"How
To Buy a Bible"
"And some other related things" by John Karmelich (johnkar@ix.netcom.com)
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Dozens of
English Translations? |
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Commentaries? |
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"Devotional" Bibles? |
· Concordances? |
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· "Study" Bibles? |
· Lexicons? |
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· "Official" Bibles? |
· Study Guides? |
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· "Red Letter" Bibles? |
· Audio Bibles? |
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· "Giant Print" Bibles? |
· On-Line Bibles? |
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· Literal vs. Paraphrase Bibles? |
· Bible Computer Software? |
"This
book will keep you from sin & sin will keep you from this book" Swedish Proverb
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"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may
be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2nd Timothy 3:16-17)
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"Next to praying there is nothing so important in practical
religion as Bible-reading. God has
mercifully given us a book which is "able to make [us] wise for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus" (2nd Timothy 3:15). By reading that book we may learn what to
believe, what to be, and what to do; how to live with comfort, and how to die
in peace. Happy is that man who
possesses a Bible! Happier still is he
who reads it! Happiest of all is he who
not only reads it, but obeys it, and makes it the rule of his faith and practice!"
J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)
Top Ten Bestselling Bibles
in 2010 (Christian Booksellers Association)
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1)
New International Version (last revised 2011) |
6)
Reina Valera (Spanish) 1960 |
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2)
New Living Translation (last revised 2007) |
7)
Holman Christian Standard Bible (last revised 2004) |
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3)
King James Version (1611) |
8)
The Message (2002) |
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4)
The New King James Versions (1982) |
9)
The International Reader's Version (2008) |
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5)The
English Standard Version (2001) |
10)
New American Standard (last revised 2001) |
A
Pretty Complete list of (available) English Translated Bibles:
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(AAT) The Complete Bible: An American Translation, |
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(MKJV) Modern King James
Version |
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(ABT) The Afro Bible
Translation |
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(NKJV) New King James
Version |
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(ATB) The Alternate
Translation Bible |
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(RKJV) Revised King James
New Testament |
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(ASV) American Standard
Version |
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(TMB) The Third Millennium
Bible |
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(AB) The Amplified Bible |
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(LITV) The Literal
Translation of the Holy Bible |
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(ALT) Analytical-Literal
Translation |
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(LB) Living Bible |
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(ASL) American Sign
Language Translation |
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(MLB) Modern Language Bible
aka: New Berkeley Version |
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(AV) Authorized Version
(same as KJV) |
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(NAB) New American Bible (A
Catholic Bible) |
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(Bar) The William Barclay
New Testament: |
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(NASB) New American
Standard Bible |
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(BWE) Bible in WorldWide
English |
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(NASB95) New American
Standard Bible 1995 edition |
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(CE) The Common Edition:
New Testament |
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(NCV) New Century Version |
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(CJB) Complete Jewish Bible
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(NEB) New English Bible |
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(CEV) Contemporary English
Version |
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(NET) New English
Translation aka (REB) The Revised English
Bible |
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(Dar) Darby Bible |
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(NET) New Evangelical
Translation |
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(DR) Douay-Rheims |
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(NirV) New International
Reader's Version |
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(DRP) David Robert Palmer's
Gospels translation |
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(NIV) New International
Version |
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(ERV) Easy-to-Read Version |
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(NJB) New Jerusalem Bible
(Catholic Bible) |
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(ESV) English Standard
Version |
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(NLV) New Life Version |
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(FF) Ferrar Fenton Bible |
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(NLT) New Living
Translation |
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(GLW) God's Living Word |
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(NRSV) New Revised Standard
Bible |
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(GNC) God's New Covenant: A
N.T. Translation |
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(NWT) New World
Translation (Jehovah's Witnesses) |
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(GW) God's Word |
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(OBP) The Original Bible
Project |
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(GNB) Good News Bible aka (TEV) Today's English
Version |
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(PMB) Postmodern Bible -
Amos |
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(HCSB) Holman Christian
Standard Bible |
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(RSV) Revised Standard
Version |
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(ICB) International
Children's Bible |
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(Sch) The Schocken Bible |
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(IRV) International
Readers' Version |
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(TM) The Message |
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(ISV) The International
Standard Version |
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(TMB) The Third Millennium
Bible |
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(JBP) New Testament in
Modern English, by J.B. Phillips |
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(TEV) Today's English
Version |
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(JNT) Jewish New Testament:
A Translation of the New Testament That Expresses Its Jewishness |
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(Wuest) The New Testament:
An Expanded Translation |
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(JPS) Jerusalem Publication
Society: Jewish Publication - Old
Testament |
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(Wey) Weymouth Bible |
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(KJV) King James Version |
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(WEB) World English Bible |
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(DKJB) Defined King James
Bible |
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(WNT) Wesley's New
Testament |
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(KJ21) King James for the
21st Century |
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(YLT) Young's Literal
Translation of the Bible |
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(KJ2000) King James 2000 |
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(YW)Yes Word |
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This list was taken from a web site in around
2002. That web site is not
available. |
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Paperback? |
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With commentary notes
or without commentary notes? |
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Hard-back? |
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Which commentary notes
would you like with which version? |
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Soft Leather? |
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Would you like the
giant print edition for those with vision issues? |
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Hard Leather? |
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Would you like the
very small print version that fits in your pocket? |
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Bible Cover? |
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How about a Red-Letter
edition where Jesus’ words are in highlighted in red? |
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Electronic Version |
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How about bibles for
your IPOD, phone, computer or electronic book reader? |
Oh, and what color would you like that in?
