it's the original spirit teaching combined of henoch , isaiah , jeremiah , Ezekiel , Immanuel , Mohammad ...

[GreenGuy]

I agree with the NIV for a new reader. It's pretty true to the original, and it's in plain, modern English. Whatever version you read, bear in mind that the text has been corrupted by power-brokers in the past. If you really wish to gain understanding of difficult passages you will find yourself wishing to compare different translations. So if your interest deepens, get a comparative Bible. This will have several translations side-by-side in columns. I also agree with markpierre's mention of the Lamsa Bible, called the Pe****ta in Aramaic. This version has had fewer translations from the original languages, and has some interesting small differences from the more familiar versions. The New American Standard is a good translation too, although not as readable as the NIV. Also, the NKJV is pretty good. I notice that Bible refers to God as Jah in places. Interesting.

Of course, there are no original manuscripts. The Dead Sea Scrolls show that our modern versions are pretty true to the originals, but unless you read ancient languages you have to believe that what you're reading is correct. As far as I know, the Baha'i Faith is the only religion where the original scriptures exist in the Prophet's handwriting.

I hope you follow through with your reading! Very, very few people actually sit down and read the Bible cover-to-cover. Most people simply read passages out of context. It's easy using that method to get people to believe almost anything about what the Bible says. If you read it for yourself, you'll find that it says many things that modern people would just as soon ignore. You'll also discover that it does NOT say many things that people believe it does say.

EDIT: I notice with some amusement that the format censors the name of the Lamsa Bible. This is because four letters in the middle of the word equal a somewhat vulgar term in English for scat. There's no escape from political correctness, even at Avalon. Sigh.

[Heartsong]

Off Topic
As far as I know, the Baha'i Faith is the only religion where the original scriptures exist in the Prophet's handwriting.


I'm familiar with the Baha'i writings. I was one for 20 years. I miss only the writings. I found many problems with hierarchy.

[Milneman]

Heartsong!

Would you believe I'm about to point you in the direction of two books that aren't biblical? :)

Pick up a copy of St. Augustine's "Confessions"...it's available on audiobook via iTunes as well...Michael Moriarty reads...nom nom nom....good ear candy.

Also, C. S. Lewis "Mere Christianity". These are two really good companion readers with the Bible I find, especially Mere Christianity.

I use a bible my grandmother bought for me in 1982. I've read it so much I'm afraid it's falling apart. Revelations keeps coming unglued from the spine...HMMM INTERESTING THAT! :D lolz

[Hervé]

Douay-Rheims (RHE) (http://www.biblestudytools.com/rhe/)

The Douay-Rheims is the translation upon which nearly all English Catholic Bible versions are based. It includes the seven Deutero-Canonical books (also known as the Apocrypha).
word-for-word from Latin Vulgate

[GreenGuy]

I'm familiar with the Baha'i writings. I was one for 20 years. I miss only the writings. I found many problems with hierarchy.

Ditto. Two thousand years ago, it took centuries for a sacred revelation to be corrupted. Now, it only takes a few decades.

[GreenGuy]

Also, C. S. Lewis "Mere Christianity". These are two really good companion readers with the Bible I find, especially Mere Christianity.

I haven't read Augustine (excerpts don't count), but I totally second anything by C.S. Lewis. But it's the Bible itself you want to read. I say go for it, and ask questions as you go!

[ghostrider]

The sad thing is I don't trust anything approved by the queen , the king , the duke , authorized King James my arse ... between them and the council of Nicea , there is no certainty on a planet of lies , deceit , and corruption ... they leave out too many important writings , like the book of Enoch , the emerald tablets of thoth , there is so much out there ...

[ghostrider]

I would like to read the bible, old and new testaments. I have a King James version but I'm looking for something that is a credible translation from earliest original forms.

