[SeekAndFind]

[Colonel_Flagg]

Have always used the KJV and always will. The English is beautiful — and there is something to be said for what the Bible means in English.

[bubbacluck]

Thus spaketh thee Sarah Iekhoff Zylstra.

[Defiant]

Would you rather read Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet or the script from Westside Story?

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

The first Bible I ever owned was The Living Bible. And for whatever reason, restructuring the Bible into 20th-century English really blunts its impact. My current Bible (which, I have to admit, I don’t read nearly as often as I should) is a New American Standard translation, which I think captures much of the feel of the KJV without the archaic language.

[AnAmericanMother]

For English speakers in the British-related nations, the KJV is not only Scripture, it's Literature.

You cannot read English Lit thoroughly without a good working knowledge of the KJV. Many authors will just assume that on their readers' part . . . Anthony Trollope is an example - he just tosses Scriptural references in in passing, and you had better know what you're looking at (he also gives the Book of Common Prayer a workout, so while you're at it . . . )

With that said, the compilers of the Authorized Version did not have access to all the manuscripts we have today. There are some translation errors. The 17th century English is also full of pitfalls for those who are not familiar with it - many words have changed meanings, and some are now the opposite of what they used to be (e.g. "let").

But of course there are many, many worse translations out there. Leaving aside all the weird stuff like the Teen Bible and the Gospels in Gullah . . . I have to say that the NAB is an awful translation and I wish the bishops would burn it. Prefer the Douay, although it can be just as obscure as the KJV for the same reasons, plus it is rather Latinate (no surprise). My personal favorite at the moment is the Knox Bible, which is brilliantly translated, especially the Hebrew . . . what "dynamic translation" is SUPPOSED to be.

But when I quote off the cuff, I generally quote KJV.

[laweeks]

NIVs get into such "politically correct" language that I refuse to refer to them anymore.

Mark 1:17
Example: KJV: And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."

NIV & NLT: "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."

I will not budge for men-hating language. "Men" is quite clear.

[Salvation]

KJV users, however, get only part of the Bible. Not all of it.

[Alex Murphy]

The study from IUPUI in some ways paints a more religious picture of Americans than the ABS/Barna study, recording that 78 percent read their Bibles monthly, compared with the 41 percent found by Barna and the 53 percent found by Lifeway. But IUPUI also found that fewer Americans read their Bibles every day—just 9 percent, less than the 13 percent recorded by Barna and half of the 18 percent found by Lifeway. IUPUI also noted several main tells: You're more likely to read the Bible if you're female (56 percent compared with 39 percent of men), African American (70 percent read at least once a year, compared with 46 percent of Hispanics and 44 percent of whites), and older (56 percent of those over 70 years old, compared with 44 percent of those between 18 and 29). You're also more likely to read the Bible if you live in the South (61 percent) rather than the Northeast (36 percent).

Interesting article - thanks for posting.

[Free Vulcan]

I like the NKJV translation. Kept the old, fixed the mistakes, and updated the language.

[El Cid]

It IS the Authorized Version.
(so all the rest are unauthorized)

[Biggirl]

Wow, this is surprising. Rather have a Bible I can understand.

[Biggirl]

Favorite Bible versions: The Jerusalem Bible, NRSV, NAB, Good News, Living Bible in that order.

[Pan_Yan]

The study Bible I read each day is NIV. When I’m working on a lesson I also use a Key Word Bible, which gives the definitions of thousands of the Hebrew and Greek words. It is a KJV.

I have a NKJV sitting beside my chair as well but for some reason I find it difficult to read. I can’t really pin down an explanation.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

KVJ was meant to be read out loud. The cadence of the words turns prose into poetry.

[dangerdoc]

I generally read in at least 3 translations. It frequently leads me to think about the scripture more.

[fungoking]

My dad has been a pastor for over 60 years and most of his Bible memory (and that's a lot!) is King James. However he didn't raise us as King James zealots. When we read the Bible through as a family he gave all of us kids (I was only 7 or 8 the 1st time)a more modern translation. While VERY fundamental and conservative he thought the KJV only people were wrong.

I often use the Holman version for reading but there are just some passages that have to be KJV; 23rd Psalm, Luke 2, and 1 Corinthians 13 come to mind....so beautiful in the KJV.

[geologist]

There are numerous newer Bibles than the KJV and most everyone of the newer ones softens or changes some of the verses to be more general thus allowing greater discretion of understanding and teaching. Secular beliefs are certainly attractive to some readers. undermining the power of the verses. The Scriptures are related to the many denominations of Christianity. Our eternal security is based on the truth of the Holy Scriptures. The oldest are the best. There are conformations with the found hidden Scriptures in Israels caves a number of years ago confirming the accuracy of our Holy Bible.

I worry about the profusion of Bibles for children, teenagers, women, men, churches, etc.. God help us to be grounded in truth, allow not for seekers to be mislead by the enemy. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

[yawningotter]

The best translation is whichever one God chooses to use to reach each person.

[fish hawk]

King James is my main read but I keep two other versions around and sometimes look up in them, something I am having a problem with in the old English. Also keep a Greek and Hebrew translation dictionary close at hand to really delve into a matter. Time is my problem not which one.