Favorite
Web Links for Electronic Bibles and Software
Favorite On-Line
Bibles
These
Web sites have multiple versions of the Bible one can read and study for
free. If you are thinking of a buying a
particular translation, you can study that translation on most of these web
sites. Each of these sites also have
good links to commentaries & other study-helps.
1. Biblegateway.com http://www.biblegateway.com/ (I've been using this the most as of late.)
2. The "Blue Letter Bible" http://www.blueletterbible.org/
3. The "On-Line" Bible Study http://bible.crosswalk.com/
4. The "World Wide Study Bible" (Wheaton College) http://www.ccel.org/wwsb/
Favorite online
locations for ordering Bibles & Bible Software
1.
Discount Christian Software & Books
Phone 888-967-3763 http://www.discountchristian.com/
(This company is based on San Diego based.
I've had good dealing with them. - John)
2. Consistent Computing Bargains Inc. Bible and
General Software Only - No Books
(Wisconsin based. "Really
good prices/service" - John) Toll Free:
800-342-4222 http://www.ccbnonprofits.com/
3. Christian Book.com: http://www.christianbook.com/ Good company, lots of bible books, software,
etc.
4.
Family Christian: www.familychristian.com. They used to be in Long Beach (less than a
mile from our church). The store is
gone , but they still have a good online site with lots of Christian books and
software.
Bible Software
Companies
These are the "Top 5". Note that first two (Logos and Quickverse) sell more than all the others put together. There are many others. There is also a lot of software just for "Bible-help", such as maps, commentaries, dictionaries, etc.) These companies sell software with multiple translations available, commentaries, built in search capabilities, etc. Most of these companies offer free trial versions of their software. Rule of thumb: "The more you pay, the more translations and features you receive." Typical Prices: $75-$350. Most Christian Bookstores have a good section of Bible software & carry these titles. Most of the money is used to pay for the copyrights of the authors that are tied to those packages.
The great advantage of using bible software is quick
access to lots of data. I can quickly
look up verses in lots of translations and get lots of bible help and support
that come with these packages.
1. Logos
Software www.logos.com
(Maker of "Nelson Electronic Bible" and various "Library"
Editions, also publishes New American Standard Bible Library, many others),
KJV, NKJV, NASB "oriented").
This company is the leader in bible software. Their web site has lots of data and links to books that can be
purchased or used with their software.
2. "The Learning Company" www.quickverse.com (Maker of "QuickVerse" & many
titles, QuickVerse is not tied to any one publisher, so it is not lean toward
any particular translation) I've been using QuickVerse for years. I still have their software package on my
computers.
3. Zondervan
Publishing http://www.zondervan.com
(Big publisher, lots of titles NIV oriented.)
4. Word
Search (Nav. Press) http://www.wordsearchbible.com/ (Haven’t tried it, no recommendation.)
5.
Bibleworks http://www.bibleworks.com/ (Haven’t tried it, no recommendation.)
Favorite
web site to study and review bible software:
Christian Computing Magazine. www.ccmag.com
A
Brief History of the English Versions of the Bible[i]
1)
6th
Century AD - Missionaries from Rome
a)
Brought
the Latin Vulgate Translated by Monks
from Latin to English
b)
Various
translations were made in 6th, 7th and 8th
Century
c)
"English"
as we know it, was very different from this language (prior to Normandy
Invasion)
d)
No
"complete" Bible was ever translated (as discovered)
2)
13th
Century AD - John Wycliffe (1329-1384)
(a.k.a. "Wycliffe Bible")
a)
First
to translate entire Latin Bible to English
b)
Taught
doctrines opposed by the Catholic Church (no purgatory, no
"indulgences", et.al.)
c)
Although
the Roman Catholic Church couldn’t stop him, after his death, he was condemned
for heresy, his grave was dug up and body burned (as a warning to others!)
3)
15th
Century AD - William Tyndale (a.k.a. "Tyndale" Bible)
a)
The
first to translate directly from the Greek into English. (He did a New Testament-only).
b)
Was
banned from England by the Catholic Church.
