Zepfanman.com (Stylesheets Off Version)
[Tagline] Zepfanman.com: When you can't find it on Google
If you see the text of this paragraph, then you are viewing my site without any (or with limited) stylesheets. I suggest using the site search or going directly to the page content using the Skip Navigation link at the top of the page; Skip to Full Menu has similar results. Use the About link to learn more about Zepfanman.com in general.
Hide/Show Sidebar (may not work properly if your browser has Javascript issues)You are here: Beliefs > Bible
The Variety of the English-Language Versions of the Bible
Opinion: Each translation is only an interpretation, to the best of the scholar's ability; each presents God's Word the way that the translator(s) feel(s) it should be expressed; yet there is a WIDE range of opinions on how it should be translated. Hopefully the list/chart below will help you to learn the pros and cons of reading each of the more popular translations....
|
Bible search resources - I highly recommend using these
links. Each of them has unique features worth exploring!
Here's another useful chart that shows which Bible versions each resource
below has. BlueLetterBible.com - various Bible helps [see more] BibleGateway.com - easily searchable online Bibles [more] SearchGodsWord.org - many Bible helps - nice page layout [more] NEW Bible.LifeWay.com - Java-run Bible helps & new HCS [more] |
| This SORTABLE chart is one of the biggest projects on my site, believe it or not. It will improve over time, like everything else on Zepfanman.com | Dynamic table courtesy of WebFX |
| Bible | Year | Style | Publisher & other notes | ||
| American Standard Version (ASV) | 1901 | Formal | Basically another revision of the KJV. Known as "Rock of Biblical Honesty." *BG-BL-CB-SG | 2 | |
| Contemporary English Version (CEV) | 1995 | Paraph. | One of the most accurate paraphrase Bibles on the market. *BG-SG | z | 3 |
| Cotton Patch Bible (CPB) | 1973 | Paraph. | In the dialect of the southern United States. | 2 | |
| Easy-to-Read Version (EtR) | 2001 | Dynam. | World Bible Translation Center. WBTC uses versions (in many languages) mainly for people who have never "heard" Bible lingo before & literally for deaf readers. *SG | 2 | |
| English Revised Version (ERV) | 1885 | Formal | aka "Revised Version". The first revision of the KJV. | 2 | |
| English Standard Version (ESV) | 2002 | Formal | Yet another revision of the KJV. *BG | 2 | |
| International Standard Version (ISV) | 2003 | Dynam. | Davidson Press. Likely to be completed in 2004. ISV.org publishes the progress of their new Bible as it's being translated (eg. one of the latest NT releases came out as version 1.3.0) online (like NET & WEB). Searchable on My-eBible.com & *SG | z | 2 |
| King James Version (KJV) | 1611 | Formal | Thomas Nelson. KJV aka "The Authorized Version". The most popular version throughout the ages. Many people hold a "KJV-only" view of scripture. *BG-BL-CB-SG | 4 | |
| New American Bible (NAB) | 1970 | Formal | Thomas Nelson. The standard Catholic Bible. Includes books of the Apocrypha. | 4 | |
| New American Standard Bible (NASB) | 1977 | Formal | Still uses thee and though in poetry, but a much easier read as well as more recent scholarship compared to the KJV. *BG-BL-CB-SG | z | 3 |
| New English Translation (NET) | 2001 | Dynam. | Biblical Studies Press. The NET Bible ® is a new version of the Bible created to be used online or on your computer/PDA in a web browsing format. Unique translators' footnotes included. Similar to ISV & NET. | 1 | |
| New International Version (NIV) | 1984 | Dynam. | Zondervan. A very good Bible for modern memorization and public reading because of it's "international" popularity. *BG | z | 4 |
| Revised Standard Version (RSV) | 1952 | Formal | The third major revision of the KJV. *BL-CB-SG | 3 | |
| The Message (MES) | 2002 | Paraph. | One of the loosest translations available, akin to the CPB in its use of modern language. *BG | z | 3 |
| World English Bible (WEB) | 2000 | Formal | Rainbow Missions, Inc. Based on the ASV. A new public domain Bible being created similar to ISV & NET. Accurate scholarship, but it's not very easy to navigate; downloadable in several formats; Hebrew Names Version of WEB available here, too. | 1 | |
| Young's Literal Translation (YLT) | 1898 | Formal | Somewhat archaic today; one man's attempt to get a new version out to the public. *BG-BL-CB-SG | 1 |
"z" denotes Zepfanman's favorites. Click on the z for more about that.
1-4 numbers in last column denote Bible's popularity or amount of sales (4 is best).
NEW BibleNet.net - "resources you need to study the Word of God and... the foundation for sharing your views with others." I've found this to be a very useful all-around Bible resource.
World Wide Study Bible - links and notes for any chapter in the Bible
The Bible Shelf - a guy a lot like me. Lots of excellent info about different translations. The site used to be Darren's Guide to Bible Translations, but I found his new link (April 2001). Sacred-Texts.com - this links to a page on the site that shows a timeline of multi-faith texts, parallel to each other. Gives a great overall comparison and background on the scripture you are reading.
Noncanonical Homepage - Makes you wonder how the Bible canon was made. More importantly, it shows what people's opinions were on Hebrew matters (whether they were true or not).
NTCanon.org - The Development of the Canon of the New Testament. One person's compilation of information from a few texts. NEW '04Jul21
The Search for a No-Frills Jesus (Charlotte Allen, Dec. 1996)- a long article about the "lost" book of "Q", which refutes the Christianity of Christ.
The Absalom Collection - A Utah Mormon's perspective. He's got a wide range of Apocryphal books.
ChristianAnswers.net and BibleSearch.com are two great sites that receive
Bible questions and answer people's inquiries in Q & A format.
Answers In Action - similar to the previous
answer sites (specifically "How can you say Jesus is the only way?")
Christian-Thinktank.com [Unravelling
Wittgenstein's Net] - recommended in the Aug. 16, 1998 Power for Living
article. Many great articles and links. "Women in the Heart of
God" - interesting article.
Virtual Christianity
- similar to my site, but a more organized list.
Best of the Christian Web (BOTCW.com) - site
categorizing the "best" Christian websites.
Apologetics Index
- huge index of reseach one man in Holland has put together.
Henry Neufeld - Religion, Philosophy and Politics
- believes that Bible is not directly inspired by God. Has valid arguments.
Why So Many Versions? -
another prospective, this one by a NT Studies Professor
Bibles - different versions,
translations, etc. (Masonic Leadership Center) - Good list of
versions, as well as denominations.
Jesus-Is-Lord.com
- one of the many supporters of using only the KJV as an English
translation of the Bible.
Bible Translation Process - a small site, but with a good
bibliography of translational studies.
About
Contact
MovableType 2.661
Gallery 1.4.2
RSS1
Spam fighting
www.zepfanman.com/bibleinf.php last modified 2004Nov24 16:00:19EST