What Are Your Favorite Bible Translations?

 

From What Bible Translation Do You Like To Study?

What Translation Best Helps You To Memorize Scripture?

Naturally as a researcher and writer, I like using various Bible translations. Some Christians feel that certain translations are not reliable. They mainly base their opinion on the origin of the translation. Others focus on promoting only the KJV (King James Version) of the Bible. They are pretty aggressive in insisting and demanding that this is the only Bible version that any Christian should read. 

By the way, you probably don't know that the King James Version of the Holy Bible belongs to the Crown of England or the Church of England. It is owned by the British Royal Family. I discovered this through my research on what types of permissions I would need to use Bible scriptures in my digital and printable products for sale.

The operative words here, that we have never really thought about, are King James Version = King James of England. He was instrumental in bringing about the existence of our KJV Bible, which originated through ancient scrolls and documents.

I was disappointed to learn that all versions of the Bible belong to the publishing companies that publish them. Permission to use those scripture versions has to be obtained from these companies. The guidelines and restrictions can often be complicated and frustrated.

The King James Version, however, being owned by the Royal Family, can be used freely, without permission, by anyone outside of Great Britain. Anyone residing with GB has to obtain permission from the Royal Family administration.

I wondered why I should have to get permission to use the words of God in any way. Afterall, the Bible belongs to God and as a Christian, I felt that the Bible belongs to me. The practical truth is that without the efforts and expense of many people who discovered, restored, preserved and translated the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient documents, we would not have the Bible today.

According to the laws of our societies, those persons/companies are entitled to the rights of the properties that they created. In other words, they created another version of an original property. They had to get permission through whatever document they started with to create their version. These procedures are often lengthy and expensive.

For my Christian products, I simply use the KJV version. It's easier and faster in that I don't have to ask anyone for permission. I also paraphrase scriptures, which is breaking down the meanings to more simple language that anyone can understand. 

For daily reading and memorizing scriptures, I prefer the King James Version because it is what I was raised on. It uses difficult language that frustrates the average Christian but I am familiar with it. I feel that my scriptures have more power when I memorize them in KJV. Again, that is only because I am so familiar with it from childhood and, somehow, my spirit embraced the language.

I also use many Bible versions, and other books, in my research, including the NKJV (New King James Version), NIV (New International Version), the RSV (Revised Standard Version) and the GNB (Good News Bible). I like the very simple, contemporary language of the GNB and the line drawings.

I've heard several Christians renounce the NIV, stating that it is inaccurate in some ways. I still refer to it for illumination alongside my KJV. For me, the bottom line it that I can learn from anything, because I have God's Spirit within, who leads and guides me to all truth.

I use everything I can to grow in Christ, knowing that God is the final authority. I don't have to agree with everything but I can learn from them. Everything belongs to God and can be used by him. I don't ever want to reject any source of knowledge.