Dory, I am not a King James only but call myself a King James 
mainly.  The problem that I have with modern translations is that 
many people do not differentiate between a translation and a 
paraphrase.  When getting into a paraphrase, you are getting 
somebody's opinion and not a good translation of the 
languages.  Although I don't think the KJV is inspired, the King 
James only crowd makes some good points in favor of the KJV.

earlier, Chipmunks, wrote:
>Oh, I have known and used Theophilos for several years and 
>appreciate its accessibility.
>
>i just mentioned E-Sword because it comes with several free modern 
>Bible Translations .
>
>Cheers,
>
>Doris
>
>
>At 09:39 AM 7/6/2006 -0600, you wrote:
>
>>Doris,
>>
>>I dont' know much about e-sward, but i use Theophilos.  The KJV and 
>>some older translations are free, and then you can purchase 
>>packages to get newer translations as well as Bible comentaries and 
>>dictionaries.  I think this program has been mentioned on the list 
>>before, but it's good.  The site is
>>http://www.theophilos.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>JulieMelton
>>visit me at
>>www.heart-and-music.com
>>Keep smiling!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>From: Chipmunks <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Reply-To: The Electronic Church <[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>Subject: Re: READING AND RESPONDING TO DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE
>>>Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 12:02:23 +0200
>>>
>>>I take it the AV is the equivalent of the KJV? Over the years 
>>>since becoming a Christian, I have encountered many individuals 
>>>who preferred the KJV bible and several who actually think it to 
>>>be the only inspired bible version. My husband and I once even 
>>>encountered a Bible college who had "Sole Scriptua, sole KJV" as 
>>>the motto they wentby.
>>>
>>>Being a non-native speaker of English originally, I grew up 
>>>without any tradition of any particular Bible version. I cannot 
>>>subscribbe to any doctrine of the KJV being the only inspired 
>>>bible translation for the simple fact that there are hundreds of 
>>>bible translations in other languages besides English and I think 
>>>they are as valid as any English translation and this very fact 
>>>already prooves to methat there cannot be just one legitimate 
>>>Bible version or translation.
>>>
>>>After devouring a good part of the Old Testament of a German bible 
>>>as a second grader before becoming bored with the repitition of 
>>>Chronicles after The Books of Samuel and Kings, my first encounter 
>>>with the Bible as a young adult was actually with the KJV. I had 
>>>heard that the KJV used language very similar to Shakespearean 
>>>English, which I loved,and i originally set out to read the bible 
>>>as literature for the beauty of its language. I first met the 
>>>Messiah in passages from Psalms and the Prophets and in KJV English.
>>>
>>>When I started reading for meaning and content, I found the KJV 
>>>fairly archaic and hard to understand.
>>>
>>>
>>>I started reading more modern translations. I have always enjoyed 
>>>working with different translations and comparing them. I find 
>>>this very enriching and the next best thing to being able to read 
>>>the bible in the original Greek and Hebrew. the church I attended 
>>>as a young Christian encouraged the use of multiple bible 
>>>translations and I much enjoyed our weekly bible studies where 
>>>people brought their preferred trnaslation and we took turns 
>>>reading passages. It was enriching to compare versions at times.
>>>
>>>I did over time adopt a translation that I used the most and as 
>>>Carol said, when I remember verses or passages, the wording is 
>>>that of my preferred translation usually, but I maintain my 
>>>interest and enjoyment of multiple translations.
>>>
>>>When discussing the validity of the use of modern translations in 
>>>contemporary English over the traditional translation of the KJV, 
>>>i think it is important to remember that the Scriptures in the 
>>>original languages, especially the New Testament, were not written 
>>>in any one particular literary style. the old Testament is a 
>>>library of many different styles of literature, ranging from the 
>>>beautiful poetry of the PPsalms in the Jewish Hymanal to the 
>>>historical accounts of the Jewish Scriptures. The New Testament 
>>>was not written in Classical lliterary Greek but in the colloquial 
>>>Greek that Jesus contemporaries spoke, many of which were 
>>>non-native speakers of Greek, as were the majority of the New 
>>>Testament authors.
>>>
>>>I find the variety of translations refreshing and enriching and 
>>>think it is most important to prayerfully consider which 
>>>translation works best for the individual to receive God's work.
>>>
>>>Anyone intersted in studying multiple tramslations of the Bible 
>>>might want to have a look at the free E-Sword Bible package available from
>>>
>>>www.e-sword.net
>>>
>>>While not that easily accessible, the latest version of E-Sword 
>>>works well enough with speech to permit reading of different Bible 
>>>versions. Unfortuantely I find that the notes and commentaries 
>>>remain inaccessible to me. If anyone on here has found jaws 
>>>scripts for E-Sword or come up with a way to access all the 
>>>material and resources in the program, i would be grateful for a pointer.
