I've had my feet in and out over the years of really starting my journey into the words of Jesus Christ, but haven't fully accepted it. I finished watching [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ4NTdSK5ac] and my mind is blown. Especially the part he says towards the end that "why should god show himself to me if I won't continue banging on the door over and over?"
It's like I've been waiting for proof, but if I knock once or twice, don't get proof and give up, why should god present himself?
I encourage you all to watch this video. For those of us who were on Voat, it says a lot of what we already knew, but he provided sources, citations, photos. It's quite remarkable the work he put into this video.
Anyways, I would like to get myself a bible and I am curious what the most accurate version is?
I am also curious if the words of the bible today can be trusted? Who is to say the satanists didn't take over publication and tweak words, remove verses, etc? This is a legitimate concern of mine.
This is the most serious post I've ever made and I am genuinely looking forward to responses so I can proceed to the next step of this journey.
As long as you stay away from a paraphrase (Living Bible, Good News, CEV) as your PRIMARY source most mainstream versions are solid. The Message I would very much approach with caution. My father in law is a very godly man and he loves the CEV for large chucks of reading but uses the NIV for study.
There are some KJV only people so don't fall into that trap as the KJV is just a revision of the Bishops Bible which borrowed heavily from the Tyndale Bible. Most of the phrases we attribute to the KJV actually came from the Tyndale Bible.Also I think if you are under persecution and Bibles are scarce any translation would be welcome.
For me as we read out loud as a family and memorize I find the NKJV reads out loud best and the easiest for me to memorize. In fact one of the items the KJV translators factored in was oral reading when making translation decisions. Also the NKJV has the best textual notes showing the variants between the TR and Codex. That is the second main reason I like the NKJV.
I also like the CSB as it is a fresh translation unlike the ESV which just is a revision of the RSV which I find reads out loud a bit awkward and more difficult to memorize. It could be just because I started with the KJV/NKJV.
A great free resource - https://www.biblegateway.com/
Also a fantastic free web that has an Interlinear (so you can look up words) - https://biblehub.com/interlinear/. Just be careful in using - the early translators were learned Greek and Hebrew when 12-15 years old so I keep that in mind before thinking I have some "new" insight. Interlinears add color and context to many of the words.
Last - remember the golden rule when studying CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT! The Bible letters were not written TO you they were written FOR you. Consider the audience, the time, the issues being addressed when making interpretive choices. :) I like to try and read the whole book first to get a broad sense of it, then go back and work my way through a bit at a time.
Just read, and read some more. Remember there is nothing inspired by study notes in a Bible nor chapter markers or verses, and immerse yourself in God's Living Word.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16
This is a great explanation of how to find the truth through the noise :D
Great comment.
I like to use online Bibles so I can compare different versions and pick the one that speaks to me the most.
And that varies by passage.