The most sold book ever and the least read

Which Bible? My favorite is still the original Geneva Bible with its notes, but the King James and Strong's concordance come in a close second. They were not designed to be an easy read and are set up to make you think and that is not an easy task in this day and age. Most modern versions of the Bible are easier to read, but do not urge you too consider that the person translating it may have inserted his biases in its selections of some words.

 

Absolutely true. I keep saying that if you want to talk about something you should have some idea what you are talking about, but that is just crazy talk anymore. Actually read something? Fact checking? Well Baron Von Munchhausen told me, I don't need to check! OK, even I get tripped up with a quote now and again off the top of my head, but the local library knows my voice when I call to check stuff and have my own key to the library I use it so much. "It ain't what a man knows that gets him in trouble, it's what a man knows that ain't so that gets him in trouble." And I am not going to say that is Mark Twain in case I am wrong!

The King James was written in Elisabethen English, not what Jesus spoke. Translated from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to middle English to modern English, there are bound to be some problems. There are a few dozen words for love in Greek, one in English for example. I don't speak Elisabethen English now and some of the words have changed. For example the "F" word meant "to plant", as in "I'm going to F the wheat field". Go get an 1800 to about 1900 English language Bible and look at the changes in wording used. There are quite a few good translations and some truly horrible ones too, like the NIV.

 

A Bible I Think I May Live to see someday would be a STRONG'S
King James Bible .

Meaning of course , a King James Bible published by the editor's
of the Strong's Concordance . I hope they do a good work of it .

I've also noticed that 'The Companion' King James Bible is
a good one, with Lots of explanatory commentaries .

Furthermore , A Reprint of Webster's 1828 Dictionary might also
have some useful definitions for folks who like to study the
Old School Stuff ...

 

My mother's folks were followers of Zwingli and I joke with my Amish friends, that they are the back sliders who lost the true way, but the words "kill" and "adultery" and "graven image" are just a few that create real problems in translation. It is more common today to see it translated as "murder" than in the past.
I agree, the word is always right, but it seems to be ever more common to translate not only the Bible, but many of our historical documents in such a way that it means something else. Usually under the guise that it is a "living" document and needs to change for our "modern" times.
The important fact in my mind is that the problems in our daily lives have not changed in the last several thousand years and the advice given to a man herding sheep and living in a tent is still relevant to a man flying an aircraft and tending computers.

 

Yes, what man touches can be corrupted. Words that are not exactly right now: Bastard - originally "mix race". Kill - "murder". Witch - "poisoner". Corn - corn was a new world plant, NOT known in Biblical times!

 

... Living in the country on a farm, I am often doing one chore or another,
and something about the nature around here, will remind me of one of the parables
of Christ or something Paul said or something from the old testament ...
Separating the wheat from the Tares ... Winnowing ... Sowing the seed ...

 

It is very hard to believe that everything has been put in place by chance, when you see the love a mare has for a new born foal and how she treats them.

 

Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.
Lenny Bruce

 

THis is my favorite translation. Not much different than KJV but what is different changes the meaning of many of the verses. Its worth spending time comparing both versions

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060649232/?tag=survivalmonke-20

 

Blessed & Beloved Ganado ;

When You Have Some Extra Time,
Pick Out A Verse That You Like
& Show It To Us Please ...

Greetings unto Our
Blessed & Beloved Ganado !

.. All Is Well Friend ..

I found An Online Version of
Your Blessed & Beloved Lamsa Bible ...

John 3:16 ;
For God so loved the world that he even gave his only begotten Son,
so that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John (LAMSA) - Chapter 3

God Be Praised !

 

Greetings folks. I'm new to the site and my eye was drawn to the faith and religion section. I typically avoid the topic in online settings since it's such a hot-button issue. But it appears it's an allowable discussion in this context, so I'll probably pop my head in from time to time.

To address the OP's statement, I would agree, many Christians know very little about what is actually in their Bible. Regardless of translation, most just can't seem to be bothered to read the book itself. I don't read it as much as I should/need, but I have managed to read it cover to cover, by my estimation, about 9-10 times over the years. I keep an electronic version on my computer, complete with many references such as Strong's, dictionaries, historical documents, commentaries, etc. In addition, I have an electronic version on my iPhone which has several translations and even reading programs/calendars.

It does surprise me how few Christians can have any kind of in-depth discussion on what I would say are basic, core components of their faith. They seem content to simply attend church, hear the scripture quote of the week, then go about their days. Many hardly know a thing about the Old Testament, save for Genesis, Abraham, Moses and David. It makes me wonder how much more fulfilling their faith would be if they really had the full picture of everything in the Bible.

Over the years, I've served as a youth group leader, a Bible study teacher (I especially like teaching new converts and 'milk' Christians) and served as an Elder for 6 years. I always felt it was my duty to be well-informed in my beliefs if I was going to take on such positions.

As to translations, I've read: KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASB, RSV, CEV, ESV and parts of others. I originally came to Christ in a 'KJV only' church, so for a while, the only Bible I knew was a Scoffield Reference KJV. They treated the KJV as if God himself had penned that particular translation. I came to find value in other translations after leaving that particular church. I have a hard time selecting a 'favorite', but I do enjoy comparing translations and looking back to the older texts to try and get the most accurate meaning of a given passage.

 

When Christ was tempted by the devil. Everytime his response began with " it is written" if you don't know what is written in God's word you are unarmed. I have worn out one Thompson chain reference my second is starting to break down in the binding. I read English Standard Version , King James Version and Amplified. I have other translations some are gifts some I have bought for reference or just to have incase someone tells me the don't read the bible because they don't have one. I fix that issue. It is up to us to encourage the young disciples to read and prove or disprove what they are taught
I am excited, I just ordered a new KJV so I can retire my old chain reference

 

My 3 favorite are the Dakes annotated reference Bible and the strong's exhaustive concordance, and the Englishmans greek new testament.
But most importantly, Jesus said Matthw 5; Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. It is not knowing what scriptures say so much as knowing the author. Jesus provided the Holy Spirit to teach in His place, and that is what he will do when He sees Jesus Lordship in one's life and asks for it. Hunger and thirst, denote desperation, and this of God, not of men.
Academics are a distraction, What you think you know from advanced teaching of men can lead you independent from God's influence. Adam's failure was doing what was right in his own eyes. Isreal failed doing what was right in their own eyes. The same follows in our time as well.
Jesus example , He said, "I only do what my Father tells me."
Luke 11; 10,-13, ASK
If you are afraid to ask, it is not God you believe, but people you fear.