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Post by moritz on Dec 3, 2009 8:52:33 GMT -8
So I'm going to read the Bible (and study it if time allows). First I have buy one though. I'm gonna buy a German one for sure but since you are all supposed to enrich my understanding of scripture, I'll need an English one too.
But which translation? Any recommendations? The sooner the better, since Christmas is approaching...
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Post by Josh on Dec 3, 2009 11:27:33 GMT -8
My vote is for the NIV (New International Version) for readability while not dumbing down the text.
What does Christmas have to do with it? Are you going to wrap up one for yourself and put it under the tree? ;D
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Post by yeshuafreak on Dec 3, 2009 14:28:14 GMT -8
KJV is great for poeticness and traditional readings.
NIV is great for understandablity, but alot of it's translations are innaccurate (Josh: another debate for another time, lol)
American Standard Version is personally my favorite. It is similar to the KJV, but written in a more readable way.
English Standard Version is a good version too. My Mom used that one.
One of my favorite recomendations for new readers of the bible, though, is the Message translation.
Sorry for all of the versions- it is just that you didnt specify on what exactly you wanted.
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Post by Josh on Dec 3, 2009 17:04:26 GMT -8
I'm aware of some issues with the NIV- sometimes the translation is guilty of coming down too firmly on a particular interpretive way to translate a passage.
But that's true more or less of all translations... thus the need to compare them.
But, moritz, we're talking about minute distinctions here.
All the major translations are fine for getting 98% of the original point across accurately.
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Post by christopher on Dec 3, 2009 19:49:07 GMT -8
Best literal translations
NKJV, ESV, NASU (most readable)
Best dynamic translations
NIV
I would personally stay away from paraphrases like The Message for any kind of studying for actual content. Way too much anachronistic and cultural bias (and sometimes they're just plain silly).
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Post by Josh on Dec 3, 2009 20:41:16 GMT -8
Literal translations attempt to translate word for word as much as possible while dynamic translations attempt to translate thought for thought.
The translations Chris and I mentioned fall somewhere between these two poles, with the NIV more towards the dynamic side and the others more toward the literal side as Chris noted.
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Post by yeshuafreak on Dec 4, 2009 13:24:56 GMT -8
the only huge textual problems that you may encounter with some translations is Jn. 8, the johannine comma, mk 16:8-19, and a few other verses that were no included in the orignal text. However, most modern translations note that, and that is not so much a translation problem as a textual critiism problem.
If you really want a good version of the bible with no translation errors, learn hebrew and buy a hebrew bible, and then learn greek and buy the greek NT. :-) hehe
shalom
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Post by moritz on Dec 4, 2009 14:05:07 GMT -8
"And here I stand, with all my lore,
Poor fool, no wiser than before."
Goethe
Thanks for the recommendations, guys. I appreciate your help. I guess what I'm looking for is a literal translation with footnotes explaining possible meaning changes of certain words. Translations are always interpretations, that's the problem. And little changes can mean great consequences (slave/servant e.g.).
But then again it should also be readable. I wonder why God didn't provide a divine inspired translation for every language there is, there was, and there will be.
Heck, I'm gonna buy a Hebrew one. What did I learn Hebrew and ancient Greek in school for?*
*The author of this post wants to declare, that he never learned Hebrew and/or ancient Greek in school. He's a con man and plain nuts.
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Post by Josh on Dec 4, 2009 14:40:52 GMT -8
Maybe you should get a parralel bible. You can get parallels of the New Testament with four different versions side by side. That's a really great way to compare nuances in different translations.
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Post by christopher on Dec 5, 2009 8:48:29 GMT -8
I've seen Spanish/English and Japanese/English parallel bibles. I'd hazard to guess that there is also Deutch/English as well.  |
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Post by christopher on Dec 5, 2009 8:50:19 GMT -8
Oh, there's also the amplified version which gives in parentheses all possible interpretations of many of the words. This makes for a very thick book, but cuts out some of the work in looking things up in lexicons.
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Post by yeshuafreak on Dec 5, 2009 13:13:05 GMT -8
teh amplified and parallel would actually probably be best for you moritz, if you are just reading for study.
shalom
PS- for a bible with a lot of technical info (as well as a ton of biased evangelical, literal interpretations however) get the Dake Bible (look of the Finis Dake version)
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Post by sarah on Dec 5, 2009 14:04:33 GMT -8
another thought,
Being more experientially biased (and less intellectually) in my approach to faith, I would recommend that you head out to your local bookstore (or Doris and Steve's house) and just try reading a few to see what feels most comfortable for you. (There are probably nearly as many translations as there are denominations) Once you have a section that has caught your attention, there is a wealth of information on line as well as other translations.
Ohh, and I'm certain the community here would love to hash out a few sections as well! ;D
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Post by Margot on Dec 17, 2009 19:33:46 GMT -8
Mo? Buddy! Is that you, buried under all those different versions? But of course you knew everyone here would only be too happy to throw in their two cents, right?! ;D My personal favorite is NASB...but then again, I've had mine a long time and it's kinda like a (very, very) cozy blanket:) I'd definitely recommend NIV--it seems to be the current fave amongst the college people I know. Like Chris, I'd stay away from The Message, cause it's not direct enough. The parallel also sounds like a great idea--I think it would be a great study help for you. Congrats on sending yourself a Christmas present! You picked a good one  |
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Post by moritz on Jan 8, 2010 15:46:11 GMT -8
Thanks everyone for your recomendations! I'm proud possesor of three Bibles now: The German standard version, the "Elberfelder Bibel" (a recommendation from a student of theology) and the NIV. Since I was unable to decide, I put the matter into God's hands: he should decide which version of his word I'm supposed to read. For practical reasons, I let my mother in law (well, actually the mother of my girlfriend, but I just feel so married ;D) execute his will.  I'll start my Bible comprehension thread in the "journey section" once I get started. There I'll post my notes. But there is too much tempting literature on my shelf right now. It could take a while. |
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Post by Josh on Jan 8, 2010 16:54:32 GMT -8
Are you going to start with the Old Testament or the New?
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Post by moritz on Jan 9, 2010 1:11:02 GMT -8
Are you going to start with the Old Testament or the New? from page one. |
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