Which bible should we use? They all work, but....
The "New" King James
version of the bible is supposedly made
so it is clearer to understand; But what is the real
truth?
Also see http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/defense1.txt
and
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/defense2.txt
for more information
on this important issue.
A very thorough treatise on the history of bibles
down through the centuries can be found at the Stewarton Bible School site. He
says the 1611 King James is the only bible today that contains the most correct
translation directly from Hebrew and Greek scrolls. http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sbs777/vital/kjv/kjvbook.html
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sbs777/vital/kjv/kjvbook.html#part2
You can download a 1611 KJV Bible for free here
and at http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/download.htm
and see a whole list of places to get free bibles here
You can access a free easy to read KJV bible online at www.justbible.com
Go to here to buy
a good inexpensive 1611 King James Bible. This page also has a great list of
words found in the bible not in common use today and their meanings. Redefining
some of these words in the NIV versions today wouldn't be bad if they didn't
change context and intent at the same time. Also see
http://www.opendoorsusa.com/ResourcesNelson.asp
Another opinion - One of my friends who is VERY on top of all this; he's like a walking theological encyclopedia, says the bible he likes best for both correct scriptural content and understandability is the New Revised Standard Version.
We have five different bibles here including a bible specifically written for teens, and use them all to compare notes when a passage needs clarification. There are differences in wordage amongst them in places and there ARE passages completely removed from some of them.
In going to a Catholic history page at http://www.biblebelievers.com/harmon11.html we find that Constantine's victory by supporting Christianity (he needed the manpower Christians provided - didn't have much to do with his beliefs at that point in time); led to his support of the church and in 313 A.D., Constantine signed the edict of toleration (no more persecution of the church). He declared himself to be the "Protector of Christianity" and Constantine ordered the production of 50 copies of the Holy Scriptures. Eusebious produced these Bibles and he used the Hexapolis to translate from. This was a parallel Bible with six versions in it. He used the most corrupt of them; starting the origin of false bibles. My buddy says there is nothing wrong with the NIV contrary to what the KJV crowd will tell you. NIV is a good reliable study Bible and a worthy translation. He uses it as his main Bible, a study edition with a ton of maps, charts, and extra material, and excellent footnotes. I use the KJVNIV myself as well as several others to compare verbage with when the issue requires more clarification but I go back to the original when specific words become an issue. The "New Living Translation" is very readable and is a good "dynamic" translation, not a paraphrase as was The Living Bible (not good for serious study). Same with The New Century Version, another dynamic translation. These dynamic translations are a little more flexible in their renditions, for readability's sake. The NRSV is more rigid and stiff, but very true to the text. The truth is, most of these versions can be used and will probably not steer you too wrong until we get down to the nitty gritty and play on words where exact meanings make a difference. But there are a lot of passages actually MISSING from bibles other than the King James and these passages are shown in the Stewarton Bible School link above. I checked on them, he's right; they're not there.
The Jesus died and went to "Hell" issue is a good example of when the Strong's concordance becomes useful. The bible says Jesus went to hell after he died. Or does it, when we get down to analyzing the words in Strong's.
Acts 2:31 "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Does that mean he went to a place deep within the earth full of flames and demons and a lake of fire that many of us have been programmed to believe is "hell"?? If you see our page at www.detailshere.com/hellisreal.htm you see that hell is more than likely an event at the end of the millenium and if it is a place, earth will be the place that takes the heat in this cleansing event. Eternal punishment has turned out to mean that people will be terminated permanently as their punishment, not tormented forever and ever which was taught before careful analysis of words in the bible.