What do you recommend?

anything you don't understand , get a strongs concordance , it will put each word back in the original language and give you a definition , example ( praise ) is yadah , it has 50 different meanings depending on how it is used ... it means to roll , to run , to jump , to dance , to sing , to shake , to stomp , to scream , to cry , etc ... the bible was translated from Hebrew , Greek , and chaledean ...

[Operator]

http://www.biblegateway.com/

I use this online 'tool' to find and compare things I'm looking for.
There are several versions available and several languages.

It allows you to compare passages, you'll detect how they're translated differently.

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

Hello OP, I have a New Geneva Study Bible, that I need to read more. :(

New Geneva is a version that I heard about on a Christian talk show (maybe RC Sproul?) in Texas.
Lemme look it up:

I guess mine is New King James --


The Reformation Study Bible is a series of study Bibles published and distributed by Ligonier Ministries. The most recent version to have been published is the English Standard Version. As with its predecessors, the RSB (ESV) remains under the supervision of R. C. Sproul, its general editor.

The RSB was first begun in 1988 as an attempt to create a modern Geneva Bible with study notes done in the Reformed tradition. The New International Version was to be used. However when the publishing was taken over by Thomas Nelson, the translation was switched to the New King James Version. In 1995 the New Geneva Study Bible was released; the name was changed in 1998 to The Reformation Study Bible. In 2005, the Bible version used was changed to the English Standard Version.

[panopticon]

I would like to read the bible, old and new testaments. I have a King James version but I'm looking for something that is a credible translation from earliest original forms.

What do you recommend?
Don't do it, read something interesting... :)

A number of alternative translations of the various texts that make up the old and new testament are available for free on the web, here's one example:
http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/

I make use of the Godsword translation most of the time (online here (http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/GODS-WORD-Translation-GW-Bible/), official website here (http://godsword.org/)) as it was taken from the original languages and the translators endeavour to make it accessible in English while staying true to the originals. In addition it also does not cover up areas that are contentious (OT condoning of rape, murder, genocide etc) but clearly states what was meant by the passage in its original language.

Stay clear of all the versions based on the KJV as it was based on a faulty translation (the Bishops Bible (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishops'_Bible) which was based on and replaced King Henry VIII earlier Great Bible (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Bible)) to begin with and then manufactured for KJ's requirements at the time...

There are also a number of programs available that handle various translations at the same time. I make use of the free open source program BP Bible (http://bpbible.com/) which has a number of translations available, including Godsword, and a portable version for usb stick.

I hope this was useful to you.
Kind Regards, :yo:
Panopticon

[conk]

How about the divinely inspired Course of Miracles? Just doing the workbook and not even reading the main text will change your life dramatically.

[GreenGuy]

Slightly off-topic: Ocean (http://bahai-education.org/ocean)is a Baha'i-sponsored free download that provides an entire library of most of the world's major religious writings. Islam, Christian, Judaic, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Zoroastrian and of course Baha'i scriptures and commentary, all searchable, are at your fingertips. My main criticism of it is that it only contains the KJV, and no other Bible translations. Nevertheless it is an awesome tool for those interested in browsing, comparing or studying the world's religions.

[Heartsong]

Slightly off-topic: Ocean (http://bahai-education.org/ocean)is a Baha'i-sponsored free download that provides an entire library of most of the world's major religious writings. Islam, Christian, Judaic, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Taoist, Zoroastrian and of course Baha'i scriptures and commentary, all searchable, are at your fingertips. My main criticism of it is that it only contains the KJV, and no other Bible translations. Nevertheless it is an awesome tool for those interested in browsing, comparing or studying the world's religions.

Yes it is. And it's on my desk here...somewhere

[Shezbeth]

Whatever one does/reads, permit me to suggest one take everything with a grain of salt. There are many pearls hidden in dross, and much dross hidden amongst the pearls.

It seems (and not just IMO) that A Course in Miracles - as just one example - contains a significant amount of disinformation and consciousness redirection. Likewise for any inspired work be it the Bible, the Torah, the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads, et al.

[GreenGuy]

We have the ability to reason for a reason.