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The Most Popular and Fastest Growing Bible Translation Isn't What You Think It Is
Christianity Today ^ | 03/14/2014 | Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

Posted on 03/14/2014 9:15:38 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

When Americans reach for their Bibles, more than half of them pick up a King James Version (KJV), according to a new study advised by respected historian Mark Noll.

The 55 percent who read the KJV easily outnumber the 19 percent who read the New International Version (NIV). And the percentages drop into the single digits for competitors such as the New Revised Standard Version, New America Bible, and the Living Bible.

So concludes "The Bible in American Life," a lengthy report by the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Funded by the Lilly Foundation, researchers asked questions on what David Briggs of the ARDA, which first reported the results, calls "two of the most highly respected data sources for American religion"—the General Social Survey and the National Congregations Study.

The numbers are surprising, given the strong sales of NIV translations in bookstores. The NIV has topped the CBA's bestselling Bible translation list for decades, and continued to sell robustly in 2013.

The high numbers of KJV readers confirm the findings of last year's American Bible Society (ABS) State of the Bible report. On behalf of ABS, Barna Group found that 52 percent of Americans read the King James or the New King James Version, compared with 11 percent who read the NIV. The KJV also received almost 45 percent of the Bible translation-related searches on Google, compared with almost 24 percent for the NIV, according to Bible Gateway's Stephen Smith.

In fact, searches for the KJV seem to be rising distinctly since 2005, while most other English translations are staying flat or are declining, according to Smith's Google research.

(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: bible; bibletranslation; kingjamesversion; kjv; niv
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To: Defiant
Re Wikipedia:

For several decades a popular rumor has persisted that William Shakespeare placed his mark on the translated text of Psalm 46 that appears in the King James Bible, although scholars view this as unlikely.[5] By coincidence, the 46th word from the beginning of Psalm 46 is "shake" and the 46th word from the end (omitting the liturgical mark "Selah") is "spear". Shakespeare was in King James' service during the preparation of the King James Bible, and he was 46 years old in 1611 when the translation was completed.

Some coincidence, eh?

81 posted on 03/14/2014 12:47:01 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: SeekAndFind
For anyone who would like to compare most of the Bibles available today, the free software and free downloadable Bibles, and free reference books at http://www.e-sword.net/ provide a way to cross compare Bible verses between Bibles in a quick and easy manner.

It can save a lot of time and money for those who wish to peruse different Bibles before buying a hardcopy one.

I use e-sword regularly when reading the FR religious forum because I can do quick looks at scripture being quoted (in more than one Bible version).

I highly recommend it.

82 posted on 03/14/2014 12:48:38 PM PDT by Col Freeper (FR: A smorgasbord of Conservative Mindfood - dig in and enjoy it!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I found it so useful to read the New Living Translation alongside the KJV that I bought a volume that has the KJV on the left page and the NLT on the right. Nothing has yet matched the King James for beauty of language; but I do find that the simple vernacular in the New Living aids in understanding some passages.


83 posted on 03/14/2014 12:58:42 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (The less a man knows, the more certain he is that he knows it all.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Best word for word translation is the NASB.

A Greek Interlinear is a great addition to your study tools.

Biblehub.com is a great resource for both of these.

Lots of good info for FREE here.


84 posted on 03/14/2014 1:03:44 PM PDT by ealgeone (obama, border)
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To: AnAmericanMother
many words have changed meanings, and some are now the opposite of what they used to be (e.g. "let").

Could you elaborate on this point? -- i.e. does "Let not to the marriage of true minds admit impediment" by Shakespeare mean other than what it seems to say today?

85 posted on 03/14/2014 1:03:53 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (The less a man knows, the more certain he is that he knows it all.)
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To: liege
Thus spaketh thee Sarah Iekhoff Zylstra.

LOL!!

86 posted on 03/14/2014 1:04:23 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (The less a man knows, the more certain he is that he knows it all.)
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To: .45 Long Colt

That is perfect. Thank you.

Exactly why I think we have modified revisions of the Bible, because people are unsaved but want to feel “holy.”


