[Bidimus1]

Well the oldest is of course Codex Sinaiticus from 4th century A.D. Other fragmentary go back to 2nd or late 1st Century

As far as a modern language translation, for English there are 2 primary schools of thought

Literal word for word translation that may make the English some what less “modern” and a bit “wooden”

ESV and NASB are exmaples of this

while a more idiomatic / paraphrase style is represented by

NIV
Living Bible (a paraphrase of NASB)

Personally I tend to read NASB and NIV but if push comes to shove the most NASB would be my pref but smidgen.

There are of course many others, the works that translate from the most ancient manuscripts with the large number of scholars are to my way of thinking the most accurate.

[ejonesie22]

I tend towards the NIV in general use for teaching due to clarity as well as the ASV but don't see either of those making the KJV inaccurate or obsolete except in language. Even the Catholics and Orthodox find the KJV an acceptable translation of the books it contains.

Each translations sees its variations and direct accuracy varies but to say they are “fiction” or don't accurately portray the Gospel is a tick much.

I wonder what failings our friend sees beyonds that.