I've used the NIV for as long as I remember. When I was in Bible College, the American Standard or New American Standard was used. I'm back to the NIV as a study Bible, but enjoy The Message for just sitting down to read.
Kellie
Archive » Whats your favorite Bible translation?
by Bkyhvr35 » Sun Nov 5, 2006 am30 7:57 am
KJV.
Last year our Pastor did a bible study using all the available versions of the Bible. He gave some of us a sheet with verses on it and we were to find it in our "Bible" and read it when it was our turn. Well, I was shocked to see that some of the versions wouldn't even have the verse in it!!! Sometimes it was NIV, ASV, NKJV, etc.!!! It depended on what the verse was!! Even moreso was the fact that some of the versions do not include passages on fasting, some on the resurrection, some on other things...it was flabbergasting, to say the least. I first started out with the NIV version, then switched to the NKJV, and now I only read the KJV. It made a difference to me. Our pastor teaches out of it and it does make it easier to follow along when reading with him, but I think it's a personal choice as well. All our Bibles our family uses is now KJV, but I still have the others to compare to...especially my study Bible.
Love to all !!!
Last year our Pastor did a bible study using all the available versions of the Bible. He gave some of us a sheet with verses on it and we were to find it in our "Bible" and read it when it was our turn. Well, I was shocked to see that some of the versions wouldn't even have the verse in it!!! Sometimes it was NIV, ASV, NKJV, etc.!!! It depended on what the verse was!! Even moreso was the fact that some of the versions do not include passages on fasting, some on the resurrection, some on other things...it was flabbergasting, to say the least. I first started out with the NIV version, then switched to the NKJV, and now I only read the KJV. It made a difference to me. Our pastor teaches out of it and it does make it easier to follow along when reading with him, but I think it's a personal choice as well. All our Bibles our family uses is now KJV, but I still have the others to compare to...especially my study Bible.
Love to all !!!
- Bkyhvr35
by kimy » Sun Nov 5, 2006 am30 12:42 am
My newest one has been the LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE.........i just really like the setup of it explaning the books and people and themes and all before each book....but i also like the King James Version of Tim Lahaye's Prophesy Study Bible......i really like all the extra articles about the End Times put in around certain chapters................and i also like the Women Of Faith Study Bible too for different tips on getting thru life's trials..........all good ones...........kim
- kimy
by Shelisa » Sat Nov 4, 2006 pm30 2:47 pm
I am a KJV girl at heart!! It is really all I have ever used. I use other things sometimes but not often.
- Shelisa
by PastorChrisK » Sat Nov 4, 2006 pm30 12:55 pm
For the last five years or so I have primarily used the New King James Version for preaching, as I find it the closest to the KJV, usually just clarifying all of the "Thou arts" and such, yet keeps the general flow of the KJV. When doing sermon prep, I have 16 different translations I can compare, and have found a few that are quite good, depending on what you're looking for and/or need. My method is to compare each to the KJV, especially certain Scriptures, to make sure that the translation doesn't stray too far away from the meaning (using the original Hebrew and Greek is a big help as well, which can be easily accessed using Strong's Greek and Hebrew Numbered Concordance). Here are a few:
--International Childrens Bible (ICB) translates in a very clear and easy-to-understand format, suitable not just for children, but for anyone.
--The Message (MSG) does put it in today's language, but is a bit harder to follow along with other translations in a sermon-style setting. I think it's a good practical study Bible in and of itself, though, for the "regular Joe," or especially for those who have had limited or no exposure to Christ.
--New American Standard Bible (NASB) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) are, for the most part, pretty decent as well, and I would recommend them to those really wanting to study the Bible (almost any translation with study helps is a good choice).
I'm not one of those "If the KJV was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me" guys, especially since Jesus didn't speak English. But I understand that the KJV is sometimes very difficult for the modern person to grasp; I've even had some say that the Bible wasn't interesting, because they had a hard time reading Shakespearian English. As for me, though, growing up with the KJV, I find the NKJV to be the best choice, and when clarification is needed, I consult various other translations, and have used verses from all the above versions in sermons at one time or another.
Chris
--International Childrens Bible (ICB) translates in a very clear and easy-to-understand format, suitable not just for children, but for anyone.
--The Message (MSG) does put it in today's language, but is a bit harder to follow along with other translations in a sermon-style setting. I think it's a good practical study Bible in and of itself, though, for the "regular Joe," or especially for those who have had limited or no exposure to Christ.
--New American Standard Bible (NASB) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) are, for the most part, pretty decent as well, and I would recommend them to those really wanting to study the Bible (almost any translation with study helps is a good choice).
I'm not one of those "If the KJV was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me" guys, especially since Jesus didn't speak English. But I understand that the KJV is sometimes very difficult for the modern person to grasp; I've even had some say that the Bible wasn't interesting, because they had a hard time reading Shakespearian English. As for me, though, growing up with the KJV, I find the NKJV to be the best choice, and when clarification is needed, I consult various other translations, and have used verses from all the above versions in sermons at one time or another.
Chris
- PastorChrisK
by Tifferz » Sat Nov 4, 2006 am30 11:03 am
NIV all the way 
but what i've read of the Message i really like it too.
but what i've read of the Message i really like it too.- Tifferz
by Lindis » Sat Nov 4, 2006 am30 10:07 am
The Faroese version! well one of them anyways........and KJV love the language! 
- Lindis
by Linda B. » Sat Nov 4, 2006 am30 9:06 am
I was raised with nothing but the KJV and it was a long time before I started carrying something different to church. Now I use the NIV.
- Linda B.