87 posted on 03/14/2014 1:22:25 PM PDT by ican'tbelieveit
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To: MeshugeMikey
Beware OF THE NEW NEW NEW ....”MILLENIALS BIBLE”

“and then like In the beginning “....

 

No discussion of Bible translations is complete without the LOLCat Bible

Boreded Ceiling Cat makinkgz Urf n stuffs

1 Oh hai. In teh beginnin Ceiling Cat maded teh skiez An da Urfs, but he did not eated dem.

2 Da Urfs no had shapez An haded dark face, An Ceiling Cat rode invisible bike over teh waterz.

3 At start, no has lyte. An Ceiling Cat sayz, i can haz lite? An lite wuz.4 An Ceiling Cat sawed teh lite, to seez stuffs, An splitted teh lite from dark but taht wuz ok cuz kittehs can see in teh dark An not tripz over nethin.5 An Ceiling Cat sayed light Day An dark no Day. It were FURST!!!1

6 An Ceiling Cat sayed, im in ur waterz makin a ceiling. But he no yet make a ur. An he maded a hole in teh Ceiling.7 An Ceiling Cat doed teh skiez with waterz down An waterz up. It happen.8 An Ceiling Cat sayed, i can has teh firmmint wich iz funny bibel naim 4 ceiling, so wuz teh twoth day.

9 An Ceiling Cat gotted all teh waterz in ur base, An Ceiling Cat hadz dry placez cuz kittehs DO NOT WANT get wet.10 An Ceiling Cat called no waterz urth and waters oshun. Iz good.

11 An Ceiling Cat sayed, DO WANT grass! so tehr wuz seedz An stufs, An fruitzors An vegbatels. An a Corm. It happen.12 An Ceiling Cat sawed that weedz ish good, so, letz there be weedz.13 An so teh threeth day jazzhands.

14 An Ceiling Cat sayed, i can has lightz in the skiez for splittin day An no day.15 It happen, lights everwear, like christmass, srsly.16 An Ceiling Cat doeth two grate lightz, teh most big for day, teh other for no day.17 An Ceiling Cat screw tehm on skiez, with big nails An stuff, to lite teh Urfs.18 An tehy rulez day An night. Ceiling Cat sawed. Iz good.19 An so teh furth day w00t.

20 An Ceiling Cat sayed, waterz bring me phishes, An burds, so kittehs can eat dem. But Ceiling Cat no eated dem.21 An Ceiling Cat maed big fishies An see monstrs, which wuz like big cows, except they no mood, An other stuffs dat mooves, An Ceiling Cat sawed iz good.22 An Ceiling Cat sed O hai, make bebehs kthx. An dont worry i wont watch u secksy, i not that kynd uf kitteh.23 An so teh...fith day. Ceiling Cat taek a wile 2 cawnt.

24 An Ceiling Cat sayed, i can has MOAR living stuff, mooes, An creepie tings, An otehr aminals. It happen so tehre.25 An Ceiling Cat doed moar living stuff, mooes, An creepies, An otehr animuls, An did not eated tehm.

26 An Ceiling Cat sayed, letz us do peeps like uz, becuz we ish teh qte, An let min p0wnz0r becuz tehy has can openers.

27 So Ceiling Cat createded teh peeps taht waz like him, can has can openers he maed tehm, min An womin wuz maeded, but he did not eated tehm.

28 An Ceiling Cat sed them O hai maek bebehs kthx, An p0wn teh waterz, no waterz An teh firmmint, An evry stufs.

29 An Ceiling Cat sayed, Beholdt, the Urfs, I has it, An I has not eated it.30 For evry createded stufs tehre are the fuudz, to the burdies, teh creepiez, An teh mooes, so tehre. It happen. Iz good.

31 An Ceiling Cat sayed, Beholdt, teh good enouf for releaze as version 0.8a. kthxbai.

88 posted on 03/14/2014 2:25:07 PM PDT by zeugma (Is it evil of me to teach my bird to say "here kitty, kitty"?)
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To: AnAmericanMother
Leaving aside all the weird stuff like the Teen Bible and the Gospels in Gullah . . .

