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 If you have ever shopped for a new Bible, you know what a daunting task it can be. Unless your church or a friend has recommended a specific one, the first question you are faced with is, "Which Bible version should I use?" It seems impossible that there could be so many different choices of the same Holy Book.
So why are there so many different versions? The answer is in the translation. The King James Version, New King James Version, New International Version, American Standard Version, the Living Bible...the list goes on and on and each was translated by different people. While many modern churches teach from the New International Version, there are strong adherants to the King James Version as the only accurate translation. Unless you are fluent in the classical languages and have access to the original documents, it is impossible for the average layman to truly know which version is most accurate. We have to place our trust in the experts, their abilities and their attention to accuracy. Within each translation, you also have the choice of the style of the Bible: a study Bible, expanded Bible with commentary, women's Bible, men's Bible, military Bible, etc. Each of the different styles uses a standard translation but with added footnotes, pictures, daily study texts, and other lessons to help you better understand the Holy text.
The most important thing to consider when choosing a Bible is can you understand it? I prefer the KJV and NKJV. Not necessarily because I believe them to be more accurate, but because I love the language and lyrical quality. I do sometimes find myself having to re-read a passage to make sure I grasped it correctly, though. Those people for whom language is not a strong skill, or who speak English as a second language, may find the KJV to be too difficult to follow. The New International Version (NIV) and other modern translations may be much easier for you to understand. These Bibles take into account the changes in language over the centuries and how the use of certain words has evolved. The Catholic and Greek Orthodox Bibles also contain books not included in Protestant Bibles. Always bear in mind one important concept when reading any Bible version: they are all translations, and they all vary in some way from the original. The meaning of a sentence can be changed by the order of words. Certain words in the original may have more than one translation in the modern. Another possible alteration lies in the introduction of punctuation. The earliest Biblical texts contained no punctuation. Adding a comma or semicolon or breaking a line into two sentences can alter the meaning of a phrase or shift the importance from one phrase to another. In cases when you read something in the Bible that seems confusing, you would be well served to compare that passage with other versions to see if they differ. Another translator might offer a more easily understood alternative. God intended for all people to understand His Word and to be able to have a personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. So answering the question, "Which Bible version should I use?" ultimately comes down to which one can you understand, relate to, and follow on a daily basis and apply to your own life?
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