This is a very important  question and decision for many people, as it should be.  I will not get into any arguments over "which Bible is the best".  There are so many different "viewpoints" on this subject.  I will just present "my viewpoint" and we will go on from there.

 

 Since I was 16, I've been reading  the "King James Version" of the Bible. I like it, it is what I was raised on as a new born babe in Christ,  but I don't belong to the "King James Only" club.  If anyone is interested in that argument, you can go online & research "THIS" never ending controversy.  In short, these folks believe that the KJV of the Bible supersedes the Hebrew and the original manuscripts, or so I have gathered from all I've read on the subject. 

 

In his very long and enlightening work entitled "Fallen Watchers" by Jason Guenther   he has this to say:

 

 

"I shall remain for the most part within the confines of the 1611 English version of the King James Bible, and Strong's Greek and Hebrew concordance, even though I don't subscribe to the "King James Only" club. I know, that ALL the translations that we have are rooted back to the SAME sources. The difference between our modern day versions of the bible is in the choice of adjectives used in the description of words from the original languages (Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Chaldean), and outright blatant "liberties" taken by the translators. The reality is, ALL of our versions have translating errors that have distorted CORRECT  biblical interpretations of many areas of scripture. One of the reasons for this is due to linguistic barriers (our English language is considerably smaller than the Greek and Hebrew, with limited word definition in comparison). This has caused a great deal of confusion in specific areas of interpretation. The King James isn't really any better than the other versions (there's some 6000 ADDED words, plus numerous translating errors and interpretation liberties taken), but it does NOT step on the DEITY of Jesus Christ like most other translations. The fact of the matter is, man HAS had his grubby mitts on the Word of God, but God designed the Word in such a way, that the original meanings can NOT be tampered with by man, no matter how hard he tries. The Lord has done this with the "etymology" (the science of words and their origins) of his written Word. It is ONLY from the etymology, that 21st century man can ever know for sure what God really has said and thereby meant. Etymology is failsafe in this regard."

 

 

Here is his web site if anyone is interested in reading the whole thing: http://www.ryanmcginty.com/fallen/

 

The point that: "it does NOT step on the DEITY of Jesus Christ like most other translations."  is something I have to agree with 100%.

 

 I use an online program called "e-Sword" which allows you to put several different Bible versions on for comparisons. It also comes with Strong's Concordance in it's programming. I also have and use  a "Young's Analytical Concordance".  Is one "better" than the other? Perhaps,  perhaps not. I think it is probably a matter of opinion.

 

 I use e-Sword to compare different verses in the Bible. There are other good on-line sources for your Bible studies. Anyone who visits this web site, "The Strong Delusion" has probably read different post by Michael Heiser. He is the Academic editor of "Logos Bible Software". I don't have their Bible software "Yet", but from all I've seen of it, I would HIGHLY recommend it. 

 

Another very good web site for choosing a Bible translation is: http://www.avpublications.com/avnew/home.html

 

Gail Riplinger is the author of many great books. One is called "New Age Versions", which I highly recommend.  Some people might think I'm leaning towards the KJV as the only Bible to read.  I'm not,  I just like it for it's poetical way in which it was written.  I do know there are several (in my opinion) key words that could have been used instead of the words that were chosen. Other versions, like the "English Standard Version", "Young's Literal Translation" , "The Revised Standard Version" are all good to look at so you can see what word they chose to place in a particular verse.  I don't think I would want to have the job of translating the Bible. That would be a lot of responsibility.  Also, as I said in the beginning of this article, I will not argue with anyone over which Bible translation is the best.

 

 

http://bibleresearcher.com/      http://www.bible-researcher.com/versbib10.html The preceding  two web sites are fantastic for online study. The second one has an article about all the different Bible translations  in this last century, starting in 1901-1996. There are so many good sites that I believe the best thing to do is simply pray & ask the Lord which one to spend time at.

 

Two wonderful Christian preachers and teachers of the Bible were "E.W. Bullinger" and "Finis Dake". I have Bullinger's "Companion Bible ".  It has 198 appendixes in the back that are extremely enlightening. Some folks think a few of his appendixes are "controversial" as they discuss such things as the "Sons of God" and the "Nephilim", along with "The Serpent of Genesis 3".  Should a new Christian buy one of these Bibles? Perhaps not right away, but maybe later as he matures in his walk with the Lord. As it says in the book of Hebrews:

 

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

 

We don't want a new Christian choking on meat, when he hasn't had his milk yet.

 

 I like Finis Dake, and will soon  get his Bible. It has the most extensive notes ever put into a Bible anywhere, or so I've been told.  Perhaps this would be a good Bible for new Christians. The "Life Application Bible" is another great one. It presents several different view points on key scriptures, not just the viewpoint by the particular editor of that Bible.

 

Why would I want or even have two or more Bibles that were  put together by two different people? While I like both Bullinger  and Dake; I don't necessarily agree 100%  with what each man said. But, there is a lot that I agree with them on that makes me respect each man for the contributions they each gave us so that we would  have a better understanding of the Bible and of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

 Dake did a great job of putting in all those notes, something I don't think I could have done. He was a great Biblical Scholar.

 

So, the original question was  "What Bible translation should I choose?" For a new Christian, that is almost as loaded of a question as "Which Church should I attend?"

 

 The way things are going in this world, you really don't have the time to procrastinate and to put things off. Take some time and pray, which is simply talking to the Lord just like you would talk to your best friend. Ask Jesus. He will answer you.  Perhaps the person who led you to the Lord has some good suggestions.  The main thing is to choose a Bible translation and just start reading.   Start with the Gospels, then the book of Acts, and then move on to the rest of the Bible. That my friends, ("How and in what fashion do I read the Bible?") would be another whole class in itself, which there are many great ones available online.

 

 I simply prefer the KJV, but I do read other versions as comparisons.  As far as which church you should attend, well, I just won't go there. I don't think it is my job to tell you what church to go to.

 

I have been a Christian just about all my life.   I fellowship with other Christians I know, and with Christians on-line, like the ones on this web site.  May God bless you as you start your journey down the narrow path of reading and studying His wonderful and fantastic word. I don't think there is anything more exciting for any of us to be doing.  Jesus is coming back soon and then we will all know even as we are known. I'd like to end this here with the following verses.

 

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isa 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isa 55:10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 

Jude 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Jude 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 

Joseph Bruni