As of now I am fairly certain I'll be leaving the NIV as a my primary translation for reading and studying. The NIV (84) is truly an awesome version making the best of thought and word style translation. I am not a fan of the new 2011 revision of the NIV so I am looking into a "new" number one for my studying.
For a long time I've been reading the NIV. In terms of accuracy and understanding the meaning I think its top notch.
So leading candidates are.....
1. New Living Translation - a freer thought for thought version. I've been reading this as well for a couple years now as a strong supplement text and I really like it for the most part.
2. Holman Christian Standard Bible - an "optimal translation" striving for balance, but really resembles a word for word translation more so. A lot of people leaving the NIV are switching to this translation.
3. New King James Version - which is a word for word translation.
Ones I've essentially ruled out... ( althought I have a lot of likes about them)
1. KJV- I love this translation but I am just not prone to liking 400 year old English as a whole.
2. ESV - I think this is a healthy translation but its very rigid and archaic in language useage and structure. Not to mention I don't like the ESV only crowd, reminds me to much of the KJV only crowd. Some of my favorite teachers use this. (Driscoll, Piper etc)
3. NASB - another very healthy word for word, said to be the most accurate in terms of language of all the English translations. This is even more rigid than the ESV. In my studying of translations word for word doesn't always mean most accurate in terms of meaning.
I hate to leave the NIV, but I think it's just the right thing to do right now.
I read both the ESV and NIV. I'm not an "only crowd". I just like the ESV Study bible. It's very good and very thorough with lots of pictures and helps. It's a great resource. But I don't find it much different in wording than the NIV. In fact, many of the word usage is very similar. But then again, I haven't analyzed it word for word or anything.
ReplyDeleteOh...I've heard awesome things in regards to the ESV study Bible, top notch. The translation isn't a bad one. Piper and Driscoll love it , that says something to me. I simply just don't care for the translation itself. Its certainly worthy to be studied and read.
ReplyDeleteIn the blogosphere many hail as the supreme translation and I just can't accept that. I know you aren't like that though. = )
Not that you asked, but when your kiddos are ready to read on their own, I really like the NrIV for young readers. It's the New Readers NIV basically. Places like Mardel carry different brands of this version. We've liked the Super Hero Bible and the Discover's Bible (which is a larger font). Mardel also carries Bible studies for kids that use the translation which is nice. Anyway, just wanted to throw that idea out there for when your little ones start reading. : )
ReplyDeleteI've saw that at your house on new years eve, plus I've picked it up when we teach sunday school. I think it's great! An illustration Bible is a really cool idea too!
ReplyDeleteSelah has a few picture based bibles, but when she gets a little older I can't wait to get a really neat one.
What kind of things do you do with your crew in regards to the Bible? Do your older ones have the desire to read some thigns on their own yet in regards to the Bible?
We are working on a Boy's 365 Devotionals book, little girls devotional book, and have another Bible study type book we do occasionally.
ReplyDeleteEach of our kids has their own picture Bible. Our girls will bring me theirs to read sometimes. The boys have read them on their own as well as reading their NIrV Bibles on their own.