You haven't lived until you've read The LOLcat Bible

Matthew 16:5 when they went acros teh laek, teh disciplez forgot 2 taek bread.6 "be careful," Happy Cat sed 2 them. "be on ur guard against teh yeast ov teh fariseez an sadduceez."7 they discusd dis among themselvez an sed, "it cuz we didnt brin any bread."8 aware ov their discushun, Happy Cat askd, "u ov lil faith, y r u talkin among yourselvez bout havin no bread? 9 do u still not understand? Doan u remembr teh 5 loavez 4 da 5 thousand, an how lotz da basketfuls u gatherd?10 or teh 7 loavez 4 da 4 thousand, an how lotz da basketfuls u gatherd? 11 how iz u doan understand dat i wuz not talkin 2 u bout bread? But be on ur guard against teh yeast ov teh fariseez an sadduceez."

89 posted on 03/14/2014 2:38:08 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (The less a man knows, the more certain he is that he knows it all.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I keep the new translations as being phoney for my reference only. Politically correct versions are not true to the meaning of the Bible. I cannot understand the men of the church not taking a stand against this abuse.


90 posted on 03/14/2014 2:52:35 PM PDT by maxwellsmart_agent
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To: zeugma

First mention I’ve seen of ESV. I like it. It’s very readable and not at an eighth grade level either.


91 posted on 03/14/2014 3:09:28 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith....)
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To: geologist

If all the more Bibles can get out to more people, the better, even if they are NOT the KJV, better to reach more people with God’s word then not.


92 posted on 03/14/2014 3:18:00 PM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: Revolting cat!

93 posted on 03/14/2014 3:28:39 PM PDT by BlueDragon (You can observe a lot just by watching. Yogi Berra)
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To: AnAmericanMother

When Charles II saw St. Paul’s cathedral for the first time he described it as awful and amusing. And it at the time that was high praise.


94 posted on 03/14/2014 4:18:39 PM PDT by DManA
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To: SeekAndFind

Douay-Rheims.


95 posted on 03/14/2014 4:42:05 PM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: DManA

And when his dad was referred to as “God’s silly vassal” it didn’t mean what we think it meant . . .


96 posted on 03/14/2014 6:25:19 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda, Radix David, Alleluia!)
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To: Albion Wilde
< snort >

Reads like Riddley Walker. Only less literate.

97 posted on 03/14/2014 6:26:28 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda, Radix David, Alleluia!)
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To: Albion Wilde
"Let" can mean both to ALLOW, and to PREVENT.

"Without let or hindrance" is the other meaning.

"Suffer" is another - "suffer the little children to come unto me" = allow.

All kinds of odd things like that, that we are used to because we have heard them since childhood.

98 posted on 03/14/2014 6:36:30 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda, Radix David, Alleluia!)
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To: Albion Wilde
Gullah Bible:

Cause God lob all de people een de wol sommuch dat e gii we e onliest Son. God sen we um so dat ebrybody wa bleebe pon um ain gwine dead. Dey gwine lib faebamo. God ain sen e Son eenta de wol fa condemn um. God sen e Son fa come sabe de people shru e Son. John 3:16-17

99 posted on 03/14/2014 6:38:20 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda, Radix David, Alleluia!)
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To: the_Watchman
It was the basic common language known to all (or most). The eastern Mediterranean was a crazy-quilt of languages.

The amazing thing about Pentecost was not that the Apostles were speaking in tongues, but that they were UNDERSTOOD by all the folks who had come up to Jerusalem from all over the eastern Med - "Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, Romans, Cretans and Arabs . . . "

THAT's why Koine Greek was necessary. It filled much the same function as English today, with some speaking it better than others. And it's interesting that the LXX - the Greek Old Testament - is the one most often quoted by Our Lord.

100 posted on 03/14/2014 6:49:37 PM PDT by AnAmericanMother (Ecce Crucem Domini, fugite partes adversae. Vicit Leo de Tribu Iuda, Radix David, Alleluia!)
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