>>>
>>>Cheers,
>>>
>>>Doris
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>At 09:54 AM 7/6/2006 +0100, you wrote:
>>>
>>>>Hi there Sharon, and all,
>>>>
>>>>Hmmm!  I have been thinking over the past hour or two, since 
>>>>seeing your message . . ..  (I've taken the liberty of changing 
>>>>the subject header here because some may find that "upgrading" 
>>>>thought a little tackey.
>>>>
>>>>First, in full defence of the AV, I am very prepared to agree its 
>>>>outstanding accuracy and truthfulness and the need for this in 
>>>>the Church. I know and respect those who feel so passionately 
>>>>they wouldn't use anything else!  (I even know some on this list 
>>>>and I reckon they won't keep quiet for too long <SMILE>!)
>>>>
>>>>For me, I grew up with the AV and learned and got to know its 
>>>>wording so well that, if I am imprisoned or without a Bible in 
>>>>later years, I know these are the words I will be crying 
>>>>out!  Therefore, there is something very special for me about the AV.
>>>>
>>>>However, alongside this, I do find its archaic, old English 
>>>>language both a bit sweet and treakley and certainly it's 
>>>>something which I do not fully understand or identify with.  For 
>>>>example, I even find 1 Corinthians 13 causes me to feel I'm being 
>>>>called (though not drawn) to the litergy of the church and not 
>>>>the real meaning of the passage on occasions, especially when 
>>>>this is delivered in a large church with a lot of echo, and for 
>>>>me there are far better, more modern, translations of that lovely 
>>>>passage.  It is for this reason that I still read the old but 
>>>>also more modern translations and allow God to speak with me and 
>>>>refresh me as I do so!
>>>>
>>>>Your example in Luke 7 is so right, to my mind.  "Cry" and "weep" 
>>>>are words I understand and appreciate, and even think there is a 
>>>>difference between them, and that comment is based on my own 
>>>>experience.  Why say something more when these words are adequate!
>>>>
>>>>I don't want to say too much about individual versions, but I do 
>>>>keep a copy of the NIV around on my BrailleNote because it sort 
>>>>of is the general version I can keep with me.  I love, love the 
>>>>Amplified, when I want to think some more about words!  There are 
>>>>some very refreshing things about The Message Bible also.  In 
>>>>some ways its language gets me a bit hot under the collar 
>>>>(perhaps it's a little over the top in some of its "American 
>>>>expression" for us Britts) but in others I find it 
>>>>refreshing.  It seems to move on a pace that cannot be conveyed 
>>>>to me as I read the AV.  I think you would like to read the 
>>>>Message and maybe you already have it.  (The Message also uses 
>>>>the word "cry" in that passage, by the way, Sharon.)
>>>>
>>>>Finally, here's one further thought which I want to convey and 
>>>>it's meant by no means to take away any of the truth and 
>>>>reverence of the older versions of the Bible.  My thinking goes 
>>>>something like this:  "Well, Jesus expresses Himself to us in 
>>>>ways we can understand.  He meets us where we are.  He speaks 
>>>>words in the church which often are brought by younger, 
>>>>enthusiastic ones whose language understanding and presentation 
>>>>is more like the Message than the AV.  So be it!  God will still 
>>>>speak His truth into hungry hearts! God will still make His ways 
>>>>known!  I personally don't want to examine every word etc for its 
>>>>accuracy either, because I'm not that kind of scholar, but I do 
>>>>want to be blessed inside as I read His word!
>>>>
>>>>Anyway, I'm off my soap box now.  Have been up many hours so 
>>>>guess it's brunchtime for me!
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Carol
>>>>[log in to unmask]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Hooley" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 7:27 AM
>>>>Subject: Upgrading Versions of the bible?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Well Julie, of course the Bible doesn't change, but our 
>>>>>understanding of some things in the bible can change as we grow 
>>>>>in the Lord, and maybe it's possible to "upgrade" as far as 
>>>>>contemporary language is concerned, not to change the meaning of 
>>>>>what the Bible says, but to speak our everyday 
>>>>>language.  Unfortunately, many of those who create a new 
>>>>>translation tend to try to make the bible say what they want it 
>>>>>to say, instead of what it's really saying.  Personally, I want 
>>>>>my bible to speak the language I use, not the ancient language 
>>>>>of the KJV, as long as the modern translation is accurate.  From 
>>>>>the bible, I wish I could hear things like, "Serving God is so 
>>>>>much fun!  So cool!"  But I need to remind myself that, even if 
>>>>>I read it in an ancient language, it can be just as expressive 
>>>>>as we are today.  For example, there's the story about when 
>>>>>Jesus approached a funeral procession. His hart went out to the 
>>>>>widow who had just lost her son.  In the KJV, we read, "Weep 
>>>>>not."  But in the NIV, (which may not be a perfectly accurate 
>>>>>translation), we hear Him simply saying, "Don't cry." I would 
>>>>>rather hear the latter, but maybe, just maybe, Jesus is depicted 
>>>>>just as strongly compassionate, affectionate and comforting, in 
>>>>>the KJV. What are your thoughts?
>>>>>
>>>>>Sharon
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>

John