Posted on 09/22/2013 6:08:10 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The New International Version, the King James Version and the New King James Version continue to enjoy popularity among Bible readers, according to the Association for Christian Retail (CBA) and the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).
While the CBA and the ECPA agree on the top-selling three Bible translations for the month of September, the organizations vary on which versions of Christian Scripture rank among the remaining 7 bestsellers.
According to the CBA, whose rankings are based on sales at member Christian retail stores in the U.S. through Aug. 3, 2013, the top Bible translations are: (1) New International Version; (2) King James Version; (3) New King James Version; (4) English Standard Version; (5) New Living Translation; (6) Holman Christian Standard Bible; (7) New American Standard; (8) Common English Bible; (9) New International Readers Version; (10) Reina Valera 1960.
The ECPA's list, compiled using adult book sales data from Christian retail stores across the U.S., includes: (1) New International Version; (2) King James Version; (3) New King James Version; (4) New Living Translation; (5) English Standard Version; (6) Reina Valera; (7) New American Standard Bible; (8) New International Reader's Version; (9) The Message; (10) Christian Standard Bible.
Sales charts from the ECPA going back all the way to January show that the NIV, NLV, KJV and NKJV have consistently wrestled for the top spot among buyers.
Daniel Wallace, a New Testament scholar who has served as a consultant and editor on at least five Bible translations, told The Christian Post earlier this year that Bible readers can benefit greatly from reading various translations.
"I think that English speakers should have more than one translation. If we have in our background a history of Christian thought in the Western world, especially in the English-speaking world, it's part of our tradition and it's important to own a lot more than one translation," said Wallace.
He suggested the King James Bible for English-speaking readers, citing its "elegance and its cadence and the beauty of its language."
"But it's not the most accurate anymore," Wallace added of the KJV. "So it's elegant, it's easy to memorize out of even though the language is archaic, but it's not always real clear and it's not always real accurate."
The Dallas Theological Seminary professor of New Testament Studies also suggested the NIV as a "reading Bible," expressing the opinion that the translation is good for reading discourses or narratives "a paragraph at a time, a chapter at a time…"
Other suggested translations were the NET Bible, ESV, NLT, the Revised English Bible and the Message.
Despite the number of translations available and the Bible being the world's most printed and widely distributed book, surveys have consistently showed that many Christians rarely read the Bibles they own.
While LifeWay Research reported in September 2012 that 80 percent of churchgoers do not read the Bible daily, the American Bible Society and Barna Research found in their "State of the Bible 2013" study that 57 percent of Americans read Scripture less than five times throughout the year.
The Jerusalem Bible is used for Mass throughout the world. Except in the United States.
This is really a biased poll of Bible users since it does not include Catholics.
Other Catholic Bible translations approved:
Vulgate — from where do you think you got your Bibles?
Douay Rheims
RSV
NABRE or Revised NAB
and others
I read NRSV every day, 2 chapters. Is it Catholic approved?
no. Dark cover, brown to near black. But then the cover color isn’t of much importance..
I had a NWT version from the early 60’s. IN comparitive study, especially to later version of the NWT. It was a farce. Doctrinal translations defended in earlier versions were changed in later versions with no explanation give and as if the previous translation never happened. Then some such nonsense about the translation committee not giving their names so as to not detract from glorifying God...or whatever the nonsensical reason given. Your organization is duplicitous. Study the history of your group.
I like The Message and New Living Translation versions.
As I said the NWT is an excellent work of translation. Top of the line!
lol
Someone recommended the Scofield Bible to me. I plan to order one and check it out. Anyone have any thoughts about it they’d like to share, I’d appreciate your insight.
Douay Rheims and NAB for me.
I don’t consider paraphrases like “The Message” to be ‘Bible translations.”
I almost always read Psalms and Ecclesiastes in KJV, but use many other versions for much of the rest.
***Someone recommended the Scofield Bible to me.***
The Scofield is just a KJV, Oxford version, with Scofield’s notes. I just got rid of mine as I no longer believe his notes are correct. I get my bibles from Bibles Direct.com.
They are true English Oxford and Cambridge bibles with no notes.
Thanks for the info.
RE: Someone recommended the Scofield Bible to me.
The notes and commentary in that Bible translation lean definitely DISPENSATIONAL when it comes to their view of prophecy and the second coming.
See here for details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scofield_Reference_Bible
RE: As I said the NWT is an excellent work of translation.
How does the NWT translate John 1:1-3 ?
NWT (New World Translation ):
John 1:1. “the Word was a god”
Thanks. Looks like it was pretty influential. Might make for some interesting reading. Looking at others’ viewpoints helps me understand my own understanding (if that makes any sense).
The Jerusalem Bible is my favorite Bible, but I also have both the NAB updated and the NRSV, Catholic edition as well.
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