He worked out of Germany.
c)
15,000
copies, in six editions were smuggled into England between 1525-1530
d)
Affiliated
with Calvin and Reformation. Wrote
commentaries with Calvin’s ideas.
e)
In
1536 he was imprisoned, and burned at the stake by a Pro-Roman Catholic England
4)
15th
Century AD - Mike Coverdale (a.k.a. "Coverdale" Bible)
a)
Student
of Tyndale at Cambridge.
b)
Finished
Wycliffe’s work. Translated Old
Testament from Hebrew to English.
c)
In
1537, King Henry VIII, broke ties with the Pope, and endorsed this Bible. The same King Henry was the one who earlier
sentenced Tyndale to death for his translation.
5)
1538-1540
John Rodgers (a.k.a. "The Great Bible")
a)
First
Bible Authorized for public use by the King.
b)
It
was given its name because of its large size and print.
6)
1568
"The Geneva Bible"
a)
It
was made for English exiles in Geneva (to escape Roman Church persecution)
b)
Acknowledged
as a little superior to the Great Bible, it was not as well accepted in England
due to its commentary that was very "Calvinistic.
7)
1611
King James Bible (a.k.a. "King James" or "Authorized Version)
a)
James
VI of Scotland became King James I of England.
b)
He
invited "factions" of Church of England (Anglicans) and Puritans to
reconcile differences. This was
unsuccessful
c)
King
James authorized a version of the Bible they could both use. No
"commentaries" allowed. It
was called the "Authorized" version as it was endorsed by the King.
d)
50
Hebrew & Greek scholars worked as a committee on the translation.
e)
It
was the most popular translation of 17th and 18th
Centuries. It was written in
"common English" (as opposed to formal English). The word usage was far less than
Shakespeare.
f)
The
manuscripts were based on studying copies of existing scrolls found through
Rome, Mid-East, etc. Minor differences
between the scrolls/books were settled by a "majority rules" , where
the final version was based majority of the texts.
g)
It
is also known as "Textus Receptus" or "Received Text".
h)
Problems
of King James. It was Greek manuscripts
dating from 10th-13th Centuries. Also the understanding of ancient Hebrew has
improved since this time. They also
lacked complete scrolls of Revelation in the Greek, and used the Latin Vulgate.
A
Brief History of the English Versions of the Bible (cont.)
8)
18th
& 19th Centuries.
Discoveries of older Greek manuscripts
(Codex = "scrolls")
a)
"Codex
Alexandrinus" A 5th
Century Greek New Testament was brought to England.
b)
"Codex
Sinaiticus" was found in St. Catherine’s Monastery (Israel). Dated 350 AD
c)
"Codex
Vaticanus" from the Vatican library, public release 1481, Dated 320 AD
d)
"Pro-King
James" scholars argue that these manuscripts originated from Alexandria,
Egypt, the home of a great library.
They make arguments of the superiority of the "Textus
Receptus" (received text) is superior based on its geographical location.
e)
"Is
the King James the best translation?" debate has been going on for a long
time.
f)
There
are good "pundits" on both sides.
This is very "heated" debate among scholars.
For more on this debate: Here are two books on both sides of this date.
(1) "The King James Only
Controversy : Can You Trust the Modern Translations? by James R. White (Bethany
House; ISBN: 1556615752)
(2) Which Bible? by David Otis
Fuller (Inst. for Biblical Textual Studies; ISBN: 0944355242,
(This is a "Pro-King James Only" Book. - John)
9)
1871-1872
The "English Revised Version" and American Standard Version (1901)
a)
Use
of "older" scrolls were used to write new versions.
b)
Differences
between these versions/King James were minor.
c)
Most
Modern Bibles, like these foot-noted where a word or phrase was included/not
included in these versions vs. Textus Receptus
d)
No
significant doctrinal differences between these versions. Mostly "scholastic debate".
10)
19th
Century - New Archeology Discoveries/New Translations
a)
thousands
of scrolls discovered in Egypt dating between 2nd Cent. BC -3rd
AD
b)
Discovery
that most of the New Testament was written in common Greek (called
"Koine") as opposed to "Formal Greek"
(1) Newer translations took
these factors into account.
c)
Translations
called "The Complete Bible An American Translation (1935)
d)
The
Revised Standard Version
(1) Took the English Revised
Version and paraphrased to make it "smoother".
11)
20th
Century - Discovery of Dead Sea Scrolls
a)
A
library of scrolls hidden in caves near the Dead Sea. The parchment texts,
wrapped in linen and stored in pottery jars, were hidden in the first century AD
and recovered between 1947 and 1956, at which time they became known as the
Dead Sea Scrolls. This is earliest known Hebrew copies of Old Testament texts.
b)
The
20th Century and the 21st Century has seen an "explosion" of new
English translations. Most of these
translations take into account all of the evidence we have include the Dead Sea
Scrolls. Modern English translations
range from literal to paraphrased.
12)
A
quick comment on modern Roman Catholic Bibles
a)
1943
- Pope Pius XII issued a decree encouraging Catholics to read and study the
Bible
b)
1966
The Jerusalem Bible. First Catholic
Bible translated from original languages to English
c)
1970
The New American Bible. Includes
official Catholic commentary on the bible.