Hey, Matt

Choosing a version of the Bible is a personal thing.  You really have to
read or listen to the different versions to get a taste of them and see
which one the LORD uses to speak to you, as long as they have been
researched and translated from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek.
Paraphrases, like The Living Bible or The Message are good to read or hear
along with a real translation just to get a fresh view of them.  But they
aren't real translations and shouldn't be trusted as the true Word, just an
interpretation of them.  Something like sermons about the real Scriptures
but not the real Scriptures themselves.  (Although I don't go as far as
Harold Camping did and said to throw the Living Bible in the trash.  Smile.)

Having said all that, I've heard several pastors in several churches I've
attended say the New American Standard is the closest translation to the
original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek and is a good compromise between the
confusing King James and the paraphrases.

Hope something in all this has helped.  Smile.

Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 12:00 PM
Subject: choosing a version


> Gees, it's hard to choose a version of the bible to read.
> I feel as though I should stick with the old King James version but it is
> sometimes hard to read.
> The new king james makes more since to me but the new living bible reads
> like "my idea of English".
> However, I fear that they either twist or make the wording to nerrow or
one
> sided.
> I like listening to Jimmy evans and the women who wrote the book Intimate
> issues because they flip flop back and forth and tell you, this is what
the
> wording in greek said, and this is what the wording in the hebrew said.
> I am now reading on the bible gateway.
> I got tired of the links to hems and such right in the middle of what I
was
> trying to read and understand.
> What are your thoughts on these different versions?
> Terri has a new living bible which has the king james on one side and what
> it means on the other or in different little colums or something.
> That seems best but I don't know if it is offered in the talking bible
> gajet.
> I haven't looked at the other translations, just old, new and living.
>
> Matt