Hi everyone. What would be the best Bible version for a seeker of the Christian faith? I am looking for a Bible for a 31 year old Agnostic friend of mine.
He says he is hopeful that Jesus died on the cross for his sins but he doesn't know that Jesus died on the cross for his sins. I told him that he doesn't have to know this but he just has to believe it. He
doesn't seem to understand the difference between knowing and believing. So, I ask, what would be a good Bible version for him? Keep in mind that
he is very much Biblically illiterate. He calls himself a hopeful Agnostic.
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Best Bible Version For Seekers?
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 Holly3278 |
Best Bible Version For Seekers? |
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Posts: 1 (03/12/2009 17:39:27) |
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77 |
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Posts: 281 (03/12/2009 18:55:27) |
Holly3278 wrote:77: That depends upon a few other factors that you didn't mention... Does he have a preconceived notion of what the Bible is supposed to "sound" like as he reads it? If he does, give him a KJV, and maybe a NKJV to read in those places that the antique language of the King James throws him. Otherwise, the ESV would probably be fine. If he might respond better to a less intimidating translation of the Bible, maybe an NLT would be a better choice here. Ultimately, the only version that is going to suit him is the one that he'll be willing to read.
"Truly, good Christian reader, we never thought from the beginning, that we should need to make a new Translation, nor yet to make of a bad one of a good
one ... but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones, one principle good one, not justly to be expected against; that hath been our endeavor, that
our mark."
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amarillo |
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Posts: 3071 (03/12/2009 19:46:40) Administrator |
perhaps we shdn't offer bibles to seekers.
1. if they are already reading a bible n can't understand it, sure, by all means run alongside their chariots n explain to them the passage at hand, like Philip did with the Ethiopian official. 2. if they're not already reading a bible, do what Paul did: proclaim the invisible, aseitous God who's coming to judge the world thru the One whom He raised, like he did at the Areopagus. ah, but once the seeker gets saved, take him thru a CEV, esp if he's an ESL learner.
Joseph Ng
"For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." Ps 119:89 KJB |
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Euthymius |
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Posts: 1763 (03/12/2009 20:01:30) |
Personally, I would give such a person a Good News (TEV) New Testament (i.e., don't overwhelm anyone with a complete Bible), preferably the small but thick
paperback edition from the American Bible Society with reasonable size print as opposed to the editions that are thin with small print.
I find the TEV to be far superior to the CEV, even for those learning English as a second language; not to mention that the TEV was the original flagship translation of the dynamic equivalency movement, which probably has never been equalled in that regard. (And I say this as one opposed to both dynamic equivalency and the Alexandrian text underlying the TEV -- but for a non-believer these matters are not as significant as they will be if and when he should become a believer and desirous of getting into solid and deep study. It worked for me, BTW, since the TEV was the first NT I read and thoroughly understood as a new believer, knowing little or nothing about doctrine). |
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Aleph Nought |
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Posts: 144 (03/12/2009 21:57:11) |
Holly3278 wrote:I'd say the easiest one to read. The NIV would be the most accurate easy to read translation we have today. |
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Aleph Nought |
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Posts: 145 (03/12/2009 22:03:09) |
amarillo wrote: I give out Bibles to anyone and everyone who does not have one, without exception. I like to go to used book stores and I buy all of the Bibles on the shelfs (NIV, ESV, NASB only) for I can normally get a good leather new looking Bible for two to five bucks each. Wow, what a gift! |
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SAWBONES |
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Posts: 66 (03/13/2009 06:41:15) |
I'd observe that coming to genuine faith only by reading the New Testament by oneself is probably rather rare in modern times, not that such is the case in
the example mentioned. There are certainly documented examples of this occuring, but there is usually quite a bit more involved than isolated seeking-reading,
obviously. Much of the material in the NT is spiritually discerned, and makes little sense to the "carnal mind", though the gospels obviously can
easily stand alone as historical records provided by on-site witnesses.
Nonetheless, the important thing will be for the text to be readily comprehended by the reader as to its obvious (rather than any possible additional allegorical) meaning, hence a modern accurate English version like TEV or even a paraphrase like the NLT would be sensible, IMO. |
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SAWBONES |
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Posts: 67 (03/13/2009 06:49:59) |
"I told him that he doesn't have to know this but he just has to believe it. He doesn't seem to understand the difference between knowing
and believing."
Again, I'd observe that believing in this sense is a supernatural sort of thing, far different from "mental assent", and that it is, in fact, a quite genuine form of knowing. The skeptic, who "knows" nothing other than intellectually, doesn't understand this, but the believer who by the grace of God has true faith, genuinely knows the reality of Jesus' atoning death and resurrection with a certainty beyond any argument. The entire world fails to comprehend or accept this, but it's true nonetheless, as all genuine believers throughout history have understood. Such is the kindness of God toward us. |
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 mko |
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Posts: 436 (03/13/2009 09:45:03) |
I like the Revised English Bible of 1989 as a version that speaks simply and cuts to the point.
