I have a confession

[Plazmawolf]

I have not finished reading the bible

[Chozon1]

Don't confess, get to reading. It's like food...you may not always be hungry, but you need to eat to keep alive.

I didn't read it through until I was 18 though.

[Plazmawolf]

I read pieces of it but I need to read it from beginning to end

[ccgr]

there are some great programs out there..want to read it in 90 days? Try this check sheet

http://www.havenministries.com/schedule.pdf

[Plazmawolf]

what is the most unabridged, closest to the original bible version?

[Chozon1]

You're looking for a "formal equivalence" translation. You can go here to see a list of bible translations and choose from them...I use a Holman. I'd think that KJV or NASB would be easiest to get a hold of, but you'd pretty much need an old English dictionary to make sense of the KJV.

Either way...I'd grab an apologetics study bible, if you have the chance. It'll have answers to your questions. Even the hard ones. But any real bible will do.

[Plazmawolf]

You're looking for a "formal equivalence" translation. You can go here to see a list of bible translations and choose from them...I use a Holman. I'd think that KJV or NASB would be easiest to get a hold of, but you'd pretty much need an old English dictionary to make sense of the KJV.

Either way...I'd grab an apologetics study bible, if you have the chance. It'll have answers to your questions. Even the hard ones. But any real bible will do.

I am really good with old English

[ccgr]

I'm reading a Holman too, I've read the KJV several times though

[Chozon1]

KJV is, perhaps, more poetic and flows well. There are better translations even then though. KJV was written, if I remember correctly, from the Latin bibles that the church possessed. Didn't go off the OG manuscripts. It doesn't really have a problem with inaccuracy, but that fact bothers some people.

[ChickenSoup]

Well, first of all, the KJV isn't Old or even Middle English

KJV is, perhaps, more poetic and flows well. There are better translations even then though. KJV was written, if I remember correctly, from the Latin bibles that the church possessed. Didn't go off the OG manuscripts. It doesn't really have a problem with inaccuracy, but that fact bothers some people.

Due to some people going all "ONLY THE KJV, HOMES" on me for a while, I do believe there's a big thing among many Christians about the KJV being the most formally equivalent. There's this whole thing about Byzantine vs. Alexandrian (I think?) texts used to translate and the KJV using better manuscripts and blah blah blah basically if you don't use the KJV you're a horrible Christian.

...


Anyway, my point being if you want something really true to the original stuff, apparently the KJV is a good start if you don't mind the Shakespearean talk.

[Chozon1]

Yeah, I didn't say/mean Olde Englishe, just...old English. Elizabethan spekkin' or something.

My Dad reads KJV...Though I've never understood the whole "anything but KJV ain't true" thing, I have come across it.

[ccgr]

I prefer people to read any version of the Bible than none at all

[Chozon1]

+4

[ArchAngel]

Yeah, CCGR's right. They're all pretty close (except for the "Message"). Find a translation that you connect with best (NKJV is really good) and stick with it. The worst thing you'd want to do is get bogged down with a translation that uses a verbiage that disorients you and gets you demotivated.
How much better would it be to read through the bible where you can understand it on the first go, rather than get confused and eventually glaze over because you're tired?

[JOJ650s]

Due to some people going all "ONLY THE KJV, HOMES" on me for a while, I do believe there's a big thing among many Christians about the KJV being the most formally equivalent. There's this whole thing about Byzantine vs. Alexandrian (I think?) texts used to translate and the KJV using better manuscripts and blah blah blah basically if you don't use the KJV you're a horrible Christian.

Wow really?
The best translation is ether Hebrew, or Arabic, but I can't read those. Hahaha!

Most people here use New King James version.

I my self though go with New Living Translation.

They all have the same message.

If your focusing/studying on one verse use many translations.
Each verse has so many meanings, just a lot of them are hidden, Reading many translations help reveal them.