"Things don't happen together by coincidence, without the hand of God guiding them. Like, say, your ex-girlfriend hunting you down for a date the
minute you give up on love, with an eye on the altar."
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kiwiray |
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Posts: 56 (03/13/2009 19:50:32) |
TEV or NEB or perhaps Phillips.
"And, behold, I tell you these things that you may learn wisdom; that you may learn that when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only
in the service of your God". (Mosiah ch1.49 - RLDS version)
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Okieshowedem |
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Posts: 14 (03/15/2009 17:55:09) |
The very best translation by far is The Book Of Yahweh The Holy Scriptures.
http://www.yahweh.com/bookofyahweh.htm O |
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Okieshowedem |
Sorry the link did not go to the page | ||
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Posts: 15 (03/15/2009 17:58:07) |
try this http://www.yahweh.com
and look up The Book Of Yahweh. May Spirit Holy that inspired the prophets and apostles to write to us bless your understanding. O |
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Euthymius |
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Posts: 1766 (03/16/2009 08:43:15) |
Makes me want to Yahwehnnnnn and snore.
Especially when someone says at his website that my salvation depends on the particular point being made.... |
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gconan |
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Posts: 860 (03/16/2009 15:19:21) Registered User |
Holly3278, there is one above all of the others. It is William Tyndales translation. It is from 1534, yet still easy to read because it was translated for
everyone. Translated before there were verse numbers to get in the way, and written in paragraph form (as should be).
http://www.amazon.com/Tyndales-New-Testament-David-Daniell/dp/0300065809/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237245376&sr=1-3
Last Edited By: gconan
03/16/2009 15:21:41.
Edited 1 times.
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Decalogue |
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Posts: 9 (05/24/2009 23:04:03) |
Holly3278 wrote: Holly3278 --- You will not go wrong with a standard edition (Pew Bible) in the tried/trusted A.V./K.J.. It has worked for many years now, and for decades was used as a reading text in one-room school houses across the country. You can get them for a very low price at thrift shops/used book stores, so you will not have to break your piggy bank. Btw -- You might also get him a book titled "Evidence that demands a verdict" by Josh McDowell. Good helps for people to believe, and also some helps for you to witness to him.
Please visit www.prayerbookbaptist.com
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever!" Isaiah 40:8 |
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BrianT |
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Posts: 1781 (05/25/2009 04:30:37) ezOP |
Just a quick note: the KJV-only forum is the only forum on this board where KJV-onlyism is allowed to be promoted/debated. Thanks.
Brian
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gconan |
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Posts: 950 (05/25/2009 11:38:29) Registered User |
Certainly you are not sugesting that if one recomends the KJV they are KJonly?
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BrianT |
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Posts: 1783 (05/25/2009 11:46:52) ezOP |
Not at all, just a reminder because I know Decalogue is KJV-only and new to the board.
Brian
Last Edited By: BrianT
05/25/2009 11:55:48.
Edited 1 times.
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Decalogue |
Perish the thought! | ||
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Posts: 10 (05/26/2009 00:13:49) |
BrianT wrote:Hello BrianT : I are not , nor have ever been a KJV-Only...!!  I incurred the wrath from a couple of "those" types when I suggested that a new believer purchase a Bible dictionary, and Halley's
Bible Handbook to help the young Christian learn the Book, and so learn more of Christianity. Another time I was chastized/ridiculed because I said that if
someone wasn't sure of a meaning of a Biblical word they could find it in a Strong's Concordance. Ya woulda thunk I had walked on the Flag and insulted
their mom...
So, nope I'm not KJV-O, but I was just giving poster "Holly" a tip and a suggestion. Many people over the years have wanted their friends/family/co-workers to get saved and follow Jesus, and they go and spend $40-$60 on a Bible that never gets read by the other person. That's why I mentioned all the used KJVs that she can by cheap. I also mentioned Josh McDowell's book and IIRC, he uses the NASV. As a matter-o-fact it was moi (since you are in a bi-lingual country, you can comprendez that word ) that told you on that other site that ..."if the guy in the red suit with the reindeer dropped off a Geneva Bible, I would not mind at all."  Maybe some day if I get some O.T. hours, it would be nice to get the new printing
of Tyndale's N.T..
----- ------ ----- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- ------- -------- To gconan: Yes, that was the same thought I had we when I read that .
Please visit www.prayerbookbaptist.com
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand for ever!" Isaiah 40:8 |
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BrianT |
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Posts: 1787 (05/26/2009 03:53:04) ezOP |
Sorry for the misunderstanding, Decalogue.
Brian
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gconan |
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Posts: 953 (05/26/2009 15:25:15) Registered User |
Decalogue wrote: |
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- Bible Versions and History
- Textual Criticism and Manuscripts
- Scripture and Technology
- KJV-Only
- References and Tools
- Westcott and Hort
